At 79, Eric Clapton Finally BREAKS His SILENCE About Layla Story

[@moirapettifr7127]

Clapton should give credit to Rita Coolidge for her part.

[@exclamationpointman3852]

HE WILLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUSTICE ALWAYS COMES!!!!!!!!!

[@exesexesexesexesexesex]

But didnt jim gordon steal it from his girlfriend 😂

[@tamasrobby6872]

His drummer was getting royalties for the riff every time the song was played. The drummer was Rita C's boyfriend who beat her up and she never said a word about plagiarizing the refrain written by her until the boyfriend's death a couple of years ago.

[@chrisphillips348]

Rita Coolidge is a name that I have not heard in years, good for her. Give her props

[@marysmith2068]

I have loved Layla since 1971. Its haunting music and lyrics were inbeded in my mind. Just hearing the first few notes would send me into a kind of trance. It was my most favorite song. I was very sad for Eric regarding his unrequited love until I learned of his unforgiving treatment of Patti during their marriage. She didn't deserve that at all. Pain can make people do unkind things, but hurting her so badly disappointed me regarding Eric. His documentary made me so sad for Eric, but torturing Patti made me sick.

[@tamasrobby6872]

We really don't know what went on in their marriage. They had problems conceiving; men are known to go out to prove that it's not them. As we've seen, he has apologized a number of times including in this piece nearly 50 years later. Eric is a humble man though an absolute genius in music. I'll be seeing him in person in one show this spring. 🥰

[@headlesssoldier]

Also ripped off Rita Cooliges’ ending part

[@stlrockn]

Jim Gordon did that

[@emanuelstanley2523]

Love is just a feeling, sometimes there is nothing behind it, sometimes it's just an error - most of us go through this experience.

[@jamesmcguire764]

Rita Coolidge never got a penny and not even credit

[@georgetteroenfeldt8144]

I agree she was robbed by him. Rita should get credit for the music she wrote in the song!

[@barbarapaton4005]

All this was doomed from the start, however Layla is musical genius!

[@zyzzyvacation]

Pattie was the inspiration behind Harrison's songs, "Something," "I Need You," "If I Needed Someone," and "For You Blue." She also inspired Clapton's, "Layla," "Bell Bottom Blues" and "Wonderful Tonight." She should be in the Guinness Book of World Records.

[@lindarody9851]

Pretty Girl, Promises, Golden Ring Eric also wrote for Pattie.

[@dereks8532]

"it appeared Clapton had gone crazy, but not for the reasons anyone could sympathize with"

[@nickk8416]

Coolidge will get het well deserved credit. Bobby Whitlock has already credited her in his biography. Coolidge did write it (just the piano part) when she lived with Jim Gordon in California. Jim took it from her and didn't credit her.

[@miratweti7675]

clapton never disappoints

[@YoYo-gt5iq]

This whole thing is about him being a disappointment. He sleeps in another man's house, drinks his wine, and then confesses love to his wife. And then he's a song-stealing mofo.

[@YoYo-gt5iq]

Clapton sang this song was about the woman he loved (his "friend's" wife). Makes sense that the song is stolen, too.

[@cordeliaadams4898]

So sad, men destroy their own happiness (and other people’s) and become so vile when alcohol is in the equation.

[@steveoconnor7069]

Eric's mother's rejection of him during his childhood set the die for most of his relationships. He would obsess about a goal whether it be a successful band or a girl, reach his goal and then reject that thing or person. Alcohol was a means of blocking his pain. Not only was it totally toxic to him, it was another means to punish himself for being a tool. Just like how he couldn't have a successful long-term relationship, he couldn't stop drinking either.

[@stevechristie2569]

Cordelia are you under 35 and single?

[@cordeliaadams4898]

@@stevechristie2569 why you ask? 😆

[@stevechristie2569]

if you are I will ask your father for permission to take you to the farmers' market (whereupon I will show you the champion aubergine)

[@lom218]

Plenty of useless women do this shit. More so today

[@steveferry4922]

Don't know about all that, but you can credit Duane Allman with that opening riff.

[@virginiamiller9765]

Credit Duane Allman, and music man Tom Dowd.

[@gmb858]

EC borrowed a line from Albert King's vocal from "As the Years Go Passing By." Specifically the line "There is nothing I can do". Clapton already had the "bendy" half of the riff down, but he needed a line to go before it. The line "There is nothing I can do" is nearly identical, Duane just sped it up.

[@davidgraichen982]

The same song whose Piano melody was created by Rita Cooledge, but Clapton told her to Sue him over, while he laughed at her!

[@gglendinningok]

I think it was his manager actually, however he has since obviously Known all about it, yet did nothing to remedy the THEFT, not even mentioning/crediting Rita, which is ALL she desired

[@beeleo]

There are still rules of grammar. Why would anyone write 'piano' and 'sue' will uppercase letters? They're not proper nouns.

[@tonyrobles2696]

THE Song of RITA COOLIDGE

[@moirapettifr7127]

Yes. Clapton needs to make it right.

[@RobertEldonHickertyDDS]

I don’t doubt that Rita wrote or influenced the second half of Layla. She says she played it on the piano during a break. The next she knew it was in Layla. Jim Gordon should come clean and acknowledge Rita and Eric should also recognize her contribution. Jim should be required to pay his royalties to Rita and Eric should make restitution. Poor Rita, she gets ripped off on one of the greatest songs ever and then marries Kris Kristofferson, a great talent but an inveterate alcoholic who treated her badly. Why are so many great musicians such douches? As for Patty, George cheated on her. He even slept with Ringo’s wife which didn’t help Beatles cohesion. Eric was an ass which he freely admits in his biography. He may have truly loved her but he loved booze and drugs more. I’ll still listen to their music because it’s good. Still Patty and Rita sure could pick ‘em.

[@cmkilcullen8176]

Sounds like you're breaking EC'S silence. I didn’t hear him say anything .

[@YoYo-gt5iq]

So long as the words are the truth he is free to speak them.

[@edgarsnake2857]

Clapton continues to disappoint.

[@Quinton-zu6hy]

I love the Tedshi, Trucks version of the song!

[@arlynking1300]

So often it seems men and women talented and dynamic in many ways are also encumbered with a weakness or dark side. It's always the forbidden fruit that tantalizes them until they must have it and then the moment it's obtained the love thought to have existed slowly vanishes leaving yet more broken lives. This sad story has been lived by millions upon millions and still the page turns to yet another and another still.

[@gmb858]

Clapton admitted after his divorce from Patti that "the quest fulfilled sated the desire." Once obtained, the reality of their love and life didn't match up with his incensed longing for her. EC said that he thought himself to be "edgy" and "cheeky" to desire the wife of a Beatle, especially his very best friend. Pattie and Eric married March 27, 1979 in Tucson Arizona. Three of the Beatles attended, George, Paul and Ringo. John would have come but the staff had not sent him an invitation. After the ceremony the 3 Beatles jammed with EC marking the last time a possible reunion of the Beatles could have taken place. Lennon was disappointed that he missed it and it’s safe to say all the Beatles would have jammed at the reception of Eric and Pattie's wedding had he been there. Eric was married but it didn't change his rockstar ways. It was drugs and alcohol and groupies all around. It soon became apparent that Pattie could not conceive children. Over the years they sought medical advice and help but she remained childless. Meanwhile, Eric took up with Yvonne Kelly, a studio assistant that he had an affair with in Montserrat. From that union produced Eric's first daughter, Ruth. He hid Ruth's existence all through his divorce from Pattie five years later. Still married to Pattie, Eric was also dealing with his strange and strained relationship with his birth mother Pat, who was in and out of his life leaving him confused. They had alcohol in common and Eric had drugs to go along with it. Whatever passion exuded through the vibrations of "Layla" withered away as reality set in to Pattie as she watched the grotesque dance between a mother and an unwanted son. Fans are all too familar with the story of the tragically short life and death of Conor Clapton and of Eric's relationship with Conor's mother Lory Del Santo. Originally Eric approached Pattie with the hairball idea that they could stay married and they both could parent Conor during Eric's annual custody period. That was the last straw for Pattie, frustrated by her own inability to conceive and asked to be a part time mom to another woman's son. She moved to end the marriage. Knowing the backstory of events that occurred after the song's recording, "Layla" can be seen as a plea for love in the first section, and a mix of romance and ennui in the piano coda, of love's great potential and the inability for two flawed people to realize it fully. It is a very human song, stripped away from spiritual overtones and barren of the happiness that both good souls desperately desired. After the success of "Unplugged" Eric played Layla only in his acoustic arrangement for years, going back to the simpler time of when he first wrote it, when it had the clearer message of love in it. An observer could guess that the singer was pouring salve into some old wounds to smooth out and soothe areas formerly tormented by his demons that had since been vanquished and vanished by years of sobriety. The acoustic arrangement jettisoned the piano coda; its promise of romance and its reminder of a love's potential not realized. The song became what it started out to be; a plain song of love painted in the imagery of an ancient story of unrequited love.

[@bkm2797]

I’d say the song is cursed having little to do with love, and if I’m remembering correctly, Patti went with Eric because George was treating her like 💩 bringing other women into there home and having sex with them. Have to say, Patti was attractive to famous rock musicians, but was it really worth it in the end?

[@lindarody9851]

George did not attend Pattie & Eric's wedding.

[@danvelgtr]

Clapton nicked George Harrison's girlfriend and Rita Coolidge's song . What else did he nick ?

[@cookieuk1278]

Ee'll nick anyfin ee will. Hendrix's strat - ee 'ad that too!

[@DTMBYLEZ70]

Right - Clapton steals his best friends wife , marries her, then he knocks up some Italian actress who allows their son to fall out of a window………. Great guitarist, personally a complete f’ing mess.

[@barbarasullivan6752]

Not to mention that the covid lockdown brought out some racism and nastiness in him.

[@virginiamiller9765]

Patti is one of the worst phoney, that would say anything to make money.

[@steveoconnor7069]

@@virginiamiller9765 I think she was kind of a victim really. Her writing books and selling her pictures is just a means of financial security for her in her senior years. Both George and Eric kicked her to the curb a long time ago and face it, the market for her story is shrinking as we boomers are slowly ushered off the stage of relevance.

[@americangirl-]

What!!@ the statement allows their son2 fall out of a window is ABSOLUTELY A LIE!!! NOBODY WOULD ALLOW A CHILD 2CFALL OUT OF A WINDOW IS SO CRUEL...OT WAS A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT..GET UR STORY STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

[@gmb858]

@@americangirl- The maid left the window open and the boy went through it. It's insane to think that a window on a floor of a skyscraper that high could be opened and closed. Little kids are busy learning about life and curious- it was a horrible accident that left the parents shocked for many years.

[@bertowens-lw6xw]

How a you discuss Layla with no mention of Dwayne Allman, the D in DEREK??

[@Chatti16]

So he fell in love.. it happens .. it’s called the Reality of Life! No one has ever transgressed in their lives in these negative comments? Get real! No one knows the true story apart from those involved! Never forget that ever!

[@steveswoodworking2504]

I think Eric Clapton is a jerk for stealing Rita Coolidge's song.

[@strummercash5601]

And George’s wife.

[@Chatti16]

How unfair this is.. I usually do not listen to any of this nor read anything about Eric .. however I do believe as a fan for over 5 decades that his unusual childhood plus abandonment issues.. caused his lack of giving real love plus understanding it..he possibly never felt good enough.. which lead to he alleged sexual encounters which has nothing to do with us as fans.. I find this all incredibly sad ..plus believe that the correct woman who would give him confidence.. treasure plus cherish him.. plus love and show him what real love means would of made him a man who understood himself better.. I do not feel he received this from any of his alleged lovers.. plus being an addict blurs reality ! Eric as I call you Epic Eric.. EE I wish you the love you need for your future as you need to feel it desperately 🌹

[@connievino4226]

No George didn't attend the wedding.

[@richardfederico9461]

Shit story He’s spoken of this before Harrison was leaving Boyd when EC starting dating her with George’s blessing

[@EviMlcak]

How did that creep Jim Gordon land Rita Coolidge. She was a perfect match to Kris Kristofferson late 70s. Too bad alcohol played a negative part in their marriage too.

[@allanbriggs9007]

Gordon was a brilliant musician however his mental health problems remained undiagnosed until after he murdered his mother. He remained in a mental health facility until his death.

[@privateprivate4378]

You have characterized every bit of this, and it is phony on your part to make it sound like you have anything new from Eric Clapton., while you are claiming that you have any new revelations from Slowhand, The fact is that he's written plenty about this is various books and it makes it ever so clear what he fell for, went about, got addicted to and ultimately screwed up. He has also called his so-called 'love' for Patty Boyd an obsession and/or infatuation, rather than any romantic impulse. His obsessions ruined his and other people's lives and that's been done by many people throughout history.

[@danvelgtr]

Did Rita not copyright her song in the first place ?

[@mikekuhn214]

Rita Coolidge actually wrote this song!

[@RandyBorst]

No the piano coda at the end only.

[@geoffwells5633]

Clapton stole the song from Rita Coolidge who was in Derek and the Dominos. She never was given the appropriate credit for it. Clapton never gave credit to Rita and her drummer boyfriend who helped write the song apparently

[@rellrheeannaRN]

Eric stole the music fine and taped by a besuttiful singer and Cherokee Indian who didn't seem interested... music wizards diagnose its note for note not Clayton's but Rita Coolidge photos taken the moment she heard her music play over the radio her neck veins her face showed her hurt her anger..,. So lie take a wife and steal from a Cherokkee singer We can't beleive anything from you... you stole s wife of a best friend stole music from Rita Coolidge haven't you had enough Ksrma your way she lost her sister who sang in her Kayla song.... thief you and Ostti lasted 2 years or a year ??? Is there any truth in you ?

[@d.freeman53]

Clapton is a great musician but his ethics are questionable! Once a cheater always a cheater!

[@connievino4226]

Who's Clayton?

[@ursulabornhauser1091]

Eric a brilliant guitarist love you for ever❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@lailalola461]

am the real Laïla 😊

[@johnpatrickmatthewsmusic]

Yeah now I know this I'll not support any Clapton song.

[@vickimingus9281]

well he not ugly at all. I'm glad he got well and married an American lady from OHIO.... GREAT STORY BUT THAT'S PPL SOMETIMES WANT IT ALL

[@JohnDoe-fn7ml]

Never liked Eric C music anyway boring as hell and way way way over hyped!! He’s a garage musician.

[@caves51]

Personally if any song was meant to a a love song written for anyone Patty or whomever it was Bellbottom Blues 💔

[@philg1113]

Who gives a shit. Great song.

[@ChristineSedders-mf3fk]

"She's singing hay Laar my boyfriends back" Does Eric know who Laar is? "Yeah, he does." Does Laar scare you? "Yes he does!" Harri Krishna wanted to call her son Vladimir, never mind. George Harri's son. Oops! Oops!

[@ChristineSedders-mf3fk]

Laar says to me "fuck off"

[@ChrisMaloney-q5e]

Rita Coolidge Layla

[@rellrheeannaRN]

Eric stole the music fine and taped by a besuttiful singer and Cherokee Indian who didn't seem interested... music wizards diagnose its note for note not Clayton's but Rita Coolidge photos taken the moment she heard her music play over the radio her neck veins her face showed her hurt her anger..,. So lie take a wife and steal from a Cherokkee singer We can't beleive anything from you... you stole s wife of a best friend stole music from Rita Coolidge haven't you had enough Ksrma your way she lost her sister who sang in her Kayla song.... thief you and Ostti lasted 2 years or a year ??? Is there any truth in you ?