“I want to send respect out to a man who survived one of the deepest tragedies a father could imagine. I want to send respect out to the man who found the courage to stand up to the demons of addiction. I want to send respect out to a man with a voice that can sing you to tears. I want to send respect out to the only person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times.”
With those words, Robbie Robertson introduced Eric Clapton as the guitarist, singer and songwriter became a member of the Rock Hall under his own name and the only artist with a trifecta.
(Other members of the Class of 2000 included James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Lovin’ Spoonful, and Earth, Wind & Fire as performers. Scotty Moore, Hal Blaine and Earl Palmer were among those inducted in the Sidemen category.)
Clapton had already been inducted as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992. The following year he was again ushered into the Hall for his work with Cream.
Related: 10 great Clapton collaborations
Besides Clapton, here is the list of 23 artists who share the distinction of being inducted twice (all for solo careers as well as the act listed, except where noted): Clyde McPhatter (Drifters), John Lennon (Beatles), Paul McCartney (Beatles), George Harrison (Beatles), Ringo Starr (Beatles), Paul Simon (Simon and Garfunkel), David Crosby (Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash), Curtis Mayfield (Impressions), Jimmy Page (Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin), Jeff Beck (Yardbirds), Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield), Michael Jackson (The Jackson 5), Stephen Stills (Crosby, Stills & Nash and Buffalo Springfield), Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills & Nash and Hollies), John Carter (Flamingos and Dells), Sammy Strain (O’Jays and Little Anthony & the Imperials), Ronnie Wood (Rolling Stones and Small Faces/Faces), Rod Stewart (Small Faces/Faces), Peter Gabriel (Genesis), Lou Reed (Velvet Underground) Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey), and Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac).
Related: Revisiting Clapton’s 1977 album, Slowhand
Clapton could conceivably be be inducted four more times based on his membership in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos and Delaney & Bonnie & Friends for a grand total of seven. Described by Robertson as “gracious, supportive and complimentary,” he deserves all the honors he receives.
Clapton is on the road; tickets are available here and here.
Related: Links for 100s of classic rock tours
6 Comments
I understand the rock hall is a great honor for so many incredible musicians but the one problem I have with the whole thing is that for every great band/musician there’s at least 3 times as many greats that should be in yet were chosen over for bands like Pearl Jam and Joan Jett (if I remember correctly), Bon Jovi etc.. Delaney and Bonnie’s influence is still felt today. .especially in bands like Tedeschi Trucks band. The Meters aren’t in and that’s a travesty cause they might not have sold nearly as many album’s as most but they influenced so much music and bands out there today..The Chill peppers for instance as well as all the great Nola funk bands as well as many awesome jambands out there nowadays. There’s plenty of other great bands not in either but I’ll leave this brief and keep on wishing The Meters would get their well deserved due!!
Also, Jeff Beck should absolutely be in 3 times cause while The Yardbirds and Jeff Beck is in as a solo artist..how is it possible that the original Jeff Beck group with Rod Stewart isn’t in? They were hugely influential!
Couldn’t agree with you more, Mike. I have been saying for some time now that the biggest problem with the R&R Hall is actually the way it continues to be held up as though it actually means what we all thought it was supposed to, when in fact, it demonstrated long ago that it’s really just a popularity Hall of Fame.
As a lifelong guitar player, I was weened on Clapton’s early sound and style, when his solos actually had a narrative quality to them. I’m not sure if he deserved to be in the “Hall” for his Yardbirds participation, as, for my money, that band really came into their own after he left, but aside from his landmark contributions to Cream, Blind Faith, and a few other guest spots, the only “Hall-worthy” (if the “Hall” was what it’s supposed to be) recordings that Clapton released as a solo artist was with Derek & The Dominoes, and maybe his very first solo record. You have to hand it to him for his tenacity over the years, but as a devout Clapton from his earliest years, I’ve mostly been disappointed by the quality of his playing and songwriting over the years. I just don’t see where he deserves this third, “unique” honor, but this just goes further to underscore where the R&R Hall Of Fame is coming from in honoring achievements that signify popularity in the lowest common denominator category, while ignoring so many of those (including some of the ones you’ve pointed out) who have truly impacted the genre with indelible contributions to their contemporaries, and future generations. Can you honestly say that any of Clapton’s solo work has done that?
I believe the late Hal (not Earl!) Blaine deserves a little more respect. His drumming, as part of the “Wrecking Crew”, is featured on 150 Top 10 hits, 40 of which went to #1.
Thanks, Ray. Earl Palmer’s name appears after Blaine’s and the first name was mistakenly repeated in the editing process.
Although I have LP’s of the bands which Clapton was a member and respect Clapton’s playing I have always appreciated and preferred Jeff Beck’s guitar playing and albums.