Slowhand rocks!

II have read several celebrity-musicians’ biographies over the past several years. Most of them seem a bit egocentric or esoteric & unapproachable – fascinating info, but difficult for the reader to relate to the subject/writer. Clapton: The Autobiography was different for me. Eric Clapton has been on the music scene for decades, and has done a lot in his life. But in this book Mr. Clapton leaves his ego at the door. One of his most engaging qualities is his utter and total love of music, and his wonder at being a part of it. He tells his tale in a very down-to-earth manner which is very appealing. From drug use to affairs to illegitimate children, Clapton is candid, and not necessarily proud of the things he’s done. Especially moving are accounts of the loss of his young son, Conor, and his ongoing battles with addictions. Clapton has been sober for 20 years now, and in 1998 founded the Crossroads Centre, a rehabilitation facility for drug and alcohol abuse on the island of Antigua. The story ends happily, as Clapton meets and eventually marries Melia McEnery in 2002, with whom he has three daughters. By the end of the book I had a very real sense of the guitarist finally being at peace with himself and his life, a very satisfying place to be.