Word: clapton
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...potent but short-lived rock phenomenon was the supergroup-an amalgam formed by the talented malcontents of other bands. While they lasted, groups like Cream and Blind Faith-both starring Guitarist Eric Clapton and Drummer Ginger Baker-played enormous arenas and made megabucks, and sometimes megamusic. Their performances were fueled by dueling egos. Musical infighting built up the excitement they generated, but it also made breakups inevitable. Now, with half a decade gone, perhaps the mightiest U.S. supergroup of all is back together: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, whose pungent lyrics and soft-edged counterpoint to acid rock made them...
Without dope, Clapton drinks more. He feels, perhaps optimistically, that he sweats out the poison in performance...
...opened his comeback tour in a steady drizzle at Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. The first number, appropriately Let It Rain, revealed a richer, stronger voice. From watching Stevie Wonder sing, Clapton says, he learned to breathe in great drafts from his diaphragm. "It sends the blood rushing to my head and gives me an incredible high," he laughs. "I sometimes get dizzy onstage...
...Clapton's mature style-in songs like Give Me Strength and Let It Grow from his new album, 461 Ocean Boulevard-is free of the ostentatious virtuosity that sometimes disfigured his playing in the past. But the quicksilver runs and keyboard rampages that earned him the ironic nickname "Slow-hand" are still there. Sometimes Clapton turned his back to the audience to listen in turn to each musician in his excellent group-Carl Radle on bass, Dick Sims at the keyboards, Drummer Jamie Oldaker, Guitarist George Terry and Singer Yvonne Elliman...
When he launched into his old hit Layla, among the rock-'n'-roll songs that have logged the most radio air time, the animal in the audience awakened. With the first chords, a wave overflowed from the bleachers. A fight broke out. Slipping off his guitar, Clapton said paternally, "Be cool. I'll play you something to calm you down. God bless you, let's everybody stand back." Amazingly, they did, and he played Presence of the Lord. It was a rare reversal of the atmosphere rock stars labor to generate. The usual formula...