[Slowhand] Re: '70th Birthday Concert"

[DeltaNick]

The truth is, John Mayall simply LOVED Eric Clapton's guitar playing. He 
didn't think of Clapton's guitar playing as "outshining" him, but as the 
passionate expression of a guitarist, an expression of blues. The more 
passionate, the more Mayall loved it. And Clapton was the ONLY one to whom 
top and equal billing went. The artists on the album "Blues Breakers" are 
listed as "John Mayall With Eric Clapton." Mayall did that. Mayall never did 
that again.

Now, Fast Forward to 2003. Does anyone REALLY believe that had Clapton 
played passionate, expressive guitar, on the "70th Birthday Concert," Mayall 
would have been offended? I SERIOUSLY doubt it. I believe that Mayall would 
have considered it the HIGHEST, the ULTIMATE compliment.

Clapton pretty much downplays guitar nowadays. Yes, there are exceptions, 
but they are few and far between. As I've written several times before. I 
don't think that Clapton puts as much of himself into his guitar playing 
nowadays, and he hasn't done so much in the past 35+ years as he did 
earlier. He just doesn't do his best at all, in that department. I feel 
shortchanged and cheated. And yes, I "know" that Clapton is "bigger" than 
just guitar. But as a guitarist, he's simply "smaller" today, in my opinion. 
And my opinion is shared by many, many people who are no longer interested 
in Eric Clapton. NOBODY can play guitar like Eric Clapton once did, 
including Eric Clapton.

                DeltaNick