[Slowhand] Victim....or the Crime...?

[An English Boy]

>From: "DeltaNick" <deltanick at comcast.net>



>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



-=-=-=-


.................and though I have agreed with most of the opinions of DN's 
regarding
Clapton's guitar playing....I wonder.....is he really a victim of his 
youthful prowess
and groundbreaking musicianship.....or is he committing a crime by refusing 
to
step up and do what we all (*I*) know he *is* capable of, and put all the 
nay-sayers
back to studying their "How to Play Guitar for Beginners" instructional 
books, and
get on with it???

Is it just too much effort?

If so, that is a crime....!

Lew Campbell~