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79 Eric Clapton Quotes For The Music Virtuoso In You

Famous As: One of the Greatest Guitarists of All Time
Born On: March 30, 1945
Born In: Ripley, England
Age: 78 Years

One of the greatest names in the genre of rock and blues, Eric Clapton is a famous English guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and producer. If you’re a fan of rock, one of the few names that would pop into your head would be that of Clapton’s. Many people, to this day, hum the lyrics of his famous “Cocaine”. His discography contains several eponymous albums and other successful collections such as Slowhand, Money and Cigarettes and Reptile. This 18-time Grammy award recipient is the only artist who has been inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ thrice. His expertise with the guitar can be approximated by the fact that Clapton is ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" Furthermore, he also featured in the Time magazine's list of "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" at number five. Clapton also collaborated with various legends such as George Harrison, Blind Faith Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. After battling with alcoholism and drug addiction for years, he set up the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, which aimed at rehabilitation of substance abusers. Let us go through some of the popular quotes stated by this legend of Rock & Blues highlighting his thoughts and sayings.

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For me there is something primitively soothing about this music, and it went straight to my nervous system, making me feel ten feet tall.

For me there is something primitively soothing about this music, and it went straight to my nervous system, making me feel ten feet tall.

Eric Clapton
Like a fool, I fell in love with you, 
Turned my whole world upside down

Like a fool, I fell in love with you, Turned my whole world upside down

Eric Clapton
Musically, he was like an old man in a boy's skin.

Musically, he was like an old man in a boy's skin.

Eric Clapton
If you hand me a guitar, I'll play the blues. That's the place I automatically go.

If you hand me a guitar, I'll play the blues. That's the place I automatically go.

Eric Clapton
The thing about pessimism is that in most cases it's nothing more than a front behind which a body can hide its most sweetful yet painful hopes. please forgive mine.

The thing about pessimism is that in most cases it's nothing more than a front behind which a body can hide its most sweetful yet painful hopes. please forgive mine.

Eric Clapton
I never set myself too high a goal. It was always tone and feeling, for me.

I never set myself too high a goal. It was always tone and feeling, for me.

Eric Clapton
I am and always will be a blues guitarist

I am and always will be a blues guitarist

Eric Clapton
The music scene as I look at it today is a little different from when I was growing up. The percentages are roughly the same - 95 percent rubbish, 5 percent pure.

The music scene as I look at it today is a little different from when I was growing up. The percentages are roughly the same - 95 percent rubbish, 5 percent pure.

Eric Clapton
Watching him, I understood for the first time how you could really live music, how you could listen to it completely and make it come alive, so that it was part of your life.

Watching him, I understood for the first time how you could really live music, how you could listen to it completely and make it come alive, so that it was part of your life.

Eric Clapton
All I am certain of right now is that I don't want to go anywhere, and that's not bad for someone who always used to run.

All I am certain of right now is that I don't want to go anywhere, and that's not bad for someone who always used to run.

Eric Clapton
Early in my childhood, when I was about six or seven, I began to get the feeling that there was something different about me.

Early in my childhood, when I was about six or seven, I began to get the feeling that there was something different about me.

Eric Clapton
The point of being at home is to be with my family as much as possible.

The point of being at home is to be with my family as much as possible.

Eric Clapton
I mean, it didn't matter to me that there were people, it didn't matter that I was shy Just the sound was so captivating that it helped me to get rid of those inhibitions.

I mean, it didn't matter to me that there were people, it didn't matter that I was shy Just the sound was so captivating that it helped me to get rid of those inhibitions.

Eric Clapton
The first one was quite cheap, but that was expensive for us. For my folks to buy on the Never Never. It was quite, you know, a rare object to have and I gained quite a lot of status by having this.

The first one was quite cheap, but that was expensive for us. For my folks to buy on the Never Never. It was quite, you know, a rare object to have and I gained quite a lot of status by having this.

Eric Clapton
I mean, the sound of an amplified guitar in a room full of people was so hypnotic and addictive to me, that I could cross any kind of border to get on there.

I mean, the sound of an amplified guitar in a room full of people was so hypnotic and addictive to me, that I could cross any kind of border to get on there.

Eric Clapton
An obsession is where something will not leave your mind.

An obsession is where something will not leave your mind.

Eric Clapton
Music became a healer for me. And I learned to listen with all my being. I found that it could wipe away all the emotions of fear and confusion relating to my family.

Music became a healer for me. And I learned to listen with all my being. I found that it could wipe away all the emotions of fear and confusion relating to my family.

Eric Clapton
Let it grow, let it grow, 
Let it blossom let it flow. 
In the sun, the rain, the snow, 
Love is lovely, let it grow.

Let it grow, let it grow, Let it blossom let it flow. In the sun, the rain, the snow, Love is lovely, let it grow.

Eric Clapton

When all the original blues guys are gone, you start to realize that someone has to tend to the tradition. I recognize that I have some responsibility to keep the music alive, and it's a pretty honorable position to be in.

Eric Clapton
I remember when I thought of singing as the bit that went between the guitar playing - something I couldn't wait to get out of the way. Singing was originally like a chore that I didn't really enjoy.

I remember when I thought of singing as the bit that went between the guitar playing - something I couldn't wait to get out of the way. Singing was originally like a chore that I didn't really enjoy.

Eric Clapton
But I did go to music really early on, even when I was 4 or 5, I was responding to music probably in ways other kids were not.

But I did go to music really early on, even when I was 4 or 5, I was responding to music probably in ways other kids were not.

Eric Clapton
I've got the god given talent or the god given opportunity better put, to let that out in a harmless way you know, and I don't know what it does to you, I don't really know.

I've got the god given talent or the god given opportunity better put, to let that out in a harmless way you know, and I don't know what it does to you, I don't really know.

Eric Clapton
A British pressing with a compilation of the best stuff really, I mean actually not only that but, these were all kind of semi hits for the people on it in America.

A British pressing with a compilation of the best stuff really, I mean actually not only that but, these were all kind of semi hits for the people on it in America.

Eric Clapton
When you're onstage with an electric band going through a massive P.A. system, it's very artificial. You can't really hear your own voice as it comes out of your mouth.

When you're onstage with an electric band going through a massive P.A. system, it's very artificial. You can't really hear your own voice as it comes out of your mouth.

Eric Clapton
I think I deliberately sold out a couple of times. I picked the songs that I thought would do well in the marketplace, even though I didn't really love the song.

I think I deliberately sold out a couple of times. I picked the songs that I thought would do well in the marketplace, even though I didn't really love the song.

Eric Clapton
It's taken me to be an older guy, an old man, to have an old man's voice. Because I only liked old men's voices. As a kid, I didn't like pip-squeaked singers.

It's taken me to be an older guy, an old man, to have an old man's voice. Because I only liked old men's voices. As a kid, I didn't like pip-squeaked singers.

Eric Clapton
There's a desire in me to express something - to match what I hear in my head.

There's a desire in me to express something - to match what I hear in my head.

Eric Clapton
It was a mystery to me, how the tuning was, or the style seemed to come out of nowhere, it obviously had roots in America going way back, there was nothing like it for me I'd ever seen before.

It was a mystery to me, how the tuning was, or the style seemed to come out of nowhere, it obviously had roots in America going way back, there was nothing like it for me I'd ever seen before.

Eric Clapton
Leave bands, go back to obscurity if I choose to, without a great sense of loss of security because it's all been based on the fact that I did it on my own or was doing, enjoying doing it on my own in the first place.

Leave bands, go back to obscurity if I choose to, without a great sense of loss of security because it's all been based on the fact that I did it on my own or was doing, enjoying doing it on my own in the first place.

Eric Clapton
To sing in a lower key is harder work. You have to use your diaphragm more.

To sing in a lower key is harder work. You have to use your diaphragm more.

Eric Clapton
This moment in time, on this tour, you know, I'm discovering a lot of new things. And to be 45 and doing that, it's a mixture of pleasure and pain, I can assure you.

This moment in time, on this tour, you know, I'm discovering a lot of new things. And to be 45 and doing that, it's a mixture of pleasure and pain, I can assure you.

Eric Clapton
Although they can do it all the time, you know, they're far better than me, on a musically, on a theoretical music level. You know, they're out of my league.

Although they can do it all the time, you know, they're far better than me, on a musically, on a theoretical music level. You know, they're out of my league.

Eric Clapton
I often enjoy singing in an acoustic setting more than an amplified one.

I often enjoy singing in an acoustic setting more than an amplified one.

Eric Clapton
One summer I remember, I got exposed to Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly and Buddy Holly was a very very big, made a very big impression on me. Because of a lot of things, you know, the way he looked and his charisma.

One summer I remember, I got exposed to Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly and Buddy Holly was a very very big, made a very big impression on me. Because of a lot of things, you know, the way he looked and his charisma.

Eric Clapton
Yeah, and I went straight into a fantasy world. Just stepped straight into the abyss. You know, I was gone and kids used to walk past my front room, cause I lived on the green.

Yeah, and I went straight into a fantasy world. Just stepped straight into the abyss. You know, I was gone and kids used to walk past my front room, cause I lived on the green.

Eric Clapton
I just like the company of beautiful women. I have a weakness in that department. And I suppose because I am fairly well off and a famous musician, I'm up for grabs. And that makes me an eligible bachelor in the press.

I just like the company of beautiful women. I have a weakness in that department. And I suppose because I am fairly well off and a famous musician, I'm up for grabs. And that makes me an eligible bachelor in the press.

Eric Clapton
I don't have half the nerves there that I have anywhere else.

I don't have half the nerves there that I have anywhere else.

Eric Clapton
It was stumbling on to really the bible of the blues, you know, and a very powerful drug to be introduced to us and I absorbed it totally, and it changed my complete outlook on music.

It was stumbling on to really the bible of the blues, you know, and a very powerful drug to be introduced to us and I absorbed it totally, and it changed my complete outlook on music.

Eric Clapton
They looked great, you know the drawings of the guys playing looked great and bits of string around their necks. So it didn't seem to be that difficult a thing to do, or that inaccessible.

They looked great, you know the drawings of the guys playing looked great and bits of string around their necks. So it didn't seem to be that difficult a thing to do, or that inaccessible.

Eric Clapton
I just like the company of beautiful women. I have a weakness in that department.

I just like the company of beautiful women. I have a weakness in that department.

Eric Clapton
I wish I could write easily. I'm one of those guys who's visited by the muse when things are dire.

I wish I could write easily. I'm one of those guys who's visited by the muse when things are dire.

Eric Clapton
I tried when I was 13, when my grandparents gave me an acoustic guitar, and I tried for a year. It hurt so much to play. I mean, the fingertips hurt so much, I gave up.

I tried when I was 13, when my grandparents gave me an acoustic guitar, and I tried for a year. It hurt so much to play. I mean, the fingertips hurt so much, I gave up.

Eric Clapton
'My Father's Eyes' is very personal. I realized that the closest I ever came to looking in my father's eyes was when I looked into my son's eyes.

'My Father's Eyes' is very personal. I realized that the closest I ever came to looking in my father's eyes was when I looked into my son's eyes.

Eric Clapton
Well, I think part of my gift, or if I have one, is that I love listening.

Well, I think part of my gift, or if I have one, is that I love listening.

Eric Clapton
Given the choice between accomplishing something and just lying around, I'd rather lie around. No contest.

Given the choice between accomplishing something and just lying around, I'd rather lie around. No contest.

Eric Clapton
It is painful to relive things that have caused emotional crises or whatever and find ways to express that musically.

It is painful to relive things that have caused emotional crises or whatever and find ways to express that musically.

Eric Clapton
But the guitar, when you think about it, is the most versatile, really. I mean you can pick it up and take it with you wherever you go.

But the guitar, when you think about it, is the most versatile, really. I mean you can pick it up and take it with you wherever you go.

Eric Clapton
It's very dependent on your state of mind. And your emotional state as well. And a lot of it comes pouring out, you don't really have that much control with it.

It's very dependent on your state of mind. And your emotional state as well. And a lot of it comes pouring out, you don't really have that much control with it.

Eric Clapton
In playing, I suppose my greatest gift was to express the way I felt or the willingness to express myself.

In playing, I suppose my greatest gift was to express the way I felt or the willingness to express myself.

Eric Clapton
Yeah, I wanted to know where they got it from, what it was all about, you know, and it seemed to strike something in me that was you know rearing it's head and I still don't know what that is.

Yeah, I wanted to know where they got it from, what it was all about, you know, and it seemed to strike something in me that was you know rearing it's head and I still don't know what that is.

Eric Clapton
I grew up playing in clubs - that's my spiritual stomping ground.

I grew up playing in clubs - that's my spiritual stomping ground.

Eric Clapton
I never met Johnny Rotten, and I didn't want to meet Johnny Rotten.

I never met Johnny Rotten, and I didn't want to meet Johnny Rotten.

Eric Clapton
My original interests and intentions in guitar playing were primarily created on quality of tone, for instance, the way the instrument could be made to echo or simulate the human voice.

My original interests and intentions in guitar playing were primarily created on quality of tone, for instance, the way the instrument could be made to echo or simulate the human voice.

Eric Clapton
The first band I identified with from Chicago was the Muddy Waters band.

The first band I identified with from Chicago was the Muddy Waters band.

Eric Clapton
The toughest thing about being a celebrity, I suppose, is being polite when I don't want to be.

The toughest thing about being a celebrity, I suppose, is being polite when I don't want to be.

Eric Clapton
Music became a healer for me.

Music became a healer for me.

Eric Clapton
I don't know if I believe in luck. I think I'm very fortunate.

I don't know if I believe in luck. I think I'm very fortunate.

Eric Clapton
I'd love to knock an audience cold with one note, but what do you do for the rest of the evening?

I'd love to knock an audience cold with one note, but what do you do for the rest of the evening?

Eric Clapton
The blues are what I've turned to, what has given me inspiration and relief in all the trials of my life.

The blues are what I've turned to, what has given me inspiration and relief in all the trials of my life.

Eric Clapton
I like solitude. I like the anomalous life. I like a quiet life.

I like solitude. I like the anomalous life. I like a quiet life.

Eric Clapton
My dedication to my music has driven everyone away. I've had girlfriends, but I always end up on my own. I don't particularly like it, but I don't see a way 'round it.

My dedication to my music has driven everyone away. I've had girlfriends, but I always end up on my own. I don't particularly like it, but I don't see a way 'round it.

Eric Clapton
Risk is trying to control something you are powerless over.

Risk is trying to control something you are powerless over.

Eric Clapton
One of the most beneficial things I've ever learned is how to keep my mouth shut.

One of the most beneficial things I've ever learned is how to keep my mouth shut.

Eric Clapton
I am, and always will be, a blues guitarist.

I am, and always will be, a blues guitarist.

Eric Clapton

I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. Some people will see their role as a pilgrim in terms of setting up a fine family, or establishing a business inheritance. Everyone's got their own definition. Mine, I suppose, is to know myself.

Eric Clapton

I remember hearing Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley and not really knowing anything about the geography or the culture of the music. But for some reason it did something to me - it resonated.

Eric Clapton

I sought my father in the world of the black musician, because it contained wisdom, experience, sadness and loneliness. I was not ever interested in the music of boys. From my youngest years, I was interested in the music of men.

Eric Clapton

I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened to everything I could that came from that place that they call the blues but, in formality, isn't necessarily the blues.

Eric Clapton

Very much like that, and very much a loner, do you know and I didn't fit really into sport or all kind of group activities as a kid, I couldn't find a niche. And music was not really part of the kind of village curriculum it would, you know.

Eric Clapton

I used to do crazy things that people would bail me out of, and I'm just grateful that I survived. But the music got very lost; I didn't know where I was going, and I didn't really care. I was more into just having a good time, and I think it showed.

Eric Clapton

I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. Some people will see their role as a pilgrim in terms of setting up a fine family, or establishing a business inheritance. Everyone's got their own definition.

Eric Clapton

I'm not a big fan of lead vocalists, people who sing but don't play. I never wanted to be in a band where the guy who was up front just sang. I've always thought it better when one of the musicians sings, like Steve Winwood.

Eric Clapton

From the beginning, I knew intuitively that if nothing else, music was safe, and that nobody could tell me anything about it. Music didn't need a middleman, whereas all the other things in school needed some kind of explanation.

Eric Clapton

Yeah, it is, because it's a real discovery of your inner resources, you know. That's what my character is all about and what my playing is all about. But to get up there and just go inside and draw out something that makes you feel good first and foremost.

Eric Clapton

I did play a lot of fingerstyle when I first started playing. I could never really find the right combination of flatpick or fingerpick, so playing fingerstyle is really the easiest way - though it's quite strenuous on the fingertips.

Eric Clapton

I just managed to convince my grandmother that it was a worth while that was something to do, you know, and when I did finally get the guitar, it didn't seem that difficult to me, to be able to make a good noise out of it.

Eric Clapton

The first guitar I ever had was a gut-string Spanish guitar, and I couldn't really get the hang of it. I was only 13, and I talked my grandparents into buying it for me. I tried and tried and tried, but got nowhere with it.

Eric Clapton

Oh yeah, I mean, it wasn't a very good guitar, most good guitars have got thrust rods in the necks that you can adjust or that'll keep them in shape, you know keep them straight. This one just, well it turned into a bow and arrow after a couple of months.

Eric Clapton

I feel a real need to observe a level of propriety in what I'm handing out. Instead of me just venting or spilling my guts, I've got to consider how it's going to affect people. How it's going to affect me, as well. Because it's like a cycle.

Eric Clapton