[Slowhand] Clapton's minimum effort

[Apurva Parikh]

This is a very good thread, one that crops up from time to time.
I fall in line very much with the Clapton fans who think he's coasting right 
now, has different priorities and puts in MINIMAL EFFORT. Those are the 
operative words.. I have some things to back up my assertions...

1. Clapton announced a couple of years back he was retiriing from big scale 
touring.. Lookee now, he's touring Japan and soon to tour Europe in a MAJOR 
way. WHY? Is he plugging new material? No.. And what have we heard from this 
supposed new album? Nothing really, and what news comes out is that he's 
collaborating with the likes of Sting, Bruce Hornsby, and Doyle Bramhall 
II.. Hardly sounds like the rock/blues album EC promised in a Guitarist 
magazine interview..
So this leads me to believe, our chap EC is perfectly ok with being a doting 
dad, touring Japan and Europe for the allmight pay day, and releasing adult 
contemporary type albums trying to copy people like Santana who had chart 
sucess by doing collaborations..

Simply put, EC likes being a sideman, doesn't like the pressure of having 
the deliver guitar solos, which leads me to.. .

2. The Mayall and COncert for george releases.. While the George DVD is a 
tribute, I cannot fault Eric for not taking chances, but it's a musically ok 
document. The Mayall CD shows our points exactly... EVEN when playing old 
blues classics, he sounds nothing like HIMSELF.. Eric has always played the 
deferential role well, defering to other musicians, blending in, (since the 
1970's) and not rising above the schlock.. I was sooo excited about this 
release, but heard Eric's So-So playing and was put off.

3. Even his live shows, have been well scripted and documented since 1995 
NBTB tours.. I sometimes even pull out my pilgrim shows and compared to 
reptile tour those are quite spontaneous..

I dont know what it is, EC is approaching 60, is married, music is not the 
ends to a means it used to be, he doesn't get off by playing fiery solos, he 
gets off my going through the motions, collecting paychecks.. It's his 
right, I will always be a fan, but doesn't mean I have to like it....

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