Happy 80th birthday to Eric Clapton!Eric Clapton with Sting and Jeff Beck backstage at the Secret Policeman's Ball concert - London, 1981
Guitarists that Clapton listened to — and learned from — in his early years include Big Bill Broonzy and Muddy Waters.
Broonzy was "just an extremely good technician" and a "great player."
As he listens to a recording of Broonzy's "Hey Hey" , Clapton notes the audible sound of the guitarist's foot tapping.
"His rhythm — it's absolutely perfect," Clapton marvels.
"Muddy was there at a time when, really, the music was getting to me. I was really trying to grasp it and make something out of it," Clapton says.
Clapton says he would listen to a Waters' song such as "Honey Bee" and try to emulate the guitar great's technique and the effect he created with his playing — in this instance, the chime-like sound of a bell.
"It was a hook to me. And I made this as a sort of milestone for me, for my learning capabilities," Clapton says.
"If I can get that, I'm one rung up the ladder. And I did, finally, manage to do it one day, and I thought, well, you know, I think I can probably do this."
