Eric Clapton is a well-known rock god and Blues guitarist who has successfully overcome his addiction to drugs and alcohol. Despite this huge battle in his life, he still remains a legend on the music scene. He’s been to rehab, been clean and sober for decades, and has now moved onto helping those who are currently struggling with addiction. 

Eric was a shy kid from Surrey, England, who found comfort and stability in Blues music. He had exceptional guitar skills at a young age, which led him to the band the Yardbirds in 1963, where he stayed for two years. At this time, it wouldn’t be surprising to see “Clapton is God” spray-painted on walls around the UK. 

Following this, Eric formed the band ‘Cream’ with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, releasing psychedelic hits like “Sunshine of Your Love”, “White Room” and “Crossroads.” It wasn’t before long until Eric got sucked into this drug-fuelled industry. 

In Clapton’s autobiography, he states he spent around £8,000 a week on heroin alone. He avoided drug treatment and stayed confined to his home. His fans rarely got to see him perform on stage. 

 

Losing Himself to Addiction

When Cream split up in 1968, Clapton went on to play for other groups such as Blind Faith, Derek, and the Dominoes. He was an alcoholic and addicted to heroin before he went solo in 1970. 

His addictions of course eventually affected his career. He passed out on stage during George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh in 1972. He managed to fight off the drugs but continued to battle with the alcohol. He played a concert lying down as he was too drunk to stand. It wasn’t until he was quite a bit older until he finally asked for help. 

 

Finding Treatment

It took 20 years for Eric to get drug treatment. He struggles to make music without the crutch at first – his creativity felt paralysed. Everything sounded too loud and busy. After a while, he found his self-esteem and was able to continue with his music. 

Whether he was playing blues on stage to thousands or listening to it at home, music always served as salvation for Clapton to clean up his life, overcome addiction, and look into the future brightly.