Eric Clapton: Biography

Born Eric Patrick Clapp, March 30, 1945

Raised by grandparents Rosie and Jack Clapp

First guitar was a cheap acoustic guitar on 14th birthday

First band was the Roosters with Tom McGuinness

Recruited to play with the Yardbirds in 1963, stayed with band for 18 months

Earned nickname "God" playing with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers

Battled years of heroin and alcohol addiction in the 1970s

Married Patty Boyd Harrison (wife of ex-Beatle George Harrison) in 1979, divorced in 1988

Son Conor died in accidental fall in 1991; Tears in Heaven written for him

Images and audio courtesy of Reprise Records