Eric Clapton talks about his guitar and plays some licks (1968)

Eric Clapton interviewed in 1968

[@CaptainVapes]

People who say he is over rated don't know him or know his history of playing, his early days of playing was outstanding tone wise, and his playing today is fucking legendary

[@marvinc999]

RawShooter - "People who say he is over rated " The Romans said the same things about Jesus..............................

[@naaveenmahadeshwar7889]

He was considered a legend even before his Cream Days! 🙏🙏🙏Love from India 🇮🇳

[@jamesdonovan1524]

Definitely a fairly innovative player and talented. I think he gets criticism for his personal life (rightfully so) and that most all of his playing styles were adapted from Chicago or delta blues players who actually developed the phrases he uses. He isn’t considered a great songwriter as he did many covers from various artists. But undeniable natural guitar talent.

[@curragh4635]

@@jamesdonovan1524 what do you mean rightfully so?? he was diseased. oh you must be a big fauci fan i get it

[@johnsolis7631]

was greatest white electric blues player, there are really no white guys with the intonation and feel.

[@DoubleVisionandco]

My god the sound he got with that SG. Unmatched.

[@sotis1756]

Yeah the SG sound is one of a kind.. Take iommi for example

[@dezionlion]

Speakers were better back then as well!

[@mrbsred1]

Clapton and Hendrix were the greatest guitarists of their time. Both very humble people too. Legends forever!

[@physicalzeppelin2326]

Don't forget about Page

[@mrbsred1]

The Walrus I'm not really a big fan of Mr Page. While I appreciate his talent, I don't like his guitar playing as much as Hendrix and Clapton

[@fender512]

The Walrus Page was sloppy

[@physicalzeppelin2326]

fender512 Page is a fucking god

[@krazykill698]

We can all agree page sucked ass when he did heroin

[@johnthelad]

I saw this interview on TV back when it was first aired in around 1968. I've been wanting to see it again for years, but thought it was lost forever. A big thanks for putting it up, so I could enjoy it again.

[@comanchio1976]

It's also on a Cream farewell concert DVD, you could probably pick it up for next to no money

[@rabendranath]

2:50 "Could you just do that again?" This is when the interviewer falls in love with the electronic guitar.

[@parkerhatcher224]

rabendranath I'm so used to hearing "electric guitar". When I see or hear "electronic guitar" I always imagine someone on a radio ad, talking up the new Fender telecaster electronic guitar. Or the improved Gibson les Paul electronic guitar. That fuzzy upbeat voice just loops in my head. It's a laugh. Love it!

[@alonzogarbanzo]

"...Someone control...electronic guitar..."

[@devintariel3769]

Parker Hatcher Well electronic would be solid state, valves and circuitry. So electronic would only be proper if the pickups were running through a circuit which some guitars have.

[@bobs.stevenson9704]

'electronic' guitar lol

[@markhughes7927]

Yes I could sense him going over..........!

[@RelaxingKorean]

He looks like Sirius Black from Harry Potter in this interview.

[@jabberwocky7964]

He totally does haha

[@aussierule]

He's so enthusiastic about teaching and telling other people about his methods. A real musician.

[@Cwm368]

he was so young then. 23. now 71 wow... can barely recognize him

[@airmanfpv964]

Cwm368 50 years can change how u look

[@nickimorelli9991]

@cwm368 I know what you mean and its not because it is 50 years later. He has completely changed. The way he speaks, his mannerisms, everything is soooo different. It make me sad. I adore him & always will but in 1990 he was a gorgeous 45 year old Englishman and now he resembles all the old Irish guys at my church who collect money every Sunday. By 1999 in his interview on "60 Minutes" he looked like life in Antigua has aged him & relaxed him way too much. Even at the Concert for George every guy except him wore a jacket and he looked too casual, like somewhere along the way he gave up and just became old. I do not expect him to still wear Armani or Versace suits but his casual old man look is aging him terribly. All his contemporaries are still sporting edgy casual looks and Clapton looks like he should be on his front porch yelling "get off my lawn". But if he looks like this because he is really happy and content with his life, I am glad for that.

[@jrusovich]

I looked forever to find this video. I remember watching it when I was a kid and was amazed by Clapton's style of playing. There was no one like him back then, and in spite of the fact that he bears little resemblance to this today, the interview reminds me of his astonishing talent, which was so ahead of his time.

[@Gilmour3]

the sound coming out of his guitar when he kicks the pedal is so fucking badass...

[@michauui]

he has one of the most elegant vibrato and bending of the world

[@tjnugent62]

Clapton has great vibrato...

[@cypressdobro8759]

who has the most infamous? clapton and the floating vibrato Blues boy king and the butterfly vibrato David gilmore ,i think, has the most mature, refined tremolo arm vibrato. (he said its easier for him to use tremolo arm these days)

[@BicycleJoeTomasello]

Paul Kosoff

[@scottmclaughlin5221]

Mick Taylor-smoother vibrato- maybe less aggressive

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

IN terms of tremolo don't forget Beck and some of his emulators like Scott Henderson. That's pretty damn advanced tremolo work.

[@electriccreamman4977]

TJ Nugent sure does

[@bonadrag2877]

Looks nothing like the Clapton we know today, but the voice is the exact same! Even the guitar playing is a different style.

[@keithlau2105]

just like Bob Dylan,they were just blessed by god in their youth I think

[@CompelledUsername]

Gaetano Novielli Depending on his haircut or facial hair style, he aged and grew younger by twenty years either way on the same year long tour.

[@DucksDeLucks]

Really love Clapton. He's the indispensable rocker for me.

[@OnTheFritz602]

I always liked his tone so much better when he was playing Gibson guitars, before switching to Fender Strats.

[@bobs.stevenson9704]

bullshit this is what got him on the map, when he swaped to Fender copying buddy guy everything turned to shit time to copy JJ cale music and get around wearing a business suit.You can even see EVH copied the cigarette in the headstock. This was his best time.

[@greatvanzini]

Loved Eric since I was a kid but there is a Spinal Tap quality here.

[@G0K3001]

+greatvanzinni .....well,if you put it to "O" .....its less then zero isntit?

[@greatvanzini]

+G0K3001 LOL.

[@fiddleandfart]

... yeah, exactly the kind of interview (and accent), that influenced Spinal Tap...

[@robmarchese]

So well put! Nicely played, sir.

[@DrWhom]

Listen to the sustain...

[@2littlelies]

excellent, most enjoyable piece of footage......just great.....thanx 4 putting this up

[@ShadaxOfTheRift]

Eric Clapton is and forever will be my favorite artist. Whether I play "Wonderful Tonight" for my girl or "Tears in Heaven" in honor of my father who passed away in 2017, his music is extraordinary and has helped me through every step of life. God bless you Eric. I wish I had the chance to see you live in concert. ❤️

[@evanmorrow3333]

So cool seeing Eric with a Gibson back in '68...I remember hangin out at the poolhall in 1968 (much to my mothers chagrin) and listening to the jukebox play the music that was hot at the time........I was just a kid that didn't know shit but thats where I first heard Eric Clapton 's guitar work .....I was instantly addicted and to this day Badge is still one of my most favorite tunes no matter how many thousands of times i've heard it. Thats also when I knew I needed to get me a guitar and it's because of Eric Clapton. I owe him big time........Thanks Eric.

[@justinwojcieszak6047]

"What you mean you want me to break the guitar up?" hahahaha i love this guy

[@mikeroberts9501]

Damn, how cool is this? Look at those Marshall stacks! Shows why Clapton is Clapton! Love that "Fool" paint job, the wardrobe, the hair, moustache, sideburns. Prime 60's slowhand!!

[@TheThinker39]

It was great to see and hear him as he was at that time. Thanks.

[@tejastiger61]

A million Thank yous to whom ever was nice enough to share this fantastic piece of history with the rest of us. I had never seen this before until today .... B R A V O.....! Well done ......Well done indeed.........!

[@johnbohlinger4868]

Man, you forget how great he is. Just incredible, and he was a kid.

[@ursulabornhauser1091]

Eric the love of my life😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@armandopace8559]

He had such a wonderful tone with that SG. Amazing!

[@alanosterman7130]

When I first saw this interview, as part of the AH Farewell Concert film, in a small folding chair theater at Facets in Chicago, (pre VHS), I was totally blown away. Just to hear him talk, sent chills down my spine. When Cream and Jimi's Experience were touring around this land, I liken it to those two Civil War ironclads. The Monitor and the Merrimack. Amps blowing right and left. Creating sounds people never heard before. These two guitarist's were busy changing the world. Quite a time.

[@walterfechter8080]

I've always appreciated the soaring/lilting tone of Eric's guitar in "Dance The Night Away" and the bruising bluesy riffs in "Born Under A Bad Sign" and "Crossroads." I thank Heaven for Eric Clapton!

[@gratiacynthiamaiaporto1596]

Awesome as usual!

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

This is awesome. Happy 70th birthday Eric!

[@ozman6602]

You can always tell who's playing just by their vibrato all the greats have their own signature vibrato Eric Clapton is certainly no exception alot of there alot of great guitarist from that era only two really stand out above all others thats Eric Clapton and Jimmi Hendrix.

[@juliusdanielsson5757]

Same year as he played the solo to While my guitar gently Weeps, such an amazing guitar player!

[@demarchiordie]

Already a genius at such a young age.

[@despinaluigini7991]

Grande Eric

[@LouBable]

Wonderful share:)))

[@bmwnasher]

45 yrs later and still top of his game, personally i think he`s matured well and still an icon.

[@bmwnasher]

+Steve Knight What's your poison then?

[@bmwnasher]

***** Yer he`s good. He`s been dead since 1998 so you`re limited for material, where as Eric will keep producing for the foreseeable future, (only Joking). I don`t worship him in fact some of his tracks i don`t like, that said im 67 and grown with him the guy has been round the block you must admit. Take a look on my yt channel and you can see i love all music.

[@bmwnasher]

Good hot debate on the forum.

[@bmwnasher]

***** Exactly i grew up at his height, but have mellowed towards him in the later yrs, he`s done good and bad, like all muscians, but you have to admit what a great guitarist he his, thank god for YT, ive discovered many great peices of music especially live

[@jimmiemclovin]

Would LOVE to hear Clapton get back to this...

[@RenoWeed]

wow ! best sound ! amazing !

[@williamskinner129]

Love the big spliff stuck in the headstock!

[@tonyy5482]

Amazing tone, immediately. Great details from the man himself :)

[@MrLodonman]

so bloody awesome !

[@circlecloud11]

What a great piece of history this is. At the height of the '60s rock evolution! Soo cool : )

[@maximvolodkin6809]

what a total quality!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ralex3697]

A genius Eric His vibrato is outstanding

[@bakerXderek]

That was bad ass

[@peonwarrior]

That's...the best EC interview ever...

[@tonyred520]

Still playing those licks now bless im'

[@80sbuttrock]

That's about the coolest thing I've ever seen EC do

[@lepidopterarbezj]

his guitar was a smoker.

[@christianadrian28]

Ruediger Gissler Clapton tried to make it quit but the guitar doesn't want people controlling it's life

[@estoy1001]

Hendrix's guitar had the same problem, and look where it got it...

[@alexandrospapadopoulos7384]

Seen that beautiful guitar IRL it was fantastic!

[@lepidopterarbezj]

Haharrrrrr! 😁

[@bugsywayne]

This comment is hilarious 😂

[@chuckvanveen3851]

was and still is....

[@micheleatlilacsrust5785]

I love his smile @ 4:27. And his vibrato is killer. Great clip. . .

[@JayTheLane]

A master back then as well as now.

[@gary12973]

Aaah man, that tone!

[@DoubleVisionandco]

That SG sounds incredible.

[@PyubX]

Notice how the interviewer is intelligent and has just the right amount of attitude

[@luiszarricueta6673]

Impresssssive

[@aleester]

He was only 23 and his tone and technique were flawless, didn't hit a single stray string!

[@MilesColtrane.]

I’m 23 and this made me feel hopeless lol. I’m light years behind his guitar skills at my age

[@MyMuzikVideos578]

Brilliant! Love the "Angry Bits" ;-) BTW, per the discussion on vibrato, props have to go out to the late, great Paul Kossoff aka Koss. Rumor has it Clapton had asked him how he achieved such a smooth vibrato. BB King too, great vibrato, very clean.

[@TomFeelz]

love this. ahhhh mayer's necklace! i mean claptons...now we know mayer's mojo. unbelievable to re-live these times via youtube.

[@Trox118]

+Thomas Gilbert Literally the same one or do you think Mayer's might be a replica? Didnt Jimi have one just like this?

[@TomFeelz]

+Trox118 I would think it's a replica, but who knows?! Did Jimi have one like this too? We should try to find a link with Jimi if you find it

[@gerardoerak]

Thomas Gilbert John who?.

[@ajharvey]

Yeah loved that man everyone had those squash blossom necklaces! Jimi, Stevie and Eric 🤙🏽

[@Traceleeholland]

It’s Native American squash blossom necklace, I have one similar like it.

[@Mooseboy08]

Without a doubt, my favorite era and tone for EC!

[@GioGuitarDude]

+Mooseboy08 Yup. Never cared for fender guitars

[@Mooseboy08]

+GioGuitarDude It's not the difference in guitar brands for me… just the difference in the player.

[@GioGuitarDude]

Mooseboy08 Well the difference in his tone in this particular era was due to his usage of a Gibson with humbuckers instead of single coils. It sounds better because the guitar is better... and of course EC is amazing either way

[@Mooseboy08]

+GioGuitarDude LOL, yes, since I've played electric guitar for over 50 years, I fully understand the difference between pickups. Of course you left out the difference in scale length and set neck vs. bolt on neck, but you probably didn't know if that would confuse me or not! My point (which was not very clear at all!) is that I feel that a lot of times many players concentrate way more on the gear than who's playing it.

[@GioGuitarDude]

Mooseboy08 I absolutely agree and I'm sorry I wasn't trying to act snobbish.

[@texbls]

weird thing i noticed - John Mayer wears the same necklace now.

[@nevigo5519]

+texbls If you notice his guitars,he have made quiet a few of them look SRV ish.

[@gerardoerak]

texbls John who?.

[@goodnoodles1624]

texbls is he heir to the Oscar Meyer estate?

[@MisterTargetNL]

Nevigo srv is one of the most important influans for John Mayer he always sais that he learned everything from the master srv , Eric and BB king

[@barrackdovahkhiin3394]

I'm 15, ive been playing since 8 yrs old. Eric Clapton is my hero.he made me pick up my guitar. and now i can play exactly at his level xD, (in term of speed, feeling, vibrato, licks).he makes his own music, he knows his guitar though and I dont. and now im learning a harder guitarist, Van Halen, Slash, Buckethead

[@gabrielecalcinari]

grande clapton numero 1

[@ekstradycja]

my fav one has always been Mark Knopfler as he fingerpicks and due to his unique sound but love EC as well

[@IDVDalot]

and this one goes to 11...

[@packersfan1905]

Chris C well, why would you make it go 11? can't you just make ten louder?

[@jzac77]

but these go to eleven....

[@StefanLaak]

Thanx ;-)

[@torreshl76]

That sound is so Incredible no wonder Edward fell in love with Clapton.

[@rustymullins6623]

His guitar was up to two packs a day during this period!

[@tylerbrown8971]

Personally I think Eric has always sounded better on guitars with humbuckers. Don't get me wrong he's absolutely great all around. But I love the way he's sounds on Gibson style guitars.

[@airmanfpv964]

Tyler Brown yeah but what about blackie

[@stevedavis8329]

that's because he was vastly better up to roughly 1970 than he has been at any point since.

[@Tomguild1]

This is way cool. Clapton seems real down to earth and willing to share some technique people do not always spell out

[@G8GT364CI]

He was at his peak during the period, from maybe 1965 to 1968.

[@ChristopherGrech123]

Man he could play in those days. I've heard he was never the same after he went to see Hendrix when he first came to England.

[@dariolm1]

Clapton man

[@robsgarage4746]

that early Clapton is classic. those blues riffs and runs rewind me a bit of Page.

[@kylekoplien2924]

He seems real straight here. Good interview

[@MedievalRichard]

Cool stuff!

[@Weedbandit12]

"Jangling noise machine" haha that SG sounds sooo good

[@Aviba]

Master

[@StephenNu9]

Wow. One can see that in his hay day, no one could really top Clapton as a guitarist. His playing glides so effortlessly, yet engaging. I don't think there's anyone who really tops his skills.

[@BBINGHAM032352]

Cream came to Edmonton,Alberta,Canada in 1968 and I have an original 1968 copy of a Canadian magazine to prove it!

[@uncutVidsd123]

i wish i had that guitar today

[@leeanucha]

Wow even back then he sound ahead of most guitarist at that time.

[@12spanku]

Here for my weekly viewing.

[@andythomas706]

If there were no film and no chat, just the guitar bits. It could only be him.

[@postlude1]

That sustain!

[@tonym994]

can't help but think of 'Sittin' on top of the World'.

[@JoeOBrien50]

Whatever way you look at it, it must have been great back then playing 'electronic guitar' and messing about with amps and pedals and shit. I remember it well - just didn't get famous hahaha! Clapton is God of the guitar and sooo cool. Thanks for posting - great stuff.

[@Danthehorse]

Great tone.

[@thomasfarmer1730]

Once dubbed the 'Grandfather Of British Blues Rock' who brought lead rock guitar (as well Hendrix) to the masses.

[@Redlifeministries]

Eric used to RULE the World with his guitar. :)

[@aussierule]

Til Hendrix came and "killed God man." Haha

[@alansaxon]

Chris A yeah Eric nearly gave up!

[@dezionlion]

Blew his mind!

[@herbherbert]

" don't even look at it"

[@connorkelly8329]

Clapton at his best

[@amberinasamkro5985]

Why some people bring Eric's age into this, I get mad. Eric was professional in the knowledge of guitars then at young age and even more professional as he mellowed with age and his playing and don't forget he can sing too, there is NO. ONE can reach him, he IS the best, a legend and always will be. IF George Harrison RIP, was around too, those two would have created a unique duet. Eric YOU ARE THE BEST, IN EVERYTHING YOU PRODUCE AND OFFER. WE LOVE YOU.

[@andradecaio_]

So aesthetic

[@moonkef]

Jesus back in the day when blues rock was new. Its important to keep this music alive and try not to feel like it's been done to death :)

[@fiveinchglass]

Man, talk about a true guitar god....

[@blackdog8822]

Eric , Jimi ,Jimmy , Jeff & Ritchie .In my life are the GOD'S

[@denniswolf3616]

eric clapton is the guitar god

[@exusie]

He's 23 years young ( in 1968 ) and an absolute TONE FREAK !

[@electriccreamman4977]

Love how he mentions vibrato

[@Wheelio]

Clapton with Cream is one of the few blues guitar playing I don't fall asleep to. Blues really improved IMO once the electric guitar started becoming more distrorted.

[@gerardoerak]

Wheelio Rory Gallagher?.

[@Paddy126]

The musical power he had at the time is still breathtaking to listen to. After 35 years of playing the guitar this still impresses me. They say "less is more" but this is misleading. He put an awful lot into his art and researched it well.

[@tmac8892]

The only thing spinal tap is the accent. The guys an innovative master, giving a few insights.