Words by Justin Ciuzio Eric Clapton has solidified himself as one of the most influential and skilled artists of all time. Join us as we celebrate the essence of his live performances which encapsulate what makes him such a treasure to rock 'n' roll. Cheers to one of our greatest musical inspirations.

1. Yardbird "Louise"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdrzYDuqRkc Taking on a classic John Lee Hooker tune, this version of “Louise” finds Clapton jamming in an early live performance with his first group, The Yardbirds (who would find success with Clapton, as well as later members Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page). The showcase from the group perfectly conveys Clapton’s major influences coming up in the British blues scene. Channeling the musical stylings of blues legends such as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, this era of Clapton serves as a preview of his brilliance for years to come.

2. Cream "Spoonful"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgP7kfIwlE8 The short-lived rock band from the 60s may have spanned for only two years, but Cream’s technicality on top of their heavy, fuzzy signature sound made a huge impact on popular music in the 60s. Cream would lay the groundwork for bands in the years to come, such as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. In this live performance, Cream boasts exactly what made them so special in their peak. Clapton showcases some amazing technical guitar playing while keeping up with some of the instrumental chaos being provided by bandmates Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

3. George Harrison and Eric Clapton "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDs2Bkq6UU4 Not many musicians could hop in the studio with The Beatles and combat with the musical prowess presented by the band. This was part of the reason Clapton was hesitant to play lead guitar on George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” though he and Harrison were friends, Clapton thought that the other Beatles would not be fond of his inclusion on the song. Regardless of his hesitance, Clapton laid down the lead on the track and the song would soon become a fan favorite and widely acclaimed as one of the best Beatles songs. This performance finds Clapton and Harrison reunited, alongside Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, performing the hit for the 1987 Prince’s Trust concert. The dynamic Harrison and Clapton share on stage as they play off each other’s dueling guitar solos proved that the two were a powerful presence instrumentally.

4. Cream "Badge"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSkl9lfbpJE Following the success of Harrison and Clapton’s collaboration on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, the duo would go onto collaborate on “Badge”, a track off Cream’s final album, Goodbye. The title of the song was a mistake on Clapton’s behalf, misreading Harrison’s handwriting of the word “Bridge” as “Badge.” Clapton found this humorous and decided to name the song exactly that. The song perfectly encapsulates the dynamic of Harrison and Clapton, writing a fairly traditional pop song with an execution of technicality being conveyed on behalf of Clapton’s guitar playing. This performance, another clip from the Behind The Sun tour, shows Clapton performing a high energy version of the song, trading off solos with guitarist Tim Renwick, who follows Clapton’s skill at exactly the right time.

5. Cream "Crossroads"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVH_si6N5pM American blues artist Robert Johnson was a huge influence on Clapton growing up. Consistently throughout his career. Clapton’s renditions of blues songs popularized the genre, and with Cream’s rendition of Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues”, the power trio signified their competitive, almost chaotic, nature of their instrumental prowess. This performance from their 1968 farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall shows Cream at their finest, with an energetic performance of a live favorite. About halfway from the performance, a sense of instrumental conflict is exuded as each band member goes wild on their respected instrument. Clapton’s lead guitar solo weaves the dueling nature of the bass and the drum together to make the chaos not only cohesive but sonically appealing.

6. Blind Faith "Can’t Find My Way Home"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTJYkjrg594 Following the break up of Cream, the first true English supergroup, Blind Faith, was formed as former Cream members Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton worked with Steve Winwood (Traffic) and Ric Grech (Family). This performance is the first “unveiling” of the supergroup, where the band held a free concert at Hyde Park in London in 1969. Clapton plays smoothly and precisely on this recording, though he was supposedly unfond of this particular performance, saying the band was unprepared and played only subpar. Clapton feared touring with the group would convert the band into a second Cream. Regardless of his worries, Clapton still managed to bring excellent technique and playing to the live performance, fusing the psychedelia of the song and his blues-oriented soloing.

7. Eric Clapton "I Shot The Sheriff"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcnP8r4eIU8 Clapton’s renditions of songs from blues musicians managed to bring the genre into the mainstream, exposing a wider audience to the music and popularizing the genre. However, this was not the only genre that Clapton garnered attention towards. Clapton’s cover of Bob Marley and The Wailers’ “I Shot The Sheriff” for his 1974 album 461 Ocean Boulevard was a smooth blend of reggae and soft rock. His rendition would become the most successful version of the song, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bob Marley himself had enjoyed the cover. The performance during his appearance on British television music show, The Old Grey Whistle Test, clocks in at almost 9 minutes, with Clapton boasting soulful guitar playing while still maintaining his appealing grit in the tone of his guitar during solos.

8. The Band ft. Eric Clapton "Further Up the Road"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WDmMWF83x4 Eric Clapton’s appearance in Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz to perform Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Further Up the Road” is arguably one of the most iconic moments in the film. Taken at The Band’s self-proclaimed “farewell concert appearance”, Eric Clapton’s stage presence and playing shine, even amidst the likes of Robbie Robertson, who Clapton shares awesome dueling guitar solos with.

9. Eric Clapton "Cocaine"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQR2bZCaz3Y From his "Behind The Sun Tour" from 1985, Clapton opens up this performance with an epic freestyle over the claps of the crowd, syndicating his knack for running with whatever is handed to him in the heat of the performance. Capping off his spontaneous solo is a rendition of J.J. Cale’s 1976 blues rock song “Cocaine,” where Clapton manages a cover that is the closest thing to perfect in terms of live music performance. Clapton shreds solos over the precise instrumentation of his backing band, providing an immense live music experience.

10. Eric Clapton "Layla"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxO1gwbHPQ Written by Eric Clapton, Derek & The Dominos’ “Layla” is a classic and widely considered to be Clapton’s magnum opus, as well as one of the greatest rock songs of all time. The single was released to minimal acclaim, but over time, garnered the love and attention from music listeners. The song became a hit on the charts twice, once in 1972, and again 20 years later in 1992, when during Clapton’s performance on MTV Unplugged, he performed a more solemn and relaxed version of the familiar song. The result of the Unplugged session led to an album release, Unplugged, in 1992- which would become Clapton’s best selling album, as well as the most successful and highest selling live album of all time. The unique take on an already well known Clapton song, mixed with the charm and flawlessness of its execution, is one of Clapton’s most iconic live moments, as well as a moment that defines his timeless nature and ability to preserve the essence of his music well over time.