Credit: Far Out / Video Still
Thu 21 May 2026 15:49, UK
Eric Clapton never seemed destined to play with one band for the rest of his life. Even though he had the ability to tear up the guitar whenever he had the chance, there was normally something about the chemistry among his bandmates that made him want to reach for something bigger every time he got bored.
And while that should have him in consideration for one of the greatest journeymen in rock, ‘Slowhand’ wasn’t shy about admitting when he wasn’t really interested in carrying on with a group.
Part of what made Clapton such a fascinating musician throughout the 1960s and 1970s was his constant restlessness. Even when he found himself in enormously successful bands, he rarely seemed content staying in one creative environment for too long.
Then again, Clapton’s habit of changing things up with every band isn’t that far removed from what his heroes were doing. The whole mentality behind the blues was about following the tales of drifters coming and going through different towns and detailing their heartache at every turn, and if that’s what it took to be one of the greatest of all time, Clapton wasn’t afraid to leave people behind.
That wandering mentality became central to Clapton’s identity as an artist. Rather than building a career around loyalty to one group, he treated music almost like a personal journey, moving wherever inspiration seemed strongest.
Credit: Far Out / Showtime Documentary Films
Coming from The Yardbirds, Clapton was already exercising his idea of being a free agent. His ties to the blues rock heavyweights were never going to be for too long, and the minute that he decided that ‘For Your Love’ was far too poppy for him, he was out the door and replaced by Jeff Beck. If you’re good enough to be able to hold your own against The Beatles on ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps,’ though, it’s not exactly going to be hard finding work.
The whole reason why Clapton wanted out was because The Yardbirds had shed their bluesy skin to become pop stars, and John Mayall didn’t have any such problem. He embodied everything about the London blues scene, and when Clapton came on to join The Bluesbreakers, he ended up turning in some of his best playing.
Further reading: From The Vault
Although Bluesbreakers doesn’t get nearly as much praise as what he did with Cream or even Derek and the Dominoes, the record itself captures that perfect sweet spot between his melodic side and furious side. Even though most people had heard tunes like ‘Steppin’ Out’, no one was ever going to play a solo like he did, especially towards the end where he seems to be playing the kind of licks that no one would ever figure out.
While Clapton was happy to be showing off his god-like chops, he was the first to admit that he was never quite comfortable playing with Mayall, saying, “With John Mayall, I was only half there. I was so unreliable, so irresponsible. I would sometimes just not show up at gigs and that’s how Peter Green was asked to play with John – because I wasn’t there. I went to see John last year [1993] to actually make amends; I looked back and realised how badly I’d behaved.”
But maybe that was for the best. Clapton was already getting ready to make something new with Cream, and having this in-between record of blues standards felt like a musical breeding ground of sorts, where he could fly off the handle or make something more subdued based on how he was feeling that particular day.
Considering how many people had come through the Bluesbreakers, though, it was probably hard for Mayall back in the day to realise those who left him behind. The Yardbirds still hold the distinction of letting go of Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, but Mayall’s luck wasn’t as great by seeing Clapton and the foundation of Fleetwood Mac walk out on him as well.
Even so, Mayall’s influence on British rock remains enormous precisely because so many future legends passed through his ranks. While others went on to achieve greater fame, The Bluesbreakers became one of the defining proving grounds for an entire generation of musicians.
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