• NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

Phil Lesh & Friends, Black Pumas, The War On Drugs, Umphrey’s McGee, and More to Headline Inaugural SACRED ROSE Festival

August 10, 2022

Nathan Pantaleo – The Fundamentals of Music and Computer Code

August 10, 2022

Windy City Wednesday – ‘Southside Blues Jam’ by Junior Wells

August 10, 2022

Cleveland International Acquires Historic Music Photo Collection for Global Distribution

August 9, 2022
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Facebook Twitter Instagram Vimeo
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
  • NEWS
  • REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • EVENTS
  • VIDEOS
American Blues SceneAmerican Blues Scene
Home»News»The Story Behind Why Eric Clapton is called Slowhand
News

The Story Behind Why Eric Clapton is called Slowhand

Barry KerznerBy Barry KerznerJanuary 10, 2018Updated:April 9, 2020No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email VKontakte WhatsApp
Photo by by F. Antolín Hernandez
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Photo by Chris Hakkens

Slowhand. God. The Greatest. These are just a few nicknames fans have bestowed upon blues guitarist Eric Clapton. Of all of these, the british rock icon is most often referred to as “Slowhand.” But why is Eric Clapton called “Slowhand”?

Explanations vary. One has Clapton telling biographer Ray Coleman that “Slowhand” was an ironic, tongue-in-cheek allusion to Clapton’s ability to play incredibly fast. “My nickname of ‘Slowhand’ came from Giorgio Gomelsky. He coined it as a good pun. He kept saying I was a fast player, so he put together the slow handclap phrase into ‘Slowhand’ as a play on words.”

A second story comes from Clapton’s bandmate Chris Dreja, rhythm guitarist for the Yardbirds. He’d remarked how Clapton would break a string during a show, and replace it onstage, in front of the audience. English crowds would give Clapton the “slow handclap,” referred to in British slang as being “given the slowhand.”

It appears the story is both, provided by Clapton himself in his 2007 book, Clapton – The Autobiography: “On my guitar I used light-gauge guitar strings, with a very thin first string, which made it easier to bend the notes, and it was not uncommon during the most frenetic bits of playing for me to break at least one string. During the pause, while I was changing my string, the frenzied audience would often break into a slow handclap, inspiring Giorgio to dream up the nickname of ‘Slowhand’ Clapton.”

In November of 1977, Clapton released his fifth studio solo album, Slowhand, containing hits “Cocaine,” “Wonderful Tonight,” and “Lay Down Sally.” Slowhand sold over 3,000,000 copies in the United States alone.

The success and popularity of the album has assured that Clapton’s nickname “Slowhand” will remain.

*Main image – Photo by F. Antolín Hernande

Eric Clapton Giorgio Gomelsky Slowhand
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp
Previous ArticleHinduism, Jagger, and Hot Lips: The Story Behind The Rolling Stones’ Tongue and Lips Logo
Next Article Remembering Blues Queen Denise LaSalle
Barry Kerzner

Related Posts

Cleveland International Acquires Historic Music Photo Collection for Global Distribution

August 9, 2022

Award-winning Soul-Blues Singer Miss Emily is ‘Defined By Love’ on New Release

August 9, 2022

Bywater Call to Release New Album ‘Remain’

August 8, 2022

Next Jazz Legacy Program Aims to Make Jazz More Inclusive

August 3, 2022

Comments are closed.

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Videos
  • About

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.