Books about Eric Clapton
Books about Eric Clapton
No one book is the perfect reference source on the life and career of Eric Clapton. Information not mentioned in one may be discussed in depth in another. Authors also hold different opinions on the significance of events in Eric Clapton’s life and career. Some books only discuss his recorded output, his guitars or live concerts while others focus on his life story. More than 100 books have been published in multiple languages about the legendary guitarist during his fifty plus year career. The below is a partial list of books published in the English language. Although quite a few are now out-of-print, they can often be found in second-hand book shops or for sale online.
ERIC CLAPTON’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Clapton, Eric with Christopher Simon Sykes – Clapton: The Autobiography (R Books (UK) and Broadway Books (US) / 2007)
Eric Clapton’s autobiography is still available in hardcover, large format trade paperback and digital editions. When published in 2007, it topped the best seller lists worldwide. It has been published in 12 languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Portuguese, Danish, Czech, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Swedish and Finnish.
ERIC CLAPTON BIOGRAPHIES
Coleman, Ray: Clapton – The Authorised Biography (Pan Books / 1995 UK) – updated trade paperback edition
Coleman, Ray: Survivor! The Authorised Biography Of Eric Clapton (Sidwick & Jackson / 1985 UK)
Coleman, Ray: Clapton – An Authorized Biography (Warner Books / 1986 US)
Norman, Philip: Slowhand – The Life And Music Of Eric Clapton (Little Brown & Co (US), Orion Books (UK) / 2018)
Sandford, Christopher: Clapton – Edge Of Darkness (DeCapo Press / 1999) – updated edition
Sandford, Christopher: Clapton – Edge Of Darkness (Victor Gollanez – London 1994)
Schumacher, Michael: Crossroads – The Life And Music Of Eric Clapton (Citadel Press / 2003) – updated editon
Schumacher, Michael: Crossroads – The Life And Music Of Eric Clapton (Hyperion – New York 1994)
Scott, Paul: Motherless Child – The Definitive Biography of Eric Clapton (Headline Books 2015)
Shapiro, Harry: Eric Clapton – Lost In The Blues (Guinness Publishing Ltd. (UK) and DeCapo Press Inc. (US) / 1992) – updated edition
Shapiro, Harry: Slowhand – The Story Of Eric Clapton (Proteus Books 1984)
Pidgeon, John: Eric Clapton – A Biography (Panther / Granada 1976)
BOOKS ABOUT CLAPTON RECORDING SESSIONS / LIVE PERFORMANCES
Hjort, Christopher: Eric Clapton & The British Blues Boom 1965-1970 (Jawbone / 2007)
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton Day By Day: The Early Years 1963-1982 (Backbeat Books / 2013)*
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton Day By Day: The Later Years 1983-2013 (Backbeat Books / 2013)*
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – The New Visual Documentary (Carol Publishing / 1994) – 2nd revised and updated edition
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – The New Visual Documentary (Omnibus Press / 1990) – revised and updated edition
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – A Visual Documentary (Omnibus Press / 1986)
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – The Complete Recording Sessions 1963-1992 (Blandford Press (UK) and St. Martin’s Press (US) / 1994) – updated edition
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – The Complete Recording Sessions 1963-1992 (Blandford Press (UK) and St. Martin’s Press (US) / 1993)
*The two books published in 2013 in the Eric Clapton Day By Day series replace Marc Roberty’s previous works in this category. They benefit from all-new research over several years presenting detailed information about all of Eric Clapton’s recording sessions and concerts between 1963 and 2013.
BOOKS ABOUT ERIC CLAPTON’S GUITARS
Clapton, Eric: Six-String Stories (Genesis Publications / 2013)
Information about this fine art book can be found at www.claptonbook.com. Proceeds from its sale benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua.
Bonhams and Wallace & Hodgson: The Eric Clapton Sale of Guitars and Amps in aid of The Crossroads Centre (Bonhams / 2011) – guitar auction catalog
Christies: Crossroads Guitar Auction – Eric Clapton and Friends for Crossroads Centre (Christies / 2004) – guitar auction catalog
Christies: A Selection of Eric Clapton’s Gutiars (Christies / 1999) – guitar auction catalog
St. John, Allen: Clapton’s Guitar: Watching Wayne Henderson Build The Perfect Instrument (Free Press / 2005)
BOOKS WITH CLAPTON INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTIONS
Editors Of Rolling Stone: The Rolling Stone Interviews 1967-1980 (St. Martin’s Press / Rolling Stone Press – New York 1981)
Henderson, David: ‘Scuse Me While I Kiss The Sky – The Life Of Jimi Hendrix (Bantam Trade Edition 1996). The appendix includes a transcript of a recorded conversation between Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and two unidentified people.
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – In His Own Words (Omnibus Press – London 1993)
Turner, Steve: Conversations With Eric Clapton (Abacus / Sphere 1976)
White, Timothy: Rock Lives – Profiles And Interviews (Henry Holt & Co. – New York 1990)
ERIC CLAPTON COLLECTOR GUIDES / GENERAL HISTORY
Fellowes, Steve: Unofficial Full Color Collectors Book And Discography On Eric Clapton (Mastertone Multimedia Ltd. – London 1997). A CD-size book, it also came with an audio documentary on CD.
Roberty, Marc: The Eric Clapton Album – Thirty Years of Music & Memorabilia (Penguin Books / 1994)
Roberty, Marc: Slowhand – The Life And Music Of Eric Clapton (Crown Trade Paperbacks / 1993) – updated edition
Roberty, Marc: Slowhand – The Life And Music Of Eric Clapton (Octopus Publishing – Great Britain / Harmony Books – New York 1991)
Welch, Chris: Eric Clapton – The Ultimate Illustrated History (Voyageur Press / 2011)
Welch, Chris: Eric Clapton Treasures (Carlton Books / 2014)
ERIC CLAPTON DISCOGRAPHIES
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton – The Complete Guide To His Music (Omnibus Press / 2005) – updated edition, trade paperback size
Roberty, Marc: The Complete Guide To The Music Of Eric Clapton (Omnibus Press / 1995) – cd-size book
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton (Carlton Books / 1996) – updated edition / CD-size book
Roberty, Marc: Eric Clapton (Orion Books / 1994) – CD-size book
Roberty, Marc and Chris Welch: Eric Clapton – The Illustrated Disco-Biography (Omnibus Press / 1984)
BOOKS ABOUT BANDS TO WHICH ERIC CLAPTON BELONGED
Clayson, Alan: The Yardbirds (Backbeat Books / Balafon 2002)
Newman, Richard: John Mayall Blues Breaker (Castle Communications 1995)
Reid, Jan: Derek And The Dominos – Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (Rodale / 2006)
Thompson, Dave: Cream – The World’s First Supergroup (Virgin Books / 2005)
Welch, Chris: Cream – Strange Brew (Castle Communications 1994)
Welch, Chris: Cream – The Legendary Sixties Supergroup (Balafon 2000)
ERIC CLAPTON PHOTO BOOKS
Larsen, Christian and Marc Roberty: Eric Clapton Live History (C. Larsen & Sons Publishing / 2019)
Shaw, Gene: Journeyman: Eric Clapton – A Photographic Narrative (Calla Editions / 2014)
Whitaker, Robert and Chris Welch: Cream – The Lost Scottish Tour (Repetoire Books / 2006)
OTHER BOOKS WITH SIGNIFICANT ERIC CLAPTON CONTENT
Baker, Ginger: Hellraiser: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Drummer (John Blake Publishing / 2009)
Boyd, Pattie: Wonderful Today: The Autobiography (Headline Review / 2007 UK)
Boyd, Pattie: Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton & Me (Crown Publishing Group / 2007 US)
Johns, Glynn: Sound Man: A Life Recording Hits with The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles , Eric Clapton, The Faces … (Blue Rider Press / 2014)
Paul, Alan, Jaimoe and Butch Trucks: One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band (St. Martins Griffin / 2014)
Shapiro, Harry: Composing Himself: The Authorised Biography of Jack Bruce (Jawbone Press / 2010)
Whitlock, Bobby and Marc Roberty: Bobby Whitlock – A Rock ‘N’ Roll Autobiography (McFarland & Co., Inc / 2011)
ERIC CLAPTON SIGNED LIMITED EDITIONS FROM GENESIS PUBLICATIONS
Clapton, Eric & Friends: Sunshine Of Your Love: The Crossroads Festivals (Genesis Publications / 2018)
More information about this fine art book can be found at Genesis Publications / Sunshine of Your Love. Proceeds from its sale benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua.
Clapton, Eric: Six-String Stories (Genesis Publications / 2013)
More information about this fine art book can be found at www.claptonbook.com. Proceeds from its sale benefit Crossroads Centre Antigua.
Harrison, George and others: Live In Japan: George Harrison with Eric Clapton and Band (Genesis Publications / 1993)
Taylor, Derek and Peter Blake: 24 Nights: The Music of Eric Clapton, The Drawings of Peter Blake (Genesis Publications / 1991)