Eric Clapton | Why I Left The Yardbirds (July 1965)

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Clapton leaving the Yardbirds turned out to be a win/win in the end, Clapton went on to make the fabulous 'Beano' album with the Bluesbreakers (and later, of course, formed Cream) while the Yardbirds recruited Jeff Beck who was the perfect lead guitarist for them as they became more experimental and out-there. The Yardbirds were such a groundbreaking band in so many ways and all of the different line-ups made magical records.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Agreed. While I like Clapton's stuff with the Yardbirds, I think they were at their peak with Beck. And Clapton was at his peak with Cream. Definitely a win-win.

[@petebestbeatles9117]

I'm a punker and I like the Yardbirds...

[@alrivers2297]

@@YesterdaysPapers Very true

[@mrblaque]

If he hadn't left, The Yardbirds might not have evolved into Led Zeppelin. So win-win for all of us.

[@paulbcote]

Unearthing this important historical document changes my feelings about Clapton. Good work. Thanks.

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Fascinating interview with Eric who’s always been quite a complex, restless soul musically. His comments about being able to channel his emotions through the guitar ring true, as I think that apart from his superb technical ability it’s mainly his ability to transmit feeling & emotion through his playing that has made him such a phenomenal guitarist. There are other guitarists who can equal or possibly surpass his technical skills on the instrument, but very few who can transmit true feeling & emotion through their playing as Eric can.

[@joeshittheragman6252]

This channel deserves 10m subscribers

[@antarcticorb9197]

Nice little summary of Eric's departure and reasons why he left the Yardbirds. I knew he was a pure blues freak, and had a tough time being commercial, but the idealism faded with age, didn't it? To me, his shining moment has always been with Cream.

[@FuzzyDancingBear]

Yeah after Cream, Clapton does nothing for me. Well, 95% of the time.

[@jonathansturm4163]

OTOH it was an awfully long time until he made a straight blues album! Dunno about the idealism; I’ve always enjoyed listening to him play and managed to see him live back in the 1970s when he was supposedly at a pretty low ebb (461 Ocean Boulevard Tour). I enjoyed the concert hugely and the brief conversation I had with him afterward. A very _humble_ man...

[@heinrichvon]

Derek and the Dominoes were Eric's finest hour, for me at least.

[@FuzzyDancingBear]

@@heinrichvon i definitely do like the dominos material. Some more than the rest but yeah.

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@heinrichvon My first son’s middle name is Duane after Duane Allman. His mother didn’t like Eric...

[@radiomindchatter7994]

Very well done! Eric's exit from the Yardbirds has always,been shrouded in acrimony but it sounds like he and Keith Relf stayed friendly.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

" But if I don't make it big as a musician and I end up very poor, it won't really mean that I fail, not within myself. You have to do what you think is right. And for me to face myself I have to play what I believe is pure and sincere and uncorrupted music. That's the reason I had to leave The Yardbirds." Really appreciate the integrity shown by this 20 year old. Reminds me of a quote by the great American abstract expressionist painter Franz Kline " To be right is the most terrific personal state that no one is interested in." Thanks for this post, YP. All new to me.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks, Willie! Glad you liked it. Great quote!

[@mingithemango]

a purist to the bone, almost obsessively.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Those live cuts from Clapton's time in the Birds are so full of energy.. RIP Relf.. met such a terrible demise. Great episode !!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Thanks!

[@whatevershebrings]

Check out the first Renaissance album and Armageddon, two post- YBs groups featuring Relf (and his sister Jane, on the former) and McCarty....strong works.

[@stevecharman8420]

Eric Clapton: early 1965, The Yardbirds; later 1965, John Mayall Blues Breakers; 1966, Cream; late 1968, Blind Faith; 1970, Derek and the Dominos. How did he do it?? You have to remember a year back then was a lot longer than it is now.

[@roygoad2870]

There’s a 2020 live release of a 1969 performance of Eric playing with Delaney and Bonnie along with George Harrison, Billy Preston and Bobby Whitlock etc, that’s some of the best blue eyed soul and blues ever recorded imo, especially Coming Home 😎 You can see it on You Tube!

[@centralparkjoe1290]

Very interesting. I loved his tone with The Blues Breakers 🤙

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

Marshall and Les Paul💪

[@kelechi_77]

The Yardbirds are one of the most important bands of the 1960s but never really get the praise they deserve, they pioneered heavy metal and hard rock in the mid '60s, and even pioneered psychedelic rock before The Byrds' Eight Miles High in early 1966, they housed 3 of the best rock guitarists of all time(Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton) and even paved the way for Led Zeppelin. Not to mention their huge influence on garage rock which later influenced punk rock, just wow I never really see people mention how much of a big role they played in rock history.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Agreed.

[@josephwirtz8352]

Kalehead, you are correct, the Yardbirds and their influence is criminally underrated!

[@eargasm1072]

I believe that's because their era, however groundbreaking it was and is, was pretty brief when compared to the longevity of other Brit Invasion bands. I mean they had already imploded by '67/68? I rank them just behind the Beatles, Stones, Kinks & Who. And a few ahead of the Animals, Hollies etc

[@tommurphree5630]

You're right . People forgot about The Yardbirds and the younger generations don't know who they were .

[@tommurphree5630]

By what standard is your ranking based on ? Is it popularity , or subjective fondness , or originality and / or improvisation ?

[@tomc642]

Clapton had been with the Yardbirds at most 1 1/2 years. Then they had Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page and became a legend.

[@classiclife7204]

Carefully constructing his own legend to the press, but that's okay. The Yardbirds got better with the new arrivals, and any hypocrisy is forgivable because Cream was so, SO good. Fascinating as always, YP!

[@vrvaughn]

But he didn’t leave The Yardbirds to go to Cream… he went toJohn Mayall’s Bluesbreakers first for one great album. Listen to his scorching guitar work on what’s known as the ”Beano” album

[@whatevershebrings]

None better than Peter Green and Jeff Beck, IMO. They've lived every note they've played, whereas EC aspires mainly to imitate blues legends, it would seem.

[@whatevershebrings]

I must also mention the similarly great, but lesser known, Tony ' T.S' McPhee and Stan Webb,. Now those blokes could lay down a Blues!

[@Nancysinatrafan]

I really love your channel, is fantastic, magical, cool

[@WattisWatts]

Would have loved to see the Yardbirds early on in those London clubs!

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Same here. Where's my time machine?

[@maurice8607]

You bet.

[@lthompson7625]

John, l did see them with their original lead guitarist before Eric joined, Top Topham , in the line-up . Mind you, it was only about ten years ago on one those ‘legends of the 1960s’ type shows. Only Top Topham and Jim McCarty from the original line -up.. They sounded great though. As you said, the London clubs in the mid 1960s was the place to see them. I also saw Eric with his mate George Harrison on that Delaney and Bonnie 1969 British tour as well . Believe it or not , the venue ( The Liverpool Empire) was far from full. George’s last ever performance in Liverpool!

[@WattisWatts]

@@lthompson7625 Yardbirds with Topham is going back some! I heard he was too young to keep on with the band. Think he had a couple albums back in early 70s. Such luck to catch such acts! I saw Clapton with Cream in '68 (among other times ) but that one stuck in my brain.

[@lthompson7625]

@@WattisWatts Never got to see them. Fantastic band, three fabulous musicians.. Remember seeing Jack Bruce in Hyde Park quite soon after Cream split. I think it was a free concert. ‘ Yesterday’s Papers’ certainly brings back some memories!

[@maurice8607]

I really love The Yardbirds but actually prefer them with Beck and with Page. Eric really shined with Cream.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

Agreed. The Yardbirds were at their peak with Beck and Clapton was at his peak with Cream.

[@MaxRadin]

It'd clear he'd outgrown the Yardbirds and was pretty diplomatic about it. He definitely went on to better things . Kudos for not staying for the money.

[@f.w.2054]

What honesty and maturity for such a young man! Ironically I always liked Creams more commercial work, than the straight up blues numbers, because they had already been done, (probably better), and I definitely think Becks Yardbirds were the best version of the band. Still Eric was a god, and handled it well. Not so much today! Thanks Y.P. interesting as always!

[@Scotttyist]

I like that there's a focus on why he's called Slow Hand. It's basically a knock. I always pictured the audience doing the slow hand clap to hurry him along changing his broken strings. Good stuff.

[@jonathansturm4163]

That’s the story. When I saw him play in real life his hands hardly seemed to move while there was a furious flurry of notes coming from his guitar… Seems to me that might have something to do with his nickname.

[@Scotttyist]

@@jonathansturm4163did you see him play in the early days?

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@Scotttyist I saw him in Melbourne in 1974 IIRC. It was the 461 Ocean Boulevard Tour. Renée Geyer and her band were the support act so I got to meet Eric afterward and had a brief conversation with him. Saw BB King the same summer.

[@Scotttyist]

@@jonathansturm4163 Nice one. I'm guessing he was well past the string-breaking phase by then.

[@vrvaughn]

“The new boy” …. Jeff Beck was the new boy … and he is still going strong

[@maurogajardo620]

Because he deserved it...Bluesbreakers,Cream,BlindFaith...top notch records

[@jayhawkjd8565]

Ended up playing a solo on a Beatles tune ... so that ain't half bad at all !

[@javi__...]

Clapton really sounds like a handful to deal with.

[@karaamundson3964]

Wow. Really interesting insights

[@ustheserfs]

a blues purist has no need of chart success. his going to Bluesbreakers proved to be career defining because it laid all the groundwork which was to come. Yardbirds were better served I think by JB.

[@blazefairchild465]

I am very glad my dad liked the YardBirds & Cream ,My self & 2 younger brothers have been die hard Clapton fans since birth. Dad said he would give us a bottle and play Clapton so we would eat , burp and sleep to Cream.

[@stephendavis5530]

Yes...Eric Clapton. Not a bad guitarist. I wonder what happened to him.

[@tomlewis5542]

Dope

[@deirdre108]

He supposedly retired when a Jimi Hendrix came into the scene.

[@stephendavis5530]

@@deirdre108 Yes.....the legend goes that Hendrix jammed with Cream (not sure if it was the Bag o' Nails club) and Clapton was left open mouthed, reportedly exclaiming: "You didn't say he was THAT f*****g good!" 🤣

[@deirdre108]

@@stephendavis5530 Was that the same night that Hendrix played the song Sgt Peppers' after receiving the track from Paul McCartney?

[@stephendavis5530]

@@deirdre108 No it wasn't. It was at a Cream gig at London Polytechnic apparently. It must have been something to witness.

[@deirdre108]

Starting at 01:44 where have I heard that riff before? That NME Top 10 is packed with classics! 06:23 Is that John McVie on Clapton's left?

[@jamesfitzgerald6636]

Yes

[@YesterdaysPapers]

That's Clapton's solo from "I Ain't Got You" by the Yardbirds.

[@martakrupinska674]

Thanks for this interesting video. 🙂

[@blackportspeakercabinets4145]

Would have been interesting if he had joined The Band as he wanted.

[@archstanton3763]

I wonder if Eric or any of the other musicians featured in these wonderful videos, ever watch’s these videos, as we do. Great if they do !

[@kevindean1327]

They do. There's a guy who has a channel called The real music observer and Clapton actually contacted this guy and was interviewed on his channel. They're no different than anyone else.

[@archstanton3763]

@@kevindean1327 That’s fantastic, Eric seems pretty down to earth considering. Yeah I know they’re no different to everyday people in most regards but having someone who’s extremely talented that can inspire one, is a beautiful part of life ! Thanks for the info, kind regards.

[@kendefirtosbarabassy139]

What’s the first song in the video just before the intro? I can’t find, please help!

[@jameschavez6400]

More than just good things happened -gems happened-in-slow and sole album,august whole album,sunset album ,introducing Bob Marley to mass public arms concert,most of the journeyman album to say the least recently made deep blues album great guest spot on blue and lonesome,Rolling Stones album👍😎

[@michaelwilson2340]

Just how many bands was Eric in? He certainly wasn't lazy. And Patti Boyd (Harrison) was looming in the future.

[@whatevershebrings]

Well done, as always. I liked the addition of the Jim McCarty audio. EC hated that 'For Your Love' was more Pop than Blues, but then Cream releases their single 'Wrapping Paper' just a couple years later, if that. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he left the YBs--Beck joined, was a better fit for the group and both players forged the path towards psychedelic music and great experimentation within the Rock genre in their respective bands. But to get his hairs up over ' For Your Love' seems hypocritical and disingenuous. Clearly, as presented here, there was more involved in his decision.

[@chrisbacos]

I'd say he did alright for himself.

[@YesterdaysPapers]

He certainly did!

[@jerrywatt6813]

Great job Y P thanks love the yardbirds clapton beck page i guess you can tell im a guitarist ha ha cheers

[@wyliesmith4244]

In the deeds, not words department, I can't help questioning Clapton's commitment to his bandmates if nothing else. The praise of Eric's playing with Clapton usually leaves out his erratic attendance.. I have seen it reported that Clapton left Mayall's band to take a vacation (in Greece?). This forced Mayall to hire Peter Green, but Clapton returned from his vacation and wanted his spot in the band back. I doubt that it lasted long as I am unaware of Clapton doing any more recording with Mayall. And Clapton apparently did not show up at all the scheduled gigs. In 1966, Clapton failed to show up at a gig in Hertfordshire, so when a YOUNG guitar player said he knew Clapton's parts, he filled in for the show. The fill in guitarist was the heretofore unknown Mick Taylor. Or so the notes for the expanded CD version of Mayall's "Crusade" states.

[@weeooh1]

Always thought Clapton was articulate and insightful, but didnt expect that to come through just as strongly when he was that young.

[@jaykay6387]

You can say anything you want about his reasoning for leaving the group. However, it's hard to argue with the astonishing success he ultimately enjoyed. From Mayall to Cream to Blind Faith to Derek & The Dominos, he had a run that basically set him up for the rest of his career. Ironically, he ended up producing largely forgettable, wan solo material that ended up being more successful than his "classic" period and made the "poppy" Yardbirds material he detested sound like proto-metal!

[@danstone8783]

Eric eventually got over his disdain for doing commercial music.

[@MarkBarna1]

Great photos. Clapton was great through 1970. Too bad he lost his intensity he talks about here when he returned in 1974. Kind of shocking to hear the young Clapton talking about music integrity and look at the terrible music Clapton put out in the late 1970s, 80s, 90s, etc. Clapton is best understood as a prodigy, and few prodigies can keep it going for long into adulthood. Derek Trucks was a prodigy and continues to grow as a musician, so it can happen.

[@CompelledUsername]

He always popped up, even during those years, with a great live record or 1 in 4 albums in the decade that were awesome. Just couldn’t get out of his own way. Too much of a toll was taken by his addictions.

[@Cream1968]

At least he didn’t die like so many others contemporaries

[@officalhumblefish565]

Kids got a future ahead of him 😉

[@SRFDriver]

I bought Yardbirds' albums in the 60s for the pop tunes but quickly realized there were a lot better tunes on them--NYC Blues and Smokestack Lightning being two that jump to mind. I can't imagine what fault he'd have found in them.

[@axxellein]

TRES Cool

[@Nancysinatrafan]

As you know, I am a Nancy Sinatra's big fan, I have this channel dedicated to her. So please, can you make a video about Nancy Sinatra? I beg you, it would be great

[@pabloperez4063]

Very good video

[@tomslick2058]

For your love is the perfect pop song Not cheesy at all. Clapton h had no writing credits on it. Use to think he didn't even play on it. But with head phones you can pick up his guitar.. .

[@weebolddavy]

For Your Love was written by Graham Gouldman later of 10cc, he also wrote other songs for the Yardbirds.

[@tomslick2058]

@@weebolddavy your right. I was thinking shapes of Things. I got to look it up don't think Beck is credited

[@tiborzkarate1]

1:45 what is that song? Steppin' Out" ? or something else .............anybody? thank you

[@YesterdaysPapers]

The song is "I Ain't Got You".

[@tiborzkarate1]

@@YesterdaysPapers thank you

[@m.khizer592]

Did you find the exact version? Could you like no it please. ​@@tiborzkarate1

[@ericcrawford3453]

Love Eric Clapton me my brother & sister always see him when he comes through Atlanta, total professional sounds like his records live never seems to make a mistake.thanks yp

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

Dennis the Menace is on the back cover of the Beano comic book.

[@dennismason3740]

Eric's Les Paul, featured throughout the vid, was stolen in late 1966. I saw Cream in 1967 and Eric was playing a psychedelic SG named The Fool. My SG is named Lil' Devil.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

Clapton and Van Morrison - 2 cats that IMO rose to the top in the 2020's.. they back up as humans what they stand for in music. Seems rare. IMO.

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@Jonathan Birch Yeah Clapton being harmed by an experimental injection is indeed lunacy. Not sure what you're talking about with Van .

[@wraithby]

They called it on the vaccine. Even fanatic Birx says in her new book she knew the vaccines wouldn't work. Van and Eric, talking truth to power!

[@SPINNINGMYWHEELS777]

@@wraithby Thanks for the reply.. they are "working" -but not working as described . They make people ill and or die. That's what's happening around me right now. Have a great day friend.

[@timsullivan3715]

I wish Ginger & Jack got along so I could've seen Cream live.

[@cdprince768]

If he had hung on a little longer, he would have been the one smashing his guitar against the amp in "Blow Up."

[@iadorenewyork1]

I'll wager he wouldn't want to smash his guitar 🎸 ...

[@steveinmidtown]

interesting to compare how Clapton & Ed Van Halen grew up in extreme circumstances which they both retreated into music & the guitar to escape. Both became obsessive & compulsive about it resulting in explosive music & terrible personal demons they battled their entire lives.

[@kabiam]

And the rest is history.

[@SmelOdies]

Eric Idle wrote to me about Clapton, “I read his autobiography and I realized he doesn’t like himself. That’s sad.” Make of that what you will.

[@breathspray]

Jeff Beck was so much better and creative for The Yardbirds.Although they were friends Jeff has so much more vision and fire that Eric didnt have.

[@grokeffer6226]

The Yardbirds are still one of my favorite bands. I hope Mr. Clapton's health is okay.

[@wretch1]

If he hadn't left we wouldn't have had Led Zeppelin

[@scottandrewbrass1931]

Should have stayed with them then, if that's the case .

[@wyliesmith4244]

An interesting interview. If Eric really wanted to play the blues, quitting the Yardbirds was the right thing to do. But the twenty year old Eric of the interview was no blues purist two years later. Not that I am complaining as I far prefer Cream to Eric's stint with Mayall. Heck, I prefer Peter Green's playing with Mayall to Eric's, but then again, I just like Peter's guitar tone. As for the Yardbirds, they were too far ahead of the listening crowd to be dubbed a pop band. There was still a bit of blues underpinning their work, and Beck's innovative playing was as far from pop as Eric's blues playing was. But it sure is nice to hear Clapton himself doing the talking instead of more music writers defining what happened to whom and why. YP strikes again!

[@quinnrollen]

Sounds like he was a bit on the dramatic side..

[@SpikeAsks]

Super Fab Episode; Gotta Love Eric! Peace & Glory To Ukraine!

[@imkluu]

Why wouldn't he get his share of the money form the song being a hit even if he wasn't in the group anymore? He still played on it.

[@389383]

I think it was more about better paying gigs that come from having a hit record.

[@willieluncheonette5843]

@@389383 yes

[@garthkolbeck8674]

Only songwriters get paid. UK bands got paid for the session only. Not a lot of money.

[@dwaynewladyka577]

If Eric Clapton didn't leave The Yardbirds, would Led Zeppelin have formed? Cheers!

[@howamilooking5952]

Eric Clapton on John Lennon's Cold Turkey leaves me giddy

[@deirdre108]

Agreed, I wished they had done more of that.

[@howamilooking5952]

@@deirdre108 Yep. Plastic Ono had so much potential.

[@LeftistUprising]

He did not like playing with the Yardbirds because they were a pop band, and he was a blues purist. So now, he's playing with Ozzy Osbourne.

[@tylerthompson1842]

Poor Keith.. legend. The story was always that For Your Love was the last straw because is was too mainstream psychedelic. Eric ever the blues purest, but he went on to start Cream a mainstream psychedelic rock band lol. Where would Clapton be without hypocrisy.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

I saw the Yardbirds front row back in the day. After one song the cat next to me yelled "Far out Man !" I had to remind him that they were actually quite close.

[@lamper2]

" I wonder how the new boy is getting along"....HILARIOUS.....he did ok. Those NME charts look made up by some guys in a bar or as youse say pub.

[@victorhawkins3461]

Didn't care what he had to say then. Damn sure don't care what he has to say now.

[@hublocker849]

This story is as old as the hills and I for one am getting just a little sick of hearing it over and over again.

[@jonhillman871]

next up eric clapton: why i'm supporting enoch powell (1968)

[@pardyhardly]

This doesn't mention that Clapton once smoked hashish.

[@TheIrishmanFootball]

The fact that Coldplay was the ad is a great example of the difference in music between now and then

[@hepphepps8356]

Coldplay is pretty close to then, actually. Both the business side and musically.

[@terryenglish7132]

To the tune of "Clocks" : Were you fooled ? I was fooled too. The band we hear is not U2. Its such a pretty noise, but its not Boner and the boys...

[@mattwalker5129]

Yeah, well, that's all true, except when he got on heroin and started churning out crap like "I dig '57 Chevys, I dig screaming guitars," or whatever the hell that piece of crap was called.

[@mladen8127]

You're making a big mistake Clapton, mark my words.

[@wellsy1954]

I wonder what that young Clapton would have thought of the older Clapton spending millions on drugs.

[@fredaaron762]

I'm sorry that Eric's prediction about his career not being a "great success" came true. LOL

[@Cream1968]

I don’t expect I’ll make it big…. 😂 G.O.A.T E.C. is the best ever Thanks again great channel! 🇬🇧

[@walterfechter8080]

I once read where Eric said that he wasn't into Psychedelic music all that much -- he's a consummate bluesman. Eric's stint with John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers was nothing short of brilliant. To segue, I don't think Eric liked "For Your Love" all that much. I couldn't venture a guess as to which direction The Yardbirds would have gone had Eric stayed on with the band. It's a credit to Eric that he left The Yardbirds without any deep animosity. My favorite tune by The Yardbirds (with Eric) is "I Ain't Got You." My old band did up a fair cover of that bruisin' and bluesy number. However, Eric more than made up for his reluctance towards psychedelia when he was with Cream. "Disraeli Gears" was proof-positive of that. "Dance The Night Away" is; to my mind and ears; the epitome of 1960s Psychedelic sound -- it's haunting and resplendent. The Yardbirds was a truly great proving ground for one of Blues/Rock's greatest guitarists (Eric Clapton). Eric is not only a truly remarkable artist, but also a remarkable man who has endured much in life. He's not far from The Kingdom of Heaven -- the guy's got a righteous and truthful soul. God keep you, Eric Clapton AND Jeff Beck. Many thanks (again) Yesterday's Papers! Keep up the amazing work!

[@76-UVB]

Never really saw the point of Jimi Clapton, he is proficient but not especially brilliant

[@YesterdaysPapers]

To me, the greatest thing about Clapton in those Yardbirds/Cream years was his killer guitar tone. I just love that tone.

[@BigSky1]

@@YesterdaysPapers His ‘Woman Tone’ as he called it. Yes.

[@crossroader71]

Keith Relf once said that all the magic left the Yardbirds when Clapton left.

[@butterflymoon6368]

Because you're arrogant, Eric!

[@danhunter8970]

bad

[@tomlewis5542]

Overated

[@jorgesuarez7073]

The most overrated guitarist in rock history.

[@Beatedelic_Records]

Wie kann man nur so einen Unsinn schreiben???