Derek & The Dominoes Biography
Eric Clapton (Eric Patrick Clapp, 30 March 1945, Ripley, Surrey, England), formed this short-lived band in May 1970 following his departure from the supergroup Blind Faith and his brief involvement with the down-home loose aggregation of Delaney And Bonnie And Friends. He purloined three members of the latter; Carl Radle (b. 24 August 1942, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA, d. 30 May 1980, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; bass), Bobby Whitlock (keyboards/vocals) and Jim Gordon (drums). Together with Duane Allman (b. Howard Duane Allman, 20 November 1946, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, d. 29 October 1971, Macon, Georgia, USA) from the Allman Brothers Band on guitar, they recorded Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs. This superb double album featured one of Clapton's most memorable songs, "Layla", a desperate plea for love aimed at George Harrison's wife Patti(e). The band was only together for a year, during which time they toured the UK playing small clubs, toured the USA, and consumed copious amounts of alcohol, together with hard and soft drugs. It was during his time with the Dominos that Clapton became addicted to heroin. This, however, did not detract from the quality of the music. In addition to the classic "Layla", the album contained Clapton's co-written compositions mixed with blues classics such as "Key To The Highway" and a sympathetic reading of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing". The subsequent live album, recorded on their US tour, was a further demonstration of Derek And The Dominos considerable potential had they been able to hold themselves together.
Clapton went on to enjoy great commercial success as a solo artist. Radle continued to work with Clapton during the 70s before succumbing to a kidney ailment in 1980. Gordon, the co-writer of "Layla", was diagnosed as an acute paranoid schizophrenic in the late 70s, and in 1983 was sentenced to 16 years to life in a secure institution for the brutal murder of his mother.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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