The guitarist Eric Clapton hailed as “the greatest in the world”
Eric Clapton‘s apprenticeship in the music industry before stepping out of the shadows and into the light with Cream prepared him for his incredible journey. From a young age, he was mixing with guitar virtuosos, who embedded a deep understanding of the instrument within him.
Famously, Clapton graduated with first-class honours from the Yardbirds, just like Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. However, the most vital period occurred while he was learning under the tutelage of John Mayall in the Bluesbreakers. In addition to Mayall acting as his mentor, he also gave Clapton privileged access to his record collection, which changed his young protege’s life forever.
This time spent in the company of Mayall sent Clapton on a lifelong quest to dedicate his life to the blues. Even today, Clapton keeps his ear to the ground and remains on the hunt to find new artists, such as Mk.gee, who he believes is currently playing the guitar “like nobody else”. Clapton is blessed with a comprehensive knowledge of the blues and the guitar as a whole. His favourite topic is discussing guitarists he admires, whether figures from the past who laid the foundations of his sound or those who are currently finding new ways to innovate.
Regarding the accolade of the greatest guitarist still living, Clapton believes the mantle belongs to Albert Lee. The English guitarist is a musician that Clapton knows all too well, having played alongside him every night for four years after Lee joined his band in 1979.
Lee, a true musician’s musician, was born in Herefordshire in 1943 but grew up in London, where he made his name. Throughout the 1960s, he was part of the same thriving scene that Clapton was involved in, performing with Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds before forming Heads, Hands and Feet.
While people in the belly of the music industry were aware of Lee’s breathtaking brilliance, unfortunately, he’s never been celebrated by the general public in the same way as many of his contemporaries. However, this isn’t due to a lack of talent, and Lee chose never to seek the limelight, preferring to assist others. When The Everly Brothers reunited in 1983, he was recruited as their musical director and played with the band for decades. His impressive resume also includes contributing to records by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Jackson Browne and Joe Cocker. According to Clapton, there’s nobody in Lee’s league.
“He’s the greatest guitarist in the world. The ultimate virtuoso. His skill is extraordinary, his ear is extraordinary and he’s gifted on just about every level,” he once quipped.
Although Clapton believes that Lee’s talent eclipses everybody else, that didn’t stop Lee from being sacked. Reminiscing upon his time in Clapton’s live band, Lee once said: “He fired the whole band twice, and I managed to survive a couple of times, so it taught me a lesson. I thought, ‘Well, this may not last forever,’ and sure enough, I got the message that he wanted to make some changes again.”
Despite being thrown out of the group, Lee holds no bitterness toward him. Instead, he is empathetic towards the situation Clapton found himself in as he grappled with addiction. He continued, “He was in a bad way at the time; I don’t think he did very much after that for a little while, but fortunately, he’s put it all back together, and he’s doing great now.”
While Clapton could be a difficult boss, he did give Lee a platform to express himself, which he’s always remembered. The guitarist once fondly recollected to Premier Guitar: “Oh yeah, he used to go and sit behind his amp there and with a glass of Brandy and a cigarette: ‘Go, Albert, go!’ He was a lot more fun then – different kind of fun. [Laughs] He was very generous; I got to do quite a bit.”
Lee was adept enough to synchronise onstage with the freewheeling Clapton, and the two were perfectly in tune, which made their partnership exhilarating. Importantly, despite his musical prowess, Lee understood his role as a member of the supporting cast and never tried to overshadow the name on the ticket. Although he’s now in his 80s, Lee regularly tours and released his latest solo album, Lay It Down, in 2024.
