Eric Clapton has a reputation for being a bit of a nomad. Seriously, the guy couldn't stay in one place for more than a couple of years during the prime of his career. People talk about his solo hits like "Cocaine" or "Wonderful Tonight," but the real meat of his legacy is buried in the frantic, often messy years where he jumped from one legendary group to another.
Most people know the big ones—Cream, maybe the Yardbirds—but the full list of bands Eric Clapton was in is longer than you’d expect and way more chaotic. He wasn't just "in" these bands; he was usually the reason they became famous and, quite often, the reason they fell apart. He has a weird habit of joining a band, becoming a literal god to his fans, and then getting bored or annoyed and walking away.
The Early Days: The Roosters and The Yardbirds
Before the "Clapton is God" graffiti started popping up in London, Eric was just a teenager obsessed with the blues. His first real gig was with a band called The Roosters in early 1963. They weren't famous. They mostly just rehearsed in pubs and did the occasional gig. Honestly, they were a footnote, but they were the start.
Then came The Yardbirds. This is where things got serious.
Clapton joined them in October 1963, replacing a guy named Top Topham. The Yardbirds were the "house band" at the Crawdaddy Club, taking over for the Rolling Stones. This was where Clapton earned the nickname "Slowhand." It wasn't because he played slow—it was a joke because he’d break a guitar string, and the audience would do a slow handclap while he replaced it.
But here’s the thing: Clapton was a purist. He wanted to play gritty, authentic American blues. When the Yardbirds decided to record "For Your Love"—a catchy pop song with harpsichords—he hated it. He basically said, "I'm out," and quit the day the song was released. It became a massive hit, and he didn't care. He was already looking for something "real."
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The "God" Era: John Mayall and Cream
After ditching the pop world, Clapton joined John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. This was like a finishing school for British blues players. If you look at the 1966 album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton (often called the "Beano" album because Eric is reading a comic on the cover), you can hear the exact moment modern rock guitar was born. He was using a Gibson Les Paul plugged into a Marshall amp, turned up way too loud.
That sound changed everything. But again, he didn't stay.
By July 1966, he teamed up with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce to form Cream. This was the world's first "supergroup." They were a power trio, and they were incredibly loud. It was psychedelic, it was heavy, and it was revolutionary.
- Sunshine of Your Love
- White Room
- Crossroads
These tracks defined the late '60s. But behind the scenes, it was a nightmare. Baker and Bruce hated each other. They would literally scream at each other on stage. Clapton felt like a referee in a boxing ring. By 1968, he was exhausted by the volume and the fighting. He heard the Band’s Music from Big Pink and decided he wanted to play more organic, rootsy music. So, he blew up the biggest band in the world and walked away.
Blind Faith and the Great Escape
After Cream, everyone expected another masterpiece. What they got was Blind Faith. This was another supergroup featuring Steve Winwood from Traffic and Ginger Baker (who followed Eric, much to Eric's slight dismay).
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They played one massive free show in Hyde Park in 1969 to about 100,000 people. They released one self-titled album. And then they vanished.
Clapton was feeling the pressure of being a "Guitar God." He started hanging out with the opening act, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. He loved their loose, soulful vibe. He actually preferred being a sideman in their band rather than the frontman of his own. He even toured with them, hiding in the background because he was tired of the spotlight.
The Dominos and the Layla Mystery
In 1970, Clapton formed Derek and the Dominos. This is arguably his most important creative period. He took the rhythm section from Delaney & Bonnie—Bobby Whitlock, Carl Radle, and Jim Gordon—and headed to Miami to record.
He was desperately in love with Pattie Boyd, who was married to his best friend, George Harrison. That heartbreak fueled the album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. He brought in Duane Allman to play slide guitar, and the result was pure magic.
Funny enough, when the album first came out, it was a flop. People didn't know "Derek" was Eric Clapton. He used a pseudonym because he wanted the music to speak for itself. It took years for "Layla" to become the anthem it is today. The band didn't last either—drug use and internal tension killed it before they could finish a second album.
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Every Major Band Eric Clapton Joined
If you're trying to keep track, here is the chronological flow of his major memberships:
- The Roosters (1963): The garage band phase.
- Casey Jones and The Engineers (1963): A very brief seven-gig stint.
- The Yardbirds (1963–1965): The rise of "Slowhand."
- John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers (1965–1966): The birth of the "Clapton is God" legend.
- The Glands (1965): A weird side-trip to Greece during a break from Mayall.
- Cream (1966–1968): The power trio that changed rock.
- Blind Faith (1969): The short-lived supergroup.
- Delaney & Bonnie and Friends (1969–1970): Where he learned to be a sideman.
- The Plastic Ono Band (1969): He played that famous Toronto show with John Lennon.
- Derek and the Dominos (1970–1971): The "Layla" years.
Why Does This History Matter?
Understanding the bands Eric Clapton was in tells you a lot about why he's still relevant. He never got stuck in one "sound." He jumped from pure blues to pop to psychedelia to soul-rock because he was constantly chasing a feeling rather than a paycheck.
If you're a guitar player or just a fan, the lesson here is simple: don't be afraid to blow things up if they aren't working creatively. Clapton left the Yardbirds when they were about to be rich because he didn't like the songs. He left Cream when they were the biggest band on Earth because he didn't like the vibe.
Next Steps for the Deep Dive:
- Listen to the "Beano" Album: If you want to hear why people thought he was a god, start with Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton.
- Compare Cream to Derek and the Dominos: Notice the shift from the "Woman Tone" (thick, distorted) to the sharp, clean Stratocaster sound on Layla.
- Watch the Hyde Park '69 Footage: It's the best way to see the awkward, beautiful tension of Blind Faith in action.