Who are Eric Clapton's Favorite Guitarists?
This video goes through all the guitarists that Eric Clapton has praised over the years. From Hendrix to Harrison and Stevie Ray Vaughn to Duane Allman. But who is his overall favourite?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
🚨Please consider supporting me as a creator with a 'Super Thanks'. The button is below the video.
or, join my Patreon, if you think this video was worth £3:
www.patreon.com/musicmongoose
Tweet the living heck out of me on Twitter:
👉twitter.com/adam_english_
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fancy some shopping? Hand picked by me! (these are Amazon affiliate links which means I get a small commission if you decide to purchase.)
The Definitive 24 Nights, LP, Box Set: amzn.to/4an8OrC
Axman Eric C (Cream) Blackie - Miniature Guitar Replica - Music Gifts - Handmade Ornamental 1/4 Scale - Includes a Display Box, Name Tag and Miniature Guitar Stand: amzn.to/4cI7ykA
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs [VINYL], LP, Box Set: amzn.to/3TINHcd
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Guitarist 1
02:20 - Guitarist 2
04:01 - Guitarist 3
05:03 - Guitarist 4
06:22 - Guitarist 5
07:40 - Guitarist 6
08:20 - Guitarist 7
09:47 - Guitarist 8
10:50 - Eric's FAVOURITE
#EricClapton #60smusic #70smusic #guitar
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comment 'silly sausage' in the comment section if you've found this secret message. Oh, and subscribe to the channel, you silly sausage!
Just posted a video of JIMMY PAGE'S favorite guitarists. How does it hold up to Clapton's? 👉 kzhead.info/sun/n9B-cruae3SQo30/bejne.html
Duane Allman was the man!
Yes.
Beck! I learned every lick from Cause We've Ended as a kid. He was fantastically unique and unchained.
Peter Guralnick did an interview with Eric Clapton ("Looking to Get Lost." 2020) and my impression was the one he admired the most was Robert Johnson.
Wonderful video...great channel!
Thanks!
Clapton said wryly that he was brought back to earth when he saw the dog's comment on the sign...😊 Rory Gallagher should be mentioned more often...🎉
Hendrix was really impressed by Rory Gallagher.
Rory should always be mentioned when it comes to greatest players of all time
Yea
Rory gets screwed EVERY time these superficial lists are posted.
Poor Rory died a terrible death . First he had a liver transplant from drinking and after 13 weeks in ICU he contracted a staph infection and died. I can't imagine the pain he went through. Peace 🕊️ always Rory Gallagher.
Where’s Peter Green?
Peter lived with Eric for a yr or so during his breakdown. EC gets a really bad rap I think. He screws up. Almost like he's human?
I have no doubt Clapton respected peter Green and Rory Gallagher and clearly thought highly of JJ Cale, given that he recorded an album with him including to successfully recording at least two of his songs. (I'm responding to more people than you).
@@jcruisioso5975 Clapton also mentioned Albert Lee. He's not widely known by the public in general, but he keeps showing up on stage at guitar festivals because he's the guitarist's guitarist.
Dicky Betts was better than Allman!
@@tommyrawlings3046 In your opinion
Thanks again for sharing
Great video
Albert Lee was born in a village called Lingen in the North of my home county of Herefordshire , he's superb, and a nice guy as well. My wife and I saw him in Monmouth a few months ago. We also saw him play with the Everly's on several occasions.
461 Ocean Boulevard showed who influenced a mature Clapton's taste in music AND guitar playing, it was John JJ Cale. Cale also influenced Mark Knopfler who almost copied Cale's style in tracks like Artificial Paradise and many others. Cale was/is the most underrated song writer/guitar player ever to come out of the US.
461 - Eric's grandest work. His acknowledgement and respect for JJ - his finest trait.
ya and he also really tried to emulate JJ Cale's sound with Backless - while doing one of his songs - really well- ...make love to you any old time ... (i'm not sure if that 's the actual title of the song) . Me and a couple of my friends thought their album together was long over due.. lol . I love hearing Clapton express his high regard and appreciation for the huge impact JJ had on his sound and music in general.
claptons best album hands down
Gary Moore
We are certainly not the ones to tell EC who to admire as guitarists, but still I'd also ask about Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore as fellow blues musicians. I'd naturally not expect him to mention here non-blues greats like May, Holdsworth, Ackkerman, Gilmour, Howe, Townshend and more. But please: no Rory, no list complete.
srv and duane allman
I think Eric had a great love of Mark Knoffler as well. I guess the best proof of that was the number of times he played second fiddle to Mark in important concerts ie Knebworth and Nelson Mandela concerts , you could see he was enjoying himself and the music
I was thinking the same thing. I think he admired and respected Mark Knopfler.
Mark Knopfler and Chet "Mr. Guitar" Atkins together were as good as it gets.
Indeed. In one of the autiobiographies of Clapton something is written about the Mandela concert. Clapton said something like that he was very nervous to go on stage next to Knopfler because of Knopfler his guitar skills.
@@Michiel1972 And the result was probably the best version live of Brother in Arms
@@wesleybarton3871 Would love to see Knofler with Chets protégé Tommy Emmanuel
For me Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Gary Moore ,Peter Green, Alvin Lee, Richie Blackmore Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck, Danny Gatton, Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanan's, Richie Blackmore, Jim McCarty Mike Bloomfield , Carlos Santana, Steve lucather, Peter Franton 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🥁🎹
Fantastic taste!
And Eric Johnson , George benson , van Halen, brain may, mark knopfler but nowadays Matteo Mancuso
If you get past the shallow, early perception of Robin Trower as a Hendrix immitator, put that aside and dive into his more than 20 studio albums, you'll find a guy who "lives" in the bends, is wildly creative and varied in style, with meaningful words that not only make sense and rhyme but also match the mood of the music and have great soul. Over the years, Robin has matured and this is reflected in his music. He has written many great blues songs, albums full of authentic blues that draw from Robin's personal life experiences. Besides Robin's obvious awesome technical prowess, he transcends being a mere guitarsonist and acheives the higher status as an observer of humanity, a philosopher, and the status of a true artist.
Love Robin Trower .
@@ttomgast1769 Me too, as you can probably tell...??
@F8Tributo, About 1989 my work colleague Mark, who was a MAD JH fan, and I were chatting about music: I said I was a HUGE Trower fan. He very passionately said he effing HATED RT. Both RT and Mark lived in an English county called Essex and I asked if RT and he were neighbours and if RT had a cat that came and cr*pped in his garden. 'No, he's just a Hendrix copy'. After admitting he hadn't heard ANY of the music and his opinion was from the music press I lent him a cassette with the first three albums on it. 'FAN BL**DY TASTIC' was his reply when he returned it to me. Yes, influences but no NOT a copy. The same tired false accusations still around 20 odd years later when I had a chance conv with two guys on a train who were talking music. So sad that this is STILL the view over here in the UK but commentary I've seen from the US music press is just a distinct Hendrix influence...
@forearthbelow Everyone has different ears its to be expected that we all have different hears . I'm just grateful my ears hear the joy and the beauty that Robin Trower has shared . ❤️
Interesting video - I’d add that when Eric agreed to form Cream, he envisaged himself being like Buddy Guy with a rhythm section. So many of the blues guitarists influenced Clapton’s style - I’m sure his favourites would also include Robert Johnson, Freddie King, Albert King, BB King and Otis Rush. Of the younger players, Robert Cray was a firm favourite too. I wouldn’t be surprised if Eric cited a classical player - he has broad musical tastes.
One of my tabs of "Crossroads" has the double-stop type Chuck Berry riff to which he refers at 5:49.
Alvin Lee?
Met Albert Lee, and Steve Morse backstage one night in Melbourne Australia. Both of them ruined my jacket by writing their names across the back.
Albert is a super nice guy.
There was an interview with Eric Clapton from the BBC sometime back and he said his favorite guitar players were Johnny guitar Watson and Buddy Guy and BB King and Albert King and Freddie King . 😊
I believe that when he was on Desert Island Disc in 1989
Clapton was dominating in the 60's but his playing suffered in the 70s due to drugs and alcohol. He cleaned up his act around 1983. Besides Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck is was an incredible guitarist who kept getting better as he got older and got some of the most unique sounds out of his guitars. Thank you for the video.
jeff beck was technically the best
@@jeffrey-ye9qv I've been a Jeff Beck fan since late 1965 when he was in The Yardbirds. Jeff is my favorite guitarist and he influenced me to play guitar back in the 60s. His choice of notes always astounded me. I am also a Jimmy Page fan and what he did in the studio and live with Led Zeppelin are incredible. I'm friends with Jennifer Batten who was Michael Jackson's lead guitarist for 10 years and played in Jeff's band for 3 years. She had some funny stories to tell about Jeff. He showed her some tricks on the guitar. It's a shame she did not play at the Jeff Beck Tribute back in May of 2023. She sounds more like Jeff than any of the other guitarist that played that night. Trucks was decent but the rest were lousy.
DEREK TRUCKS!
Also Lindsey Buckingham, another master of pickless picking.
Tommy Emmanuel opened for Eric Clapton at a show at the Tennis Centre in Melbourne
Interesting. I did not expect Albert Lee at the top of this list. Maybe I should listen to his music some more.
Clapton was once asked what it felt like to be considered the best guitarist alive. His answer was "I don't know ask Prince". Now I don't know if Prince was the best when he was still alive but he sure as hell was incredibly underrated. underrated. As for John Mayer I have heard quite a few great guitarists say what a virtuoso he is as well. Personally I am a massive Jeff Beck fan. His playing includes a nuanced feel that many of the top shredders just don't have.
No. Completely wrong. It wasn't Prince it was Rory Gallagher that Hendrix was talking about. Prince wasn't even around yet. Princes first album was in 1978. Hendrix died in 1970. High praise for Rory from back when Hendrix, Rory and a whole bunch of other great musicians were on the scene in the venues in London.
I'd fact check that quote... I don't think Eric ever said that about prince
Ironi.
The wording I heard was a journalist asking Clapton, "How does it feel to know you're the best guitarist in the world?" Clapton said, "I don't know, ask Prince!" After that lots of people erroneously claimed that Clapton thought Prince was the best player. Clapton just said that he didn't think Clapton was the best, but Prince thought that Prince was the best. Clapton only commented on who thought they were the best, not who he actually thought was best guitarist. Ha
When Eric Clapton appeared on Desert Island Disc in 1989 he did say that he thought Prince was a genius after he saw the movie Purple Rain
Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Larry Carlton, Robin Ford, Barry Bailey, Mike Panera, Johnny Winter, Leslie West, Steve Marriott, Gary Moore, BB King, Elliott Randall, Peter Frampton, Larry Carlton....
Love erics ambition😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
PAGE ❤
I can't recall Clapton ever saying a single complimentary thing about Jimmy Page.
@@dukeford8893Because he never did.
Eric was jealous of Page as well as P. Townsend who expressed his dislike for Zeppelin . Really , Pete was shitting on Zeppelin , he was really attacking Page.
My favorite is Clapton, although Keith Richards is why I took it up.
Who's YOUR favourite guitar player? And, remember, if you learnt anything new here, please do subscribe to the channel. Thanks!
ALVIN LEE. /R.I.P./
Page
Jeff Beck
Page
Roy Clark is my choice, also of Jimi Hendrix and Jon Bon Jovi if the quotes are true. Doesn't influence me anyway.
Too many to mention. Many are brilliant in their own ways.
You mean there are other guitarists besides Clapton and Gilmore? Wow
Gilmour
Eric never seems to mention the Green God, maybe b'cos when he replaced Eric, he was better than EC.
Close friends. People love drama.
Not true. Peter lived w EC for about a yr after his bad trip
You missed Buddy Guy, Freddie King and Albert King. 3 of ECs faves besides BB and JJ Cale
What? Whoever came up with this list, forgot Freddie king, and Robert Johnson SMH 😅lolllll
Exactly. I’m not even gonna watch it now. The First 3 that come to my mind are Robert Johnson, Freddy King, and Buddy Guy.
BB KIng and Buddy Guy are huge influences on CLapton. Not to mention, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters.
I think Freddie King influenced Eric more than B.B.
Eric a talentet guitarist😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Had he never heard of Chet Atkins or Tommy Emmanuel? The greatest ever or maybe Richard Smith.
I was hoping he said alvin lee instead of albert
Clapton also said he loved Hubert Sumlin Howling Wolf’s Lead guitarist and Buddy guy and BB King but that’s the obvious
Bought Hubert Sumlin a beer at Legends in Chicago. Nice ,sweet , Humble guy. A monster on guitar. He gave us the overdriven blues sound we all picked up on. Legend
Rory gallagher will always be number one 😊
?
Are you actually serious😮@@jeffstumpf9129
Definitely Rory
I think that Clapton's more recent list included Prince, Robert Johnson, and others but, Albert Lee was still at the top.
I mention these artists at 10:58 😊
ERIC really likes John Mayer ; he's always at Crossroads concerts🎸🎵
Puzzling
Back in the day people never got the sound that Jimmy Hendrick play. You could watch him but never get the sound like Jimmy hendrix He was a one off.
SVR plays a version of Little Wing is better than Hendrix
Distortion is what J H did - nothing good.
Listening to many of his 1970’s live recordings, really, Freddie King was The Greatest.
Hey, you forget one other the greatest country musician, dear Eric Clapton friend, J.J. CALE.
Absolutely...JJ CALE
You forgot Rory Gallagher. Unforgivable
No it's not. He can't remember everyone
@@granthurlburt4062 Eric Clapton once told the BBC that Gallagher should be credited with “getting me back into the blues”. If that's not an important influence then what is????
I believe Eric also greatly admired Mike Bloomfield.
Kossoff head and shoulders above.
Wasn't Eric also inspired by Hank B Marvin ?
I know Jeff Beck loved him.
I believe gary moore and prince need to be on the list also
See alvin lee at Woodstock never seems to get much recognition
Is Richard Thompson mentioned?
live? Jerry Garcia. Just waaaaay too many magical moments beyond words. But studio? Hendrix or Beck
You mentioned George Harrison and not rory gallagher And John mayo ??sorry don't remember exactly his last name
Mayall
Joe bonamassa should be included in great guitarist
on YT with Scotty Moore is great.....imo
Eric Clapton mentioned Jan Akkerman more than ones to be the best ever.
Jan Akkerman vastly overlooked and underappreciated .
The word is once, not ones.
So where would Buddy Guy and Roy Buchannon be found?
1. The three biggest influences on Clapton aren't on this list? .NO FREDDIE KING? What the "FK"! NO JJ CALE? You;re JJoking! And no Robert Johnson? You're winding my chain! 2. Mayall was a keyboardist first and a mere dabbler on guitar - thats why he needed Clapton, Green, Taylor etc. 3. Formative influences would also include the Other Two Kings, and Buddy Guy and Otis Rush, and some more acoustic players like Blind Blake and even Leadbelly. Later of course he was greatly impacted by Robbie Robertson (and company). And at times he's enthused over Santana and Prince and even Frank (despite everything).
Eric likes Yngwie Malmsteen ✨✨✨🎸✨✨✨🇫🇴🇺🇸
Roy Clark?? Get station, it was fun. Than j s!😊
Begins and ends with Jeff Beck
I'm a huge Jeff Beck fan
So am I , long live Beck.
Buddy Guy
From Australia , read an article Deep Purple were opening for Cream on there farewell tour in 1968 and after 3 shows were removed as opener as Ritchie Blackmore was killing it every night and Eric found it difficult to follow Blackmore , and i don't blame him , Peace from down under.
I believe that story is apocryphal. He liked blues players. Yes opened for Cream on the Albert Hall concert and they had Steve Howe, who was yards ahead of Ritchie Blackmore. Still is.
Well he used Rory Gallagher for an opener on several tours. That should be enough to realize it's likely bunk. He loved his playing and pushed him on the tours.
Lol Yeah right. But Rory opening for EC was a piece of cake. Cmon man
Jeff Beck
Eric is the love of my life😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
When I saw this picture of Clapton I thought it was Mitch McConnell, scared me to death 😮
He just blows off PAGE ?
Your opening comment assumes that it is only males who follow your channel i.e. "Be a good boy and press that subscribe button" ??
Did you subscribe like a good boy?
Jimmy Page?
He can't sing. He's out!
@@paxchristi2014- JB couldn't sing either.
@@frankholstein4499 He's out!
Albert Lee is fantastic, born in Herefordshire, not far from me. Rory Gallagher is also a great guitarist.
Clapton *LOVES* Zeppelin especially LIVE lmAO
You're nuts. EC hated Led Zeppelin.
Eric and Pete were jealous of Zeppelin.
@@dukeford8893 Twas a joke FordDuke :)))
Sigh. We have selective memory.
@@dukeford8893 not true . He and Pete both said they really like a lot of Zep. Just not all. To them some of it was over the top. I love Zep personally. There's room for everyone.
Yeah, but he did fire Albert Lee back then!
He wanted to have an all-Brit band, a change in direction mainly.
@@athanasiuscontra000 Albert was part of that All-Brit band
There's 100's of great innovative blues rock lead guitarists ...no mention of Mark Knopfler, Gary Moore, EVH, Jimi Page, Elliot Randall, Denny Dias, Ritchie Blackmore...etc ...the list goes on
Lacks Johnny Winter!🎸
Page studied and admired John Mclaughlin! he said !
Anyone who would leave Rory gallagher out as a wonderful guitarist one of the best is not a true person unto himself... and thats Coming from an Irishman...He was far beyond the guitarist mentioned in this Video .....
I wonder why everyone skips Phil Keaggy of glass harp
Way too many people think Hendrix was the greatest because they heard of him and saw a picture of him.
Bill Nelson of Be Bop Deluxe. Probably the greatest guitarist of all time and a genius in songwriting.
I'm Stevie Ray Vaughan and Angus Young
Funny how this bloke pronounces contributed.
John Mayall not really a guitar player.......you left out JJ Cale whom Clapton has mentioned being as being one of his real favs
Eric looks like mitch McConnells illegitimate love child. Remarkable similarity dont you think? 😇
Love jeff beck😊❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
GOD.
Where is Buddy Guy? FAIL....
No mention of JJ Cale or Freddie King??? Come on.
If you’re going to mention Albert Lee… Don’t you have to mention “10 years after”?
Every body forgets how great a Peter Frampton concert are.😊
Roy Buchanan Alvin Lee KIM SIMMONDS YOURSELF JEFF BECK JIMI MARK KNOPFLER DUANE JIM STAFFORD GARY MOORE ERIC JOHNSON
Freddy KIng....Hideaway..............."Beano" album.....Clapton is just 21
Well, Eric said a lot of things, didn't he? I do remember him saying the only other guitar player he would want to be was JJ Cale. 🎸
Matteo Ma ncuso is NOW the BEST!!!!!
Eric Johnson
Gotta be Albert.....
Tatlock?
lol gave your age away.......as i just have😁@@sgbh8874
I can deny he's one of the most talented guitarists.
Clapton was always completely overrated !!! Jimi,Freddie King,Chuck Berry,Allan Holdsworth,Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)Al Di Meola,John Scofield,Scott Gorham,Mike Stern etc Now THATS QUALITY !!!!!!!
I'd ask those guys their opinion. Ummm . Might be surprised.