The blues song Eric Clapton was scared to listen to: “I really coudn’t deal with it”
Back in the 1960s, when audiences were first exposed to the heavy psychedelic guitar riffs of Cream’s Eric Clapton, not everybody knew what to make of them. While the countercultural youth found instant adoration for his music, much of the older generation – used to hearing the sweet sounds of inoffensive mainstream pop – were frightened. In fact, rock music has repeatedly caused panic and fear in the mainstream, going back to the very earliest origins of the rebellious genre.
Rock and roll music, as we know it today, originated during the 1950s with stars like Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. At the time, America’s adults saw the emergence of this youth-focused music subculture as a colossal threat to the American way of life, worrying that its energy and defiance would corrupt the nation’s youth. As we all know, rock and roll has its cultural origins in the defiance of old-school blues music, so it makes sense that mainstream audiences were initially scared of the blues, too.
Clapton, in contrast, had been a disciple of the blues from a very young age. Joining The Yardbirds in 1963, the guitarist pioneered his own distinctive playing style but always took heavy inspiration from the sounds of Chicago blues. Even as his career progressed into the psychedelic mastery of Cream and the complex compositions of his later solo career, the blues has always been a constant within his music. For Clapton, no discussion on the blues is complete without mention of Robert Johnson.
A defining figure of delta blues, Johnson released some of the most important and enduring blues songs of all time between 1937 and 1938 before dying that very same year at the age of only 27. Although his recording career was tragically short, Johnson laid the groundwork for virtually all future blues and rock artists, including Clapton. However, there is also a darker side to the tale of Robert Johnson that frightened even the Cream guitarist.
Namely, there is a legend attached to Johnson that he sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads in exchange for musical ability. Adding to the legend, many of Johnson’s records reflected this satanic influence, including his defining song ‘Hellhound on My Trail’. Originally released in 1937, the song is certainly among Johnson’s most renowned recordings, inspiring the later development of rock and roll and forming an essential part of Clapton’s early inspiration.
Despite its colossal importance, ‘Hellhound on My Trail’ once struck fear into the heart of Clapton, put off by its connotations with the devil. “When I was younger, ‘Hellhound’ used to frighten me when I listened to it,” he said in a 2004 interview. Explaining the root of his fear, the guitarist said, “The idea that he was really singing about being pursued by demons was too much for me – for a while, I really couldn’t deal with it.”
Thankfully, Clapton eventually overcame his fear of the song, realising that it’s “more likely he was speaking about a girlfriend, or trouble in general.” Adding, I think ‘Hellhound On My Trail’ is like that.” While this account of the song is likely accurate, the legend surrounding Johnson and his connections to the devil has certainly boosted the musical legacy of the blues hero.
Either way, the track was so influential on his playing style that Clapton chose to record a cover of the blues classic for his 2004 album Me and Mr. Johnson, a tribute album to the work of Robert Johnson. The guitarist’s version of ‘Hellhound’ closes the record, paying faithful homage to the pioneering blues musician who changed rock forever.
