I gotta say it again, Clapton is a suckwad

[Rabrrrrrr]

I'm watching some show on PBS of a live concert with a bunch of different musicians, apparently the entire thing hosted by Clapton or put on by him or something. I don't know. But I say "Crossroads" and "guitar" in huge letters above the stage. There was another word, but I couldn't read it.

Anyway, Santana comes out, and I'm thinking, OOOH BABY! It's gonna rock!!

And then Santana invites Clapton to come out, calls Clapton a saint, and noiw they're playing a jam together.

And Santana is UTTERLY kicking Clapton's useless ass. Both in guitar playing, in jamming, in 'tude, in an ability to sway with the music, and especially in AUTHENTICITY.

BTW, the song is Jingo.

And Clapton is getting busticated. All over the place.

Oh, and p.s. - Clapton is wearing something like Dockers skater shorts and a polo shirt. He exudes all the hipness of a Connecticut Weekender.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. No way

I have watched that show twice this week and Clapton rocks. I love Santana too but Clapton is the king.

And I don't care what he wears on stage. He could wear a dress and I wouldn't care.

Clapton also has the prettiest guitar of anyone in that show.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Now Robert Cray is showing Clapton how it's done

At least this time, Clapton doesn't feel he has to play.

[brentspeak]

36. I distinctly remember Clapton and Cray on SNL together in the early 90's

Robert Cray played his solo first, a perfectly decent, acceptable solo, with his unusual "percussive" lead style that's his hallmark.

Then it was Clapton's turn - he had this weird sly smile on his face as on this particular occasion he proceeded to unleash a Zen-like, effortless solo that made Cray's sound like a warm-up act. It was very strange, and I'll never forget it.

Even Robert had this smirk on his face during Clapton's turn like "show off!"

[fluffernutter]

3. i love Santana, but Clapton is brilliant too.

they both rock.

[winston61]

4. Did you see the guy playing the steel guitar?

I think his name is Robert Randolph. Really did some justice to some old Allman Brothers jam. Stole the show. ZZ Top really sucked big time.

[Rabrrrrrr]

10. Yeah - that guy was great!

I thought ZZ Top did a fantastic job.

[SacredCow]

5. Never really cared much for either Clapton or Santana...

Clapton's style is way to white bread, top-40 for me- I much preferred Stevie Ray Vaughn (may he rest in peace).

As for Santana, he's a one trick pony. He's got one sound and seems to play the same riffs over and over, to the point that I can't tell one song from another. That being said, I do think he's capable of more, and I wish he'd push the envelope a little...

[Spiffarino]

16. Clapton's got the "white-man blues" down pretty good

Santana is good for about 10 minutes, then it's over for me. He's the most boring concert performer I've ever seen, bar none.

Al DiMeola opened for him in Santa Barbara back in the late 70's, or early 80's...can't remember exactly. Anyhoo, here's Al just kicking huge ass all over. Then Santana comes out, huge ovation, thunderous applause, then proceeds to lose the audience in 20 minutes with an endless jazz-fusion ego trip jam.

Good tone, some good riffs, but no staying power for me. That's my worthless opinion... :shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

17. "white man blues" - I was actually thinking, toward the end of the program

I thought to myself, "Clapton is THE WHITEST blues player, ever".

Page might be paler, certainly that albino feller was paler, and Beck has pretty fair skin, but ain't none of them white. Clapton is pure white.

[Spiffarino]

19. No use arguing that one, Rabrrrrrr

He is one lily-white sumbitch, but I still enjoy listening to his blues tracks.

You're right...he's not white like Johnny Winter. It strikes me as weird because Johnny always did have more soul than EC. Must have been his upbringing on the wrong side of the tracks around Beaumont, TX. Janis Joplin came from there, too.

[lenidog]

6. Both are brilliant

and besides Clapton is hitting his late 50s what the hell do you expect him to wear, he isn't a 20 year old kid strung out on cocaine anymore.

[indigobusiness]

11. He was strung out on smack...

back in the day.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

28. That was when he made his greatest music

See what happens when you give up drugs?

Holiday Inn cocktail lounge on a Friday night.

[indigobusiness]

39. I know what you mean.

He was out of control, though. Hard to believe he survived.

Wish he would've done more with George while he had a chance...those two were good together. And double-leads made Clapton sound best.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. I expect him to wear something that DOESN'T look he's trying to

look like a young and upcoming businessman hanging out his father's yacht club.

[lenidog]

23. LOL You sound like my wife

One day we were flipping through the channels and VH1 was running a documentary on early Pink Floyd. I stopped because they are one of my favorite bands of all time. Now she has never really liked them so she isn't familiar with what they looked like. A couple minutes into the show you see these fiftyish lokking guys in rugby shirts with conservative haircuts looking like someones yuppish dads. She turns to me and says "That is Pink Floyd!?" Me I am like "Yeah what did you expect horns coming out of their heads?" She turns to me and says "Well yeah"

[cavanaghjam]

7. Anyone who loves guitar

oughta check out Ronnie Earl and Bill Frizzell. Talent is seldom popular till it's gone and we look back.

[fishnfla]

8. LOL - I thought you said santa

I m like Kris Kringle rocks!

[morningglory]

9. I know nothing, but it always looks to me like Clapton is standing

just in front of the guy who is playing nice guitar licks and Clapton does his head like he is straining real hard to play the licks, but if you look at his fingers, they are frozen in the "learn to play the guitar in 10 minutes" chord.

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. Yep!

He does stand funny, and when he solos, he does the pooched-face orgasm-look-thing that Zappa was so against in his own players.

Though i can't fault a player for odd body language - other players do it as well. But Clapton's seem overdone, like he's blazing through an insanely difficult and intense jam, when he isn't.

[Bake]

14. Excuse me, but do you even PLAY a guitar?

Clapton doesn't strain for a lick. Not ever. Look up "taste" in the dictionary and there's EC's picture.

As for Carlos, he's one of the gods. Just like EC. Pyrotechnics ain't everything.

Bake

[Ms_Mary]

55. I'm trying to learn. I suck less than I did, but still, I'm bad. nt

[indigobusiness]

15. Now THAT's insightful.

Fucking brilliant!!!

[Spiffarino]

18. That's why they call him "Slowhand"

Because he makes it look effortless. I've played guitar - with limited success - for many years. Believe me when I tell you, it's not easy to get the smooth sound that comes from his Strat.

If you ever get a chance, watch Stevie Ray take a whirl on one of his slower numbers and get a load of what he's doing. Lots of one-two fingerings all over in rapid fire, followed by wicked bends. He made it look so easy, but then you try it yourself and...whew!

[Fenris]

20. SRV tuned down a half step.

It helps.:)

[Spiffarino]

21. Yep...E-flat

Ever try detuning like Vaughn did? It really changes things. Makes my Tele sound like a different instrument. If you do a "drop-D" tuning, it gets even stranger...in a cool way.

[Fenris]

24. Yeah, I keep my Gibson SG tuned like that.

Very cool sound. The Edge from U2 played their entire "War" album in that tuning. You can tell from the first note.:)

[SacredCow]

25. I could be wrong....

but it seems that of the times I've seen U2 live, The Edge used E-flat tuning predominantly, if not 100% of the time...

[Fenris]

26. I'm pretty sure he does.

Great tuning.

[Spiffarino]

32. So THAT'S how he gets it

...to "ring" that way! I get a similar sound when I hit harmonics on a detuned Tele.

And the SG? Sweet axe.

[Fenris]

34. Yeah. American made. Great sustain.

[Ferrets Bueller]

43. He also used huge strings...

Flatwound twelves, I think.

[Spiffarino]

51. D'Addarios?

Was that the brand, or something else? I'd love to know.

I know they weren't TOO heavy because he liked to get a really big bend out of them. It was what helped make his sound so unique.

[tcfrogs]

22. Sorry, you're wrong

Clapton is aging, but he has been awesome throughout his career. I blame that stupid acoustic version of Layla that hit #1 years ago for the commercialization of Clapton.

Check out 461 Ocean Boulevard (from the early 70's) and compare to Journeyman (late 80's). Same great guitar, different songs, all excellent.

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. nah, I'm pretty sure I'm right

I used to think Clapton was hot shit, back whe I was exploring guitarists and getting into the old, good rock (that's me in the early 80s, in high school and college, trying to rediscover all the music I missed). Got into led Zeppelin, which led me to the Yardbirds. Got into a phase in which I thought Page, Beck, and Clapton were the greatest guitarists ever. Thing was, though, I hadn't listened to much Clapton except mostly his radio hits. I loved the live version of Cocaine - local station when I was in junior high or high school used to play that every morning, along with the Scorpion's "The Zoo" and one of Cheap Tricks really out there (for them) songs - can't remember what it was, something about doing something bad, I think, but an eerie song.

Anyway...

After exploring all that Beck and Page had to offer, I started listening to more Clapton. And as I started listening to him, I thought, "Why did I think this guy was great?" maybe great in Cream, and the Yardbirds, and Derek (Derrick?) and the Dominoes, but I came to realize that, at the minimum, his solo career stuff has a very bad odor to it.

And now I'm embarassed to link him with Page and Beck. And, of course, over the time I got into a number of other truly rockin' blues players, from Hendrix to ZZ Top to Muddy Waters to going way back in time to the guys recording for Chessboard (or was it just Chess? Chesspieces? Damn my record collection being boxed up...I can't go look) and Zappa and Vai and Fripp and Santana and Frissel and Cray and BB King and some of the other great guitarists.

Clapton just does nothing for me. At all. Except a few pieces in his older career.

And I don't even know the acoustic version of Layla. So far as I know, I've never heard it. Thank God, because it sounds like even die hard Clapton fans don't like it.

[tcfrogs]

33. Agree to disagree

OK? :shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

37. Of course! It's all subjective anyway

No one's right; no one's wrong.

He's definitely not in the Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Beyonce, etc. category. At least he understands the music. I just don't like him, but I can at least respect him.

[Fleurs du Mal]

29. Ugh I hate Clapton

Carlos is twice the man and musician of Eric.

[RetroLounge]

30. This picture says it all

RL

[Rabrrrrrr]

31. LOL!

Just how I feel!

[Forkboy]

35. My friends and I call him Generic Clapton

good player that has been elevated to a status totally undeserving.

Now I'm off to listen to some Pig Destroyer :D

[porkrind]

38. Clapton is boring, over-rated.

Never understood the appeal.

[johnnie]

40. It has become "cool" to bash Clapton

He is better than most people give him credit for, but to each his own. I gain all respect back for him in The Concert for George.

[Forkboy]

41. If it makes you feel better

I've been bashing him long before it was cool :evilgrin:

Just having some fun with you guys...like you say,to each their own.Everyone likes music for different reasons.It'slike arguing over which religion is the true religion :)

[johnnie]

42. I always throw music in when people say

"Don't argue politics and religion".

[chaska]

44. Nothing bores me quite like blues guitar.

Clapton, Santana, SRV - they're all playing very basic, simple music. I've seen many a teenager that could do everything those guys do. If you like simple music, fine, but don't deify these guys for doing something that anybody with a few years playing under his belt can do.

[Queen Jane]

45. D: D: the horror, the horror....

[njdemocrat106]

46. I must respectfully disagree with you

I think Santana and Clapton are both tremendously gifted musicians.

[donheld]

47. I also, again disagree

Eric has put out 35 years of master guitar work. Nobody, but nobody kicks Eric's ass except maybe B. B. King. Yes Carlos Santana is great, Stevie Ray Vaughan was great, Mark Knofler is wonderful, Jimmy Page is a master. Eric has never claimed to be the best, but IMHO he's near the top of the league.

[Radical Activist]

48. Clapton did look like a total dork

and there were at least a few better guitar players at the festival then him.

[donheld]

49. If Eric is a "suckwad"

why do you watch him.

[the Princess]

50. And I'll say it again

Townshend could kick his sorry ass!!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

52. I'll give him credit for one thing

He makes better use of his pinky than most guitar players..other than that...he worships himself like nobody can.

[DS1]

53. and this, my friend, is where our long history of agreement ends

I don't care much for either, but Santana is a talentless suckass and his music makes me want to start breaking random peoples' fingers.

I hate him, I wish he was the one that fell out of a 11th story window, or gone down with Buddy Holly.

If you're reading this, Santana, you fucking suck.

[Rabrrrrrr]

54. LOL!

I'm not a huge fan of Santana, either. I love his playing when he's jamming. But beyond the jam, he's not overly interesting to me; and even within the jam, he doesn't have a huge vocabulary. But I do think he's far better than Clapton.

I'm definitely not big on his songs.

I can't say I hate him as much as you do, though!