Eric Clapton is the only ever three-time-inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is an 18-time Grammy Award winner and widely renowned as one of the greatest performers of all time. But behind the scenes is restlessness and tragedy. Clapton's quest to grow his artistic voice left fans surprised as he constantly quit successful bands. His isolated pursuit of his craft, and fear of selling out, served as a catalyst for his evolution as an artist.
12 May 1948, Great Barr, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK
16 September 1925, near Berclair, Mississippi, USA
8 January 1931, Berlin, Germany
14 May 1943, Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK
October 20, 1925 in New York City, New York, USA
29 November 1933, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, UK
2 June 1941, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK
26 April 1943, Creskill, New Jersey, USA
June 20, 1939 in Akron, Ohio, USA
30 March 1945, Ripley, Surrey, England, UK
6 September 1943, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK
3 January 1926, Holloway, London, England, UK
24 May 1941, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
18 June 1942, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
April 4, 1915 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, USA
26 July 1943, Dartford, Kent, England, UK
9 October 1940, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK
February 28, 1942 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, UK
7 July 1940, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
27 November 1942, Seattle, Washington, USA
25 February 1943, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
December 18, 1943 in Lubbock, Texas, USA
18 October 1926, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
25 March 1942, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
18 December 1943, Dartford, Kent, England, UK
February 14, 2018
Photographs carry the story here, along with voices, rather than filmed interviews. Actually, it works.January 10, 2018
The first hour is particularly noodly, presenting a lonely, isolated young Clapton finding solace in music.November 23, 2017
As a musical biography, this comes up short; it plays substantially better as a story of recovery and recovered integrity.February 10, 2018
Clapton simply hasn't anything profound or insightful to say about these episodes that you don't already get from his music.September 27, 2017
The first 90 minutes or so here are gold ... even if fans might wish for more detail on the dizzying number of fabled bands Clapton formed and/or played with over a 10-year span.February 12, 2018
It's quite a portrait, with a terrific soundtrack.February 11, 2018
Eric Clapton: Life In 12 Bars is a deeply personal, finely judged tour through the dark life of one of the world's greatest guitar players.February 13, 2018
Clapton obsessives will cream their jeans at Lili Fini Zanuck's access-all-areas documentary.February 14, 2018
Similar in style to Listen to Me Marlon, Asif Kapadia's Amy or Brett Morgan's Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, Lili Fini Zanuck's look at life of Eric "Slowhand" Clapton offers plenty of visual treats and audio gems.January 18, 2018
Lili Fini Zanuck's documentary gives us plenty of time to ponder Clapton's physique but if you're hoping to get inside the rock legend's head, look elsewhere.February 09, 2018
One of the saddest moments I've ever seen in a film comes more than halfway into Lili Fini Zanuck's Eric Clapton: A Life in 12 Bars.September 13, 2017
A rock-doc less vibrant than most.