What's your verdict on Eric Clapton? Have you canceled his music?

[Bundbuster]

A few years ago you probably saw this reported (from 2021):

*snip*
Clapton has spent most of the Covid pandemic trying to undermine expert medical advice. Like fellow aging irresponsible crank Van Morrison, Clapton has opposed lockdowns. Now, he is claiming his temporary adverse reaction to the vaccine is a sign that the vaccines are dangerous.

Yet, in the United States especially, few people know of his history of egregious awfulness. Clapton is a decades-long lesson that cancel culture does not exist — and a strong argument for why it should.

Any discussion of the worst of Clapton has to start in August 1976. At a Birmingham concert. Clapton urged the audience at the venue to support Enoch Powell, a viciously anti-immigrant conservative politician, and reportedly added that he thought Black people — which he referred to by using two different offensive slurs — should leave the country.

Clapton abused his wife, which he also blamed on his addiction (you may be noticing a pattern.) “There were times when I just took sex with my wife by force and thought that was my entitlement,” he told The Sunday Times while discussing his alcoholism.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/eric-clapton-vaccine-propaganda-conspiracy-racist-b1849024.html

From Rolling Stone in2021, a more severe criticism:

*snip*
Clapton recently embarked on a U.S. tour booked in red states despite surging transmission numbers and death rates — and at venues that largely don’t require proof of vaccination. In the process, this Sixties icon, who embraced the sex, drugs, and rock & roll lifestyle as much as anyone in his generation, has drawn praise from conservative pundits. In Austin, he posed for backstage photos with Texas’ anti-vax-mandate Gov. Greg Abbott, known for his attacks on abortion and voting rights. The sight of Clapton in backstage photos with the notorious governor amounted to a deal killer for some: “I just deleted all my Clapton songs,” went one comment on Abbott’s Twitter feed.

In an 1968 interview with Rolling Stone, Clapton referred to (Jimi) Hendrix with a derogatory term that was also hipster slang at the time. But maybe even more troubling was how he displayed a predilection for some racial stereotypes: “When he first came to England, you know English people have a very big thing towards a spade. They really love that magic thing, the sexual thing. They all fall for that sort of thing. Everybody and his brother in England still sort of think that spades have big dicks. And Jimi came over and exploited that to the limit, the fucking T. Everybody fell for it. I fell for it. Shit.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/eric-clapton-vaccine-lockdown-racist-comments-1239027/

I've easily canceled and shit-listed the racist, vehement antivaxer, misogynist person that Clapton is. But I'm having trouble never listening to his music, probably because it has been the soundtrack of my life and music is a daily refuge for me. This all makes me feel really uncomfortable and conflicted, and I'm very interested to hear the thoughts of other DUers on the matter. Thanks.

[underpants]

1. Other than Cream I never cared much for him.

He’s a racist POS personally.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

6. I was going to say Cream, only...

... also. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker on White Room... OMG!

[underpants]

13. They made the band

The music blended very well. I often lost the guitar which I have to admit was very good.

[MuseRider]

84. 100%

Cream was wonderful but after the first album I really lost interest. There were so many great bands everywhere you could listen to that I just kind of lost interest in them.

He is an awful man apparently. I do not have time in my life to even try to make a case for his music compared to his awfulness.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

87. I like his stuff through his first solo album

After that I couldn’t care less. But Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney and Bonnie, Derek and the Dominos are all solid. Whether it’s because of Clapton or others, is debatable.

[flashman13]

97. The great sounds on Derek and the Dominos was thanks to Duane Allman

(Derek get it) not Clapton. The second half of Layla was truly inspired even by Allman's standards. Brother Duane was truly a beautiful spirit to go along with his unsurpassed talent.

[odins folly]

140. Eric was Derek

Duane Allman was not part of Derek and the Dominos, he was with the Allman Brothers. He just played slide and guitar on most of the songs. he and Clapton met after an AB show and had a mutual appreciation for each other’s playing.

Because of the lackluster reviews of Clapton’s first solo album and because he liked the anonymity of playing in a ban, he didn’t want it to be Eric Clapton and Friends.

At least that’s what I read Lincoln said on the internet…

[LiberalLoner]

143. Jim Gordon had a lot to do with the greatness of that group.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

157. Didn't Rita Coolidge have an uncredited hand as well? Nt

[jimfields33]

128. I don't know about racist, but clearly after his son died after falling out the window,

He changed. I’d never want to be in his shoes.

[FlyingPiggy]

148. I liked him in the 90's but not enough to continue past into the millennium.

I will say boycott him but he’s been pretty irrelevant to me for nearly 30 years.

[ificandream]

2. Clapton's an ass, but I'll never stop loving "Layla"

I can't...

[calimary]

20. I used to use "Layla" in segue sets - where I'd

cross-fade songs that had a similar guitar riff at the end of the song into the starting guitar riff of “Layla”. You’d be settling in, rockin’ along to one song and all of a sudden you’d realize -“OMG! What was that? The song just changed! When did that happen?”

LOVED doing that. LOVED LOVED LOVED it. It kinda became a signature of my show. College radio. It sure got me started.

[Ponietz]

112. Bell Bottom Blues gets me every time

[yardwork]

3. I never liked his music much, so no difference really.

[FrankBooth]

4. He's a dick

And always has been. But I can still enjoy his music from time to time, although I would say I'm pretty burned out on most of it by now. Same goes for Van and pretty much every other musician/artist I disagree with politically--I can separate the art from the artist to an extent. Of course, there are bridges too far, like Nugent, although if I heard 'Stranglehold' I probably wouldn't turn the speaker off.

[ancianita]

5. Yes. His, Van Morrison's and Kanye's

[John1956PA]

7. I do not usually "cancel" entertainers.

I give entertainers a good bit of leeway in their remarks regarding their opinions on political matters. I have not cancelled EC. For decades, I felt that his 1970 album "Layla and Other Love Songs" was the greatest. Over the years, my tastes have migrated from classic rock to newer music styles.

[Bundbuster]

12. Interesting stance

When an actor like Mel Gibson or Roseanne Barr shows me their true colors, I'll never watch another of their movies. I think my reluctance to abandon all of Clapton's music is that after his return to real Blues, his stuff makes up the largest segment of my playlists.

[Jokerman]

8. I used to be a big fan.

Attended several of his shows in the 80's and I still listen to Cream now and then but I've removed most of his stuff from my playlists.

[Persondem]

9. The person .................................................... Their music .....nt

[Raven123]

10. I like his music. Will listen, but won't buy

[FrankBooth]

11. Good distinction

While I may listen to his music occasionally, I definitely would not purchase anything by him now, and would be less likely to even stream it knowing he gets a cut.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

37. Yes. Hear his music, silence his negative speech, don't send him money. . . . . nt

[maveric]

14. Overrated.

[Bundbuster]

16. Although he's a terrible human...

I still think he's a top 3 all-time guitarist with Hendrix and Jeff Beck.

[maveric]

46. He's a few players lower on my list.

Hendrix, Beck, Page, SRV, Duane Allman, Johnny Winter, Santana, Roy Clark. Then Clapton.

[tenderfoot]

69. You forgot to add Townsend, Zappa, Fripp and Mick Ronson to the before list.

eom

[LoisB]

72. ...and Prince

[maveric]

110. Yes. Forgot him.

[japple]

117. Kept saying, Where's Prince? I like to read all the comments before I post, because someone has usually

beats me to it. Thanks!

[brush]

111. Can't beat Keith Richards' nasty riffs either.

[LoisB]

144. This is true. So many I would put ahead of Clapton.

[JanMichael]

153. Add Terry Kath to that.

[hatrack]

104. Hugely . . .

Take overrated, toss in a quart of Asshole and a half-pint of racist, and fuck that guy.

[viva la]

139. Speaking of monstrous stars...

That reminds me of the best Woody Allen line after "Yale" starts listing musicians he thinks are overrated.

"Mahler? Mahler?!!! Overrated?"

[ms liberty]

15. I've always thought him overrated, and now I can say it

Without all the obligatory, oh he's a rock god crap. I've never bought any of his music, although through inheritance and marriage I have some in my collection. I usually change the channel when most of his songs come on, because they don't do anything for me.
I feel similarly about Van Morrison's music, too.

[PTL_Mancuso]

45. With ya on that!

But I have to admit that his guitar was as much the undeniable sound of an era, along with Hendrix, and it could be argued that a lot of that was due to the explosion in electronics (guitar pick-ups, pedals, amps, etc). It was a short, but indispensable, run in rock history in the US and UK. After the early 70's, so many great rock/blues guitarists came of age to knock him off the top of the pile. But of course, we all have our faves. I will always have favorite Cream and Van Morrison songs but I'm far from a fan-boy for either.

[Shermann]

51. Not any rock god, but God himself in the 1960's nt

[ForgedCrank]

17. I don't

cancel entertainers and sports teams, etc. based on what their opinions are on these matters.
I ignore them when their mouths are flapping instead of singing because not a single one of them is any more intelligent that the rest of us.
Hell, fact of the matter is, many of them are dumber than average. Their opinions on social and political subjects is meaningless.

[BlueTsunami2018]

18. I never really cared much for him in the first place.

I always felt he was overrated as a player and he’s a shitty person to boot.

[tenderfoot]

19. Eric Clapton: Rock & Roll's Most OVERRATED Figure

eom

[Chakaconcarne]

21. Never liked him

[LuckyCharms]

22. His music never hit me emotionally, and

it seems like he has turned into a complete asshole.

[localroger]

23. The artist is not the art

Pablo Picasso was apparently a horrible person, but the world is a richer place for having his paintings.

[Bundbuster]

30. That's a really pragmatic attitude.

I will strive to keep it foremost my mind. Thank you for the input.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

33. Well stated, both reply title and body text. . . . nt

[ret5hd]

38. Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole...

as is well document here:

[localroger]

43. He was accused of being an art thief

...and a gun nut who liked to carry unloaded so he could "fire" at people who annoyed him.

[PTL_Mancuso]

62. On the subject of Picasso. . .

If you have never seen it, there is a remarkable 1965 French film (with Eng. subtitles) called The Mystery of Picasso that has him actually create/transform/erase a couple dozen artworks right in front of our eyes using a special kind of transparent "canvas". If you like his art or are merely a fan of experiencing semi-real-time, unbridled artistic creativity, this may well astound you.

BTW, great tune with an attitude

[tenderfoot]

67. Clapton isn't worthy of shining Jonathan Richmond's shoes.

eom

[MrsCheaplaugh]

150. Or Ivy Rorsach's. NT

[hatrack]

105. "Girls would turn the cover of an avocado . . .

When he drove down the street in his El Dorado".

[tenderfoot]

64. Clapton doesn't make art

or music for that matter.

[japple]

118. Yeah, he copies it.

[tenderfoot]

130. Or has someone else help with the writing

eom

[japple]

131. Like Leon Russell.

[Bayard]

74. Agreed

I'm not going to marry the guy, just listen to his music.

[Martin Eden]

129. Ted Nugent is execrable, but I still like his 9+ minute instrumental "Hibernation" from 1974

"Let it Rain" is probably my favorite from Eric Clapton.

I can still enjoy a John Wayne movie now and then, though he was a rightwing supporter of McCarthyism and the Vietnam war.

[Voltaire2]

155. The artist and the art are also inseparable.

Yes of course a work of art is clearly not the artist. However it is also clear to me that 'a work' entails the 'worker', the artist is expressed in the art. So there is a dialectical process here, art stands on its own and yet our experience of that art cannot be separated from our knowledge of the artist. Knowing Picasso was a frequently horrible person is now part of the experience of his art.

[Ponietz]

159. Let's go back and cancel Caravaggio, too

[link:https://www.spiked-online.com/2020/07/16/theres-a-reason-great-artists-are-assholes

There seems to be something of a purge going on at the moment, targeting any writer, comedian, filmmaker and artist who ever did or said something bad. And I want to cheer it on with the other townsfolk, except for my fear that it will eliminate some of the world’s most interesting art.

Ideally, art would only come from a good place and be created by upstanding citizens who aren’t selfish or screwed up in any way. But so much of the best art is made by utter degenerates. If we get rid of them, the remaining artists with good childhoods won’t be able to handle the workload.

Whether it’s Picasso’s streak of dating women who would later go mad or kill themselves, Jean Genet’s penchant for petty theft or Louis CK’s awful timing, artists’ rap sheets are sometimes as prodigious as their work. And while many of us would be happy to take their art into our homes, we wouldn’t necessarily want them picking up our daughter for prom. ‘Get the hell out of here’, we’d say, before adding, ‘Big fan’.

Why is it often that the most flawed among us make the best things? To oversimplify a little, it’s because there are two types of artists: those who merely want to make art, and those who need to and feel like they have no choice. Guess whose work is better? The desire to pursue an irrational career in the arts tends to begin as a desperate need to escape a troubled background – sometimes based on poverty, an abusive childhood, rejection by the opposite sex, or career suffocation. Whatever it is, the result is the eggs-in-one-basket type of person whose selfish need for attention and producing great art neglects most of what makes a person human.

(My emphasis)

[yardwork]

160. This is a very good point.

[johnp3907]

24. Mediocre guitarist.

Racist. Scumbag.

[edbermac]

25. I separate the artist from the man.

Amazed that a guy that mainlined heroin is worried about a Covid shot.

[Kaleva]

55. Yes. I also separate the artist from the man

I enjoy watching Clint Eastwood and Mel Gibson movies.

I listen to Ted Nugent on occasion

[edbermac]

82. I love the Beatles

Even though John was a total dick to Cyn and Julian

[Bundbuster]

63. *Thread winner*

[Xavier Breath]

81. That's been my philosophy, too: to separate the art from the artist.

That holds for Mr. Clapton, as well as the likes of Kevin Spacey and Woody Allen as well, and no doubt numerous others. I own physical copies of all three's work and will continue to enjoy them in the future. If they're ever nominated for Man of the Year, I will definitely vote "No."

[odins folly]

91. Snorted

According to the documentary about him he didn't do needles, but when he found out you could snort it he was in...

[Nanjeanne]

26. Haven't bought anything new. But still listen when he comes on my phone when I'm driving.

[maxsolomon]

27. He's a sad figure.

I have most of his LPs, but I don't really play them much.

[gay texan]

28. Its crazy...

Once he got off of heroin, he became a 5 alarm asshole....

[ProfessorGAC]

29. Lost Interest In Him

While his classic stuff is still great, my taste in guitar playing has moved well beyond what he does.
I still think he's a very smooth player, but there are players that rely on smooth that do more complicated & harmonically sophisticated stuff.
I was already mostly ignoring him now, and when he started opining on things about which he no special knowledge, it cemented a decision already made.

[NameAlreadyTaken]

31. There's so much better music around...

...why even bother with his sorry ass?

I used to like the Cream hits and "Let it Grow," but these are not enough to be a fan. Would not buy a concet ticket or any songs. If he had a better catalog of songs, maybe he could be somewhat forgiven, but his output has been weak.

[Mysterian]

99. That's how I feel

If I find out an artist is a racist or otherwise a rotten person, I don't listen to their music any longer because I won't enjoy it. Thank goodness there is tons of good music out there -- just need to listen to some different stuff and find it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

32. Listen to his music. Just don't send him any money. It's good music

Streaming services pay a pittance to musicians. So don't fret that. The number of Clapton tunes you listen to in a year might send him 3 pennies. Don't fret the pennies.

Just don't buy a T-shirt or a CD or a vinyl record, unless you are buying used. Well even then, skip the T-shirt. But a purchase of a used CD does not cause any transfer of money to Mr. Clapton.

[justaprogressive]

34. You've GOT to be nuts to be a musician

it's only a matter of quantity and type...

Oh wait, I'm a musician


Don't be conflicted. f'rinstance there are only a few bands I don't listen to because they're racist...

[NewHendoLib]

35. I've never been a big fan. Overrated to me.

[Axelrods_Typewriter]

36. I'm one of those people who never understood Eric Clapton.

That being said, I still listen to music made by some real dickheads because, like you, it's the soundtrack of my life. So I know what you're going through right now.

[TlalocW]

39. Much like a lot of others

I never cared for his music. Always felt that while technically proficient, it lacked... soul.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

40. He's always been a dick.

[IA8IT]

86. "Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars" is a confirmation

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6498644/

[Fiendish Thingy]

41. I still enjoy his Cream and Derek & the Dominoes stuff

But Clapton has been irrelevant for decades.

I’m glad more details about his true self have emerged in recent years, so that history can judge him accurately.

[Captain Stern]

42. My verdict on Eric Clapton? Great musician. One of the best guitarists of all time.

I don't ask my Doctor to give me guitar lessons, and I won't be asking Eric Clapton to give me advice about health stuff.

I'll appreciate my doctors for being good at what they do, and I'll appreciate musicians for what they do. No cancelling necessary.

[PatrickforB]

44. I never really liked Clapton that much. His music is OK, but he lost me with Cocaine.

I had not realized he is a wingnut. I do know he experienced the tragedy of losing his son and feel genuine compassion for him over that.

Should we 'cancel' the guy?

Then what happens with other people want to cancel us because they don't like our positions on things? What happens when someone that has politically incorrect opinions gets shouted down or prevented from speaking at a college? And how about those misguided student demonstrations in favor of Hamas? Today's new left doesn't seem to care much at all about economic oppression - now its all about intersectional oppression, which does nothing - nothing - to level the playing field and ensure the poor working class has a chance. And they don't even question tactics any more.

All 'cancel culture' really does is polarize us more. Shouting someone down is a sloppy way to refute their message, if it is a misguided message.

I always ask cui bono. Oh, I have been criticized on this before, but it is ALWAYS good practice when confronted with something like this to ask who benefits. I mean, wouldn't it be more effective to pull down Clapton's bullshit line by line instead of just shouting him down ?

So who benefits from our polarization? Hint - it ain't us. It is the billionaire parasites and Wall Street showing us yet more shiny objects to distract us from noticing them picking our pockets.

[Nasruddin]

47. Great artist

Great artist, altho his day is probably past (no reflection on him - what a career).
He's been a ... well I have to say it, a jackass for a long time , what we know of his personal life hasn't been great, & his politics don't sound great.

Don't care all that much. I don't have to live with him, & what he thinks about anything, other than a blues scale, I don't care about. A lot of great artists including ones I agree with politically also were/are/will be jackasses.

[NNadir]

48. I liked his solo on Harrison's "While my Guitar..." but...

...he's never been the equivalent of a Jeff Beck or Roy Buchanan or David Bromberg and certainly not Jimi Hendrix or John Abercrombie.

He's just a lousy senile piece of shit human being who is passively competent at making records, or once was so.

I personally needed no "cancel culture" to cancel any interest in him.

[Sogo]

49. I grew up in the 60s/70s, but was not much of a "counter-culture" type person.

That didn't mean I didn't love the music produced by the sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll artists. They had their lifestyles; I had mine, and the two pretty much didn't intersect.

I can absolutely respect and enjoy Eric Clapton's musical talent, but that doesn't mean I have to respect his views or lifestyle.

[Paladin]

50. Anybody who values Greg Abbott's company can do without mine.

The racist spewing seals the deal: Clapton no longer exists, for me.

[GP6971]

59. Hello.

[Vinca]

53. I love his music and hate just about everything else about him.

[Mr.Bill]

54. He did his best work

over 50 years ago.

[LakeArenal]

56. His music stands forever.

Heroes can have clay feet.

He’s an egomaniac. Not an axe murder.

[patphil]

96. Yes, I agree. His music stands forever.

Unfortunately, he has wandered off into the deep woods and gotten lost.
But I'm not going to stop listening to the music that was the best of what he was.

[LiberalFighter]

57. It is a shame there isn't a way for our brain to be triggered to recognized people that we don't like.

Especially at my age.

[Dulcinea]

58. No.

I enjoy his music. "She's Waiting" is one of my favorite songs. That said, I wonder if all the years of substance abuse has rotted his brain beyond redemption.

[Elessar Zappa]

60. Keep listening if you like him.

I still listen to Pantera and their singer is a certified bigot. I just enjoy the art while not liking the artist.

[Celerity]

78. Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power (Full Album) [Official Video]

[Elessar Zappa]

136. Great Album!

I recently saw them in concert although it’s not truly Pantera without Vinnie and Dimebag. Still, Zakk Wylde was great on guitar.

[Celerity]

142. METAL EVOLUTION: ALBUMS -- At the Gates (Sweden) - Slaughter of the Soul documentary (full)

Metal Evolution: Albums is the next level of Banger’s famous Metal History Family Tree, delving deep into the most influential metal albums ever made.

In 1995, Swedish Death Metal band At the Gates released what many metal diehards recognized as a perfect record, SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of this landmark recording, Sam Dunn travels to Gothenburg to interview the band.

AT THE GATES Slaughter Of The Soul (Full Album) 4K/UHD

Label: Earache – MOSH 143
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Death Metal

[walkingman]

61. I've listened to him since the Yardbirds and never even thought much about

his political leanings until the last few years. I have been disappointed with several rockers in the last few years because of their politics and personal actions.

Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, Neil Young, Mike Love, Billy Gibbons, to name a few but they have a right to their opinion and actions. It just seems odd to me that so many who were icons of the Sex, Drugs, and Rock&Roll era would act like that. But you just never know.

Regardless, for those of us that came of age in those times....it was amazing!! ☮

[Sympthsical]

65. If we held people to general standards, Hollywood would implode

There are seriously not great people all over the arts.

As soon as you pick one for special ostracization, the hypocrisy charge becomes valid. Why this asshole and not that asshole? Do you have to like their politics? What if they have good politics but slapped an ex-girlfriend? What if they're generally a decent person, but they said things that can be construed as sexist?

Do the remarks have to be recent, or could they be in the past? Is there a statute of limitations?

Is there a manual?

The moralizing sounds exhausting. I'll just consume what I think is good and leave it at that.

[CincyDem]

66. Clapton was always one of my guys.

Still love the Yardbirds and Cream. Love Layla. Been to several concerts that were great.

I never really "cancelled" him but I confess that my relationship with his music has changed - a lot.

I still listed to the group stuff if it comes on and I'll leave some of Layla playing (because it's got some other meanings for me I'm not willing to put down). But all his other stuff...I just can't enjoy it while I'm spending the whole time thinking about what an asshole he is. So it's not like "oh I love this but I can't put it down". It's more "this isn't worth my time anymore because I'm not happy when I finish listening".

Is that cancelled ? I don't know but it's where me and Eric live now.

[Bundbuster]

83. You are closest to my feelings, thanks.

I don't listen to him as much as years ago. And when I do, it comes to me through a troublesome asshole filter.

[IbogaProject]

68. My least favorite Yardbird

His music is cool, but he is one who has and will never get any of my money. The Clash and The Specials were formed as part of our RAR, Rock Against Racism formed in England and very active in NYC.

[Efilroft Sul]

70. If Clapton were universally canceled, it puts all future Martin Scorsese movies at risk.

I jest. Sorta kinda maybe.

[Celerity]

71. I have always disliked most classic rock (and country) so never had to 'cancel' the racist wanker.....

......and yes, I am fully aware that much of the music I love is either disliked or unknown by many here, but I take no issue with that whatsoever, as it is simply a matter of divergent upbringings, ages, and tastes.

[niyad]

73. who???

[Sogo]

75. No, Yardbirds and Cream.

[sab390]

76. We Badgers know this all too well

Wisconsin is the home of the John Birch society, the posse comitatus and tail gunner Joe. Also Esra Pound. There has always been a debate about if you can separate the life of the man from the poetry he writes. I don't know the answer. We're still debating it after more than a century.

[PlutosHeart]

77. Eric who?

[revmclaren]

79. Drug addled conspiracy theorist has been.

Early works before he blew his mind was good, and his work with others.

Would I buy any more albums of him or go to any of his concerts.

Hell no

[JoseBalow]

80. Eric Clapton stole George Harrison's wife ("Layla")

His close "friend"

That alone tells you everything you need to know about his character... What a scumbag.

[highplainsdem]

88. George Harrison had already cheated on her with Ringo Starr's wife, and possibly others.

[donheld]

90. George Harrison didn't seem to hold it against him.

If George didn't, I wouldn't spend any energy hating him for it.

[highplainsdem]

93. See my reply 88 above. George cheated on Pattie first, with Ringo's wife.

[moniss]

85. I always try to distance the artist as a person

from the art they create unless the negative aspects of them as a person is something they project into the art. Specifically on the subject of Clapton, I've never been one to be a huge fan and I could take or leave most of his stuff.

Now if Van or Eric start writing songs about throwing out refugees etc. I'm going to go against it with all my heart but I'll still listen to "Haunts of Ancient Peace" for example. Creative people can be a tough thing to deal with. Some of the best were also not very nice people. Some were. Mixed bag at best.

[donheld]

89. I won't be canceling Eric Clapton, probably ever.

He may have turned into a grumpy old man. He may have rightwing sympathies. You trot out the old article painting him as racist, pointing to something he said 55 years ago. Stevie Wonder hasn't canceled him. A lot of other other African American musicians haven't canceled him. He's a master musician. Second to none. You cancel all you want, but I won't be joining you.

[LakeArenal]

95. Talk about cancel culture.

I thought we hate that.

[MistakenLamb]

92. Never cared for him outside of Layla and that's mainly due to Scorsese and Goodfellas

[BlueIdaho]

94. Some of his music is good, some is bad.

His early work was full of imagination and then there is a long stretch of work that was pure commercial pap. Ironically his latest acoustic blues is has been pretty good. As a person, I think about that old saying “Never meet your hero’s.”

[Conjuay]

98. never followed rock,

never followed him

[Straw Man]

100. I met him once.

Yes, he's an asshole.

So many "artists" are, but his wretched political and medical statements have poisoned any pleasure I can take from his music.

[Ferrets are Cool]

101. Yep 100% gone from my playlists.

No apologies

[Mr. Evil]

102. I could give a shit about Eric Clapton.

I'm 63 years old and still search for new and exciting music. If anyone reads this they can see my sig line and know that I prefer Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Clapton originated some phenomenal riffs back in the day that so many bands used to build upon. But, so did Jeff Beck and Michael Schenker (founder of Scorpions and UFO).

But, Eric Clapton, as a person, is an asshole. Take away the guitar and read most anything he's said about people in general... he's an asshole. Fuck him. He's an asshole.

Here's something new that's all female and kicks ever- lovin'-ass!

[Grins]

103. Dumped him YEARS ago.

And nothing since then made me pause and reflect…

[Ziggysmom]

106. Meh. EC is highly overrated. I'll take sir Brian May, a liberal genius, too!

?si=K4gFQ8rLxKR-dxp2

[BigOleDummy]

107. Never been all that impressed with him tbh...

... I mean ... from forever too lol. Yes, Cream was a eye opener of a band. But ...... it works because of how they all interact with each other. No one component "made" Cream. That, and a great sense of timing lol. Anyway... by the time Layla came out I'd already had more than enough of Mr. Clapton.

[Chautauquas]

113. Same here

For years people told me how great he was but then I'd listen to his albums, or for that matter the singles that made the charts, and I just didn't like the music all that much. For that reason when I learned of his politics and stances on social issues it was easy to just ignore him altogether.

[world wide wally]

108. I can't help but love his music. He defined rock guitar to me, but I wish he would have just

kept partying and playing his guitar. He surely falls short on being a life advisor.

[brush]

109. Thanks for posting. I knew the MFer was vile, but not this vile.

[retread]

114. He made an album copying African-American guitarists. He used a Les Paul and a Marshall Bluesbreaker.

He then had the good musical sense to form a band with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.
After that -- meh.

To sum up--
John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers
Cream
meh

[dembotoz]

115. a lot of very wealthy folks become jerks

he is not an exception but one of many.

everyone tells you you are wonderful and you believe it.

[totodeinhere]

116. If I like the music I listen to it.

I don't go into the background of the singer to determine whether or not there is anything there that I disagree with. I just go for the music.

[duckworth969]

119. Hearing this stuff about Clapton or other artists

Causes me to reevaluate their work and nearly always colors any future enjoyment of their product.

I can respect their work, but have no respect for them as a human being, and this in turn diminishes my enthusiasm for their output.

And because they’re wretched people, I’d rather support the work of others who aren’t.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

120. A friend wrote a song about him and George Harrison

The chorus was something along the lines of "If I fucked my best friend's wife, at least I'd have the courtesy to not write a song about it."

[mike_c]

121. I don't share some of his opinions, but I love his music.

I listen to him play, not preach. He remains a guitar god IMO. His other ideas don't diminish his music one bit.

[delisen]

122. Play and Pay

Play his music that is part of your life. Seek out out and contribute to some worthy organizations tha Clapton will never support.

[JCMach1]

123. In the 'Crank' bin with a number of other artists...

Never liked him all that much anyway...

[milestogo]

124. I don't care.

[liberalmuse]

125. He's a POS

And way, way overrated as a guitar player. His bigotry has ruined his music for me, but no loss, really. There are plenty of artists who are more talented and not racist.

[Bev54]

126. Yep, quit listening to him a few years ago.

[AkFemDem]

127. Nope, I don't cancel celebrities

I still watch old Kevin Spacey movies, sing along when Kid Rock’s “Sweet Home Alabama” or Kanye’s “Stronger” comes on the radio, I still read JK Rowlings books, Midnight in Paris is still one of my favorite movies ever despite being made by Woody Allen… I can think of dozens and dozens examples like this. Probably the only “celeb” that I’ll never watch again is Trump and the whole Apprentice series despite finding that fun once upon a distant time. I just find it easy to separate people from their art…. And good thing because if you ever looked too deeply at most of the art-music-writing-acting geniuses over the span of human history you’d probably be very disappointed.

[Happy Hoosier]

132. Fuck Clapton

And other than “While my guitar gently weeps” I don’t care if I ever hear a song he plays on again.

[samplegirl]

133. I can do without him!

[Earth-shine]

134. Never liked his music.

Only Layla. That's it.

[erodriguez]

135. The good thing is there are plenty of other artists to listen too

[njhoneybadger]

137. Fuck Eric Clapton

[viva la]

138. The music is more than the musician.

I'm going to go on loving Layla.

Really, if we stop listening to music by bad people, the Top 40 will be the Top 4.

[drmeow]

141. Any music of his

that I already own I will still listen to (although I don't like much of it). I figure he's not earning any more money off of me playing my CDs (and since I won't do Spotify, that's a moot issue).

I will not buy any more of his music nor go to his concerts. I will make every effort to avoid putting any more money in his pockets.

[edisdead]

145. His music sucked BEFORE his racist rant.

So yeah.

[angrychair]

146. Threw his music out

After the very first comments I heard. Fuck that racist antivaxxer asshole

[Crunchy Frog]

147. Yes. Him, Roger Waters, and Peter Yarrow, currently.

And yes, it's been really painful as the music of all three has been a really big part of my life too.

[elias7]

149. F*ck cancel culture. It is a 21st century lynch mob mentality.

I can’t even begin to explain who resonantly wrong cancel culture feels to me. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

I despise Eric Clapton’s choices, but I despise the mindset that thinks about cancelling someone even more.

[intheflow]

151. No.

I’ve always hated some of his songs, like the drunken rant, Wonderful Tonight. I won’t buy anymore music he produced, but he’s an amazing musician and I don’t see why I should remove great music - the soundtrack from my youth - from my life just because I found out he’s an asshole, 30 years after he’s released any popular songs.

[Voltaire2]

152. Dude has been a piece of shit for a very long time, and his music aint all that good either

[DFW]

154. I make the separation.

Way back in the sixties, I had a band that opened for some of my musical heroes, and got to meet others. One of my biggest honors was to open for one of my favorite bands at the time, the Youngbloods. Perry Miller ("Jesse Colin Young" ) wasn't interested in talking to anyone, Lowell Levinger ("Banana" ) and Joe Bauer were sour tempered, and Jerry Corbitt was the nicest guy you could ever want to meet. One out of four. I was devastated. But I still loved their music. My brother-in-law was once a roadie for Ray Charles, whose music I always liked. He was abusive in the extreme to his back-up musicians, sometimes even humiliated them on stage. I once hung out with Johnny Winter and his band backstage at a festival in France in 1970. Johnny Winter, like Jerry Corbitt, was a prince of a guy. His number two guitarist, Rick Zehringer ("Rick Derringer" ), was a nasty asshole. But he sure could play guitar.

Just like politicians, some of the people I wanted to hate, I ended up liking when I met them, and some people I considered heroes I didn't like at all when I met them.

There's nothing to be done about it. If a politician's (or media personality's) stance is diametrically opposed to my own, then that's the way it remains, no matter what I think of them personally. If I would stand cheer out loud at hearing someone's political stance, and then find them to be an asshole, that's no reason to go out and join the Republicans tomorrow. If I like a piece of music I hear, and then find out I can't stand the person making it, that doesn't change what I heard. That's just the way the world is.

[mucifer]

156. My Father was a Liberal Jew who loved the music of Wagner. He could separate it. But,

me, not so much.

No more Eric Clapton.

I love my dad . Just don't agree with him on this point.

[Wingus Dingus]

158. I can mentally separate douchebags from their creative works.

If you couldn't, you wouldn't have much left in life to enjoy.