Latest news with #Clapton
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Eric Clapton Blocked From No. 1 — By One Of The Biggest Movies Of The Year
Eric Clapton's Slowhand reenters Billboard's Blues Albums chart, reappearing at No. 2 nearly five ... More decades after its release, blocked only by the Sinners soundtrack. Musician Eric Clapton poses for a portrait in 2003 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by) Eric Clapton changed the trajectory of his career when he released Slowhand. The fifth solo set by the celebrated guitarist dropped in the mid-'70s and produced some of the most popular singles in his catalog. Tracks like 'Lay Down Sally,' 'Cocaine,' and 'Wonderful Tonight' still rank among Clapton's most familiar hits, and they continue to power the full-length to this day – and nearly back to the top of a Billboard ranking this week. Slowhand returns to the Blues Albums chart this week in America. Clapton's project nearly climbs back to the summit – where it didn't manage to find space just a few days ago – on the tally of the most consumed blues full-lengths and EPs in the nation, but it misses the top spot by just one space, and it's a somewhat surprising title that keeps him from reaching No. 1 again. The soundtrack that accompanies the movie Sinners blocks Slowhand from another turn at No. 1. The album — built around the largely blues tracks performed in the Ryan Coogler-directed box office smash — has now spent five weeks on the Blues Albums chart. The full-length debuted in that position a month ago and has yet to budge from the top position. While it was originally released in 1977, Slowhand didn't appear on the Blues Albums ranking until just a few months ago, in January of this year. The set has bounced on and off the genre-specific roster and has now spent seven nonconsecutive frames somewhere on the 15-spot list. Three of those frames have seen it rule the tally, though interestingly, it didn't debut in first place. Clapton's full-length waited until April to reach the summit. When it did, it became his twelfth leader after first breaking in and becoming one of his 14 top 10s on the tally. Throughout his career, Clapton has pushed 15 titles to the Blues Albums chart. Just one of them has missed out on the loftiest space on the roster.
The Guardian
26-05-2025
- The Guardian
Mother of 18-year-old killed in London police chase welcomes inquest findings
The mother of a gifted young footballer who died after police chased him at high speed while he was riding his moped has welcomed the findings of an inquest jury that found there were multiple failings by officers involved in the case. Lewis Johnson, 18, a former Crystal Palace youth player, died in February 2016 when the white Vespa scooter he was riding collided with a van in Clapton, east London, after a three-minute high-speed police chase. Officers were pursuing him after reports that he had been snatching mobile phones. It has taken nine years since Johnson's death for the inquest to take place. During that time there have been a series of legal challenges and investigations into the fatal incident. Johnson's mother, Ann Torpey, said she felt a weight had been lifted from her after the inquest concluded. 'The jury agreed with us. I was in shock at first after fighting for the truth to come out for nine years,' she said. 'I left the court and got on the train and by the time I got off a smile was spreading across my face. I felt as if a 10-stone weight had been lifted from me.' 'My Lewis had had bad experiences with the police. He never would have stopped for them in that chase. When I started to fight for justice for him I wasn't clued up about legal things but it was Lewis who made me stronger every day.' In a narrative conclusion on Thursday, a jury at Bow coroner's court in east London found that Johnson died after colliding with a traffic light pole close to Clapton Common. They found that the way Johnson rode his moped while being pursued, at times in excess of the speed limit, on the wrong side of the road and mounting the pavement, was influenced by the manner of the police pursuit, with the police car following him too closely at times, 'a factor that placed additional pressure on Mr Johnson, affecting his decision-making'. The jury also found that opportunities to reduce the risk to Johnson and to the public by the driver of the police vehicle were missed, in particular by continuing to drive too close to the moped at times. Their conclusions highlighted the fact that the police driver involved in the chase did not have the relevant qualification, known as initial pursuit certification, to pursue motorbikes and there was a lack of knowledge amongthe police driver, vehicle operator and Metropolitan police control room staff of the policy in relation to the pursuit of motorcycles and lack of adequate communication of these policies. Torpey believes her son did not stop when the police were pursuing him because he was scared of them. Relating to the allegations that Johnson had been stealing mobile phones, Torpey said her son had done 'wrong things' but was not a 'bad person' and had become involved in postcode disputes. She said: 'Lewis was my absolute. He had an aura around him. Everybody loved him and hundreds of people came to his funeral. Our last conversation was about pancakes as it was pancake day and I asked him what he wanted on his pancakes later that day. The last thing he said to me was: 'I love you mumsie'. I will continue to live my life for my other children but every night when I go to sleep I know that when I wake up the next day I'll be a step closer to being with Lewis again.' Taylor Rose are the solicitors instructed in the case. Andre Clovis, a consultant solicitor, said: 'Ms Torpey has never made any excuses for Lewis's behaviour but she has been badly let down by the legal system. 'It has saddened me that unless she fought tooth and nail through every obstacle placed in her way for nine years, she would not have received that which she is entitled to under the law, a full understanding of circumstances in which Lewis met his death.' Chief Supt Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in the area, said: 'Our thoughts and condolences remain with Lewis's family and friends for their loss. We are aware of the outcome of the inquest and we will respond to any recommendations from the coroner in due course. 'We have a clear policy on when and where a police pursuit should take place. We recognise the dangers of these incidents and officers should adhere to the national guidelines issued by the College of Policing. 'Officers driving police vehicles, or those who have responsibility for monitoring or authorising a pursuit, are trained on how they should respond to these dynamic incidents.' On 4 March 2022, a misconduct hearing found misconduct proven against two officers involved in the pursuit, the force said. A PC who was the driver of the police vehicle was found to have initiated and continued the pursuit without the appropriate authority. An outcome of misconduct was recorded. The panel found the officer had the mistaken belief that the pursuit had been authorised. On 12 October 2021, that officer was found not guilty at Kingston crown court of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Misconduct allegations against a former, now retired, sergeant was found to be proven relating to a training matter, while allegations against a second former (retired) sergeant were not proven. According to data from the Independent Office for Police Conduct in the year 2023-24 there were 24 deaths as a result of police pursuits in England and Wales. Freedom of information data from the Metropolitan police reveals that the number of police pursuits has almost doubled from 2,779 in 2019-20 to 4,111 in 2024-25, when about a quarter of these pursuits, 1,179, resulted in a collision.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Guitar Legend, 80, Stuns Fans by Stepping Out of Character at Recent Concert
Eric Clapton is a lot of things. The classic rock icon began his career in the spotlight as the guitarist for The Yardbirds, before changing hands in other bands for a while. This all led him to Cream, where he really came into his own with iconic songs like "Sunshine of Your Love," and "White Room." Moving on from Cream, he joined the supergroup Blind Faith, releasing one album with the band, and later going on to form the band that spawned his most famous song, Derek and the Dominos. Through several legendary bands, a lengthy solo career, and plenty of iconic songs, Clapton made a name for himself as a member of the guitar pantheon. He's become known for his bluesy style, his eighteen Grammy wins, and his onstage presence. However, Clapton isn't exactly known for acknowledging his crowds, never doing more than saying "thank you." That's what makes this video from a recent show quite the surprise. Fans were stunned to see Clapton acknowledging the crowd like this. They left their reactions in the comments. "Never once seen him point or say anything much more than "THANK YOU!" "I was there to the left of the stage, first time seeing Eric live, he was absolutely fantastic. Eric Clapton is god. 🔥" "He looks and sounds amazing.❤️" Maybe we'll be seeing a more interactive side of Clapton in future performances. Seems like everybody in attendance was having a good time.🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Guitar Legend, 80, Stuns Fans by Stepping Out of Character at Recent Concert first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Eric Clapton's Grammy-Winning Album Reaches A New Chart Peak
Eric Clapton's Unplugged returns to two U.K. album charts, nearly cracking the top 40 thanks to a ... More new physical re-release and renewed attention in 2025. British Rock and Blues musician Eric Clapton plays guitar as he performs onstage at the Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 5, 1992. (Photo by) Unplugged stands out among Eric Clapton's many albums as one of his most critically acclaimed and commercially successful projects. The live set was recorded in front of a small audience as part of MTV's Unplugged series. While Clapton was already a superstar at the time and big things were expected, few could have predicted just how massive the title would become. Decades later, it remains an incredibly important and meaningful effort for both the musician and his fan — and this week, it becomes a bestseller once again. Unplugged returns to a pair of rankings in the U.K. this frame, and it nearly reenters the top 40 on both lists, missing that special region by just a few spots. This time around, the title lands highest on the Official Physical Albums chart, where it comes in at No. 41. At the same time, it reappears at No. 46 on the Official Albums Sales roster, the general list of the bestselling titles in the country. Clapton's Unplugged reaches a new all-time high on the latter tally – but not the physical-only list – as it returns. It has been almost half a decade since Unplugged was seen on either of these two rosters. The set last appeared on both rankings in June 2020 and has been missing ever since. At the time, Unplugged debuted on the Official Albums Sales chart, and it has now spent just two frames somewhere on the list. The collection has performed much better — and for much longer — on the Official Physical Albums chart. Unplugged launched on that ranking in early 1994 and has now spent 35 frames as one of the top-selling titles on any physical format in the U.K. Unplugged is mounting its comeback thanks to a newly-released enhanced edition, as fans have been purchasing the full-length as a triple LP and a double CD. The project has been the focus of renewed attention all year, as the MTV performance was re-released to cinemas in select countries earlier in 2025. That film also made its way to Paramount+. All the excitement surrounding the Grammy-winning effort — along with the physical re-release — appears to have been enough to push the title back into bestseller status.
Times
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Times
Where to buy Eric Clapton's Ferrari or Jack Nicholson's Mercedes
Goodwood's motoring events might be famous for the vintage outfits worn by the crowds and thrilling races set against a backdrop of a stately home, but true motor aficionados get more excited about the sale of millions of pounds' worth of historic cars. Partnering with Bonhams Cars, Goodwood kicked off the 2025 season with the 82nd Members' Meeting sale in mid-April. As always there was an eclectic range of vehicles with seemingly something for everyone and many with an interesting backstory. In terms of sheer 'take your breath away' classic beauty, the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupé stood out. With fabulous bodywork by Carrozzeria Pininfarina and originally in maroon with beige Connolly leather, its first owner resided in Rome, not a million miles from the factory where it was built. It left its native Italy three years later to be passed between several owners in the USA. This well-travelled car then returned to Italy in the early 2000s before finding its way to the UK in 2011, where it was treated to a £150,000-plus restoration and finished in its current Blu Sera with Grigio leather. This desirable Ferrari sold for £402,000. There were a couple of options if you were looking for a bit of star provenance in your new old car. An elegant Mercedes 600 from 1972 in Bordeaux Red bodywork with Cognac leather interior was purchased new by the actor Jack Nicholson. This opulent super saloon was state of the art at the time of its build, with air suspension and a mighty 6.3 litre V8 that made it both comfortable and powerful. Nicholson eventually donated the car to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles before it made its way into private hands in 2022. Selling for £126,500, it was a lot of car for the money. A sportier celebrity-owned motor was the 1975 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB, first owned by Eric Clapton. A little more showy than the demure Nicholson Mercedes, this red Ferrari sports car was supposedly ordered by Clapton after he saw George Harrison's similar car — seemingly, it was not just Harrison's wife, Patti Boyd, that Clapton cast a covetous eye on. However, he only owned the Prancing Horse thoroughbred for a mere 43 miles before it was involved in an accident. It does, however, have the added attraction of being part of rock music history as a picture of the damaged Ferrari appears on the inside-cover artwork for his 1977 album, Slowhand. The next owner bought the car and repaired it over time, repainting it from its original Argento Auteuil to the more traditional Ferrari red it is now. Over the years parts of the car have apparently spent a good deal of time in the vendor's kitchen, and this may well be true, as the Ferrari has covered less than 15,000 miles in the intervening 50 years. On its introduction the GT4 was the world's fastest and most expensive car, and this vehicle is only one of 58 right-hand drive models built for the UK market. The BB of its title officially stands for Berlinetta Boxer, although folklore in the Pininfarina design house claims that the BB moniker was initially named in honour of Bridget Bardot and the car's beautiful bodywork. Seemingly good value, at only £178,250, this Ferrari with a rock star pedigree should continue to rise in value. In the race car category, a humble Ford Capri on sale at the auction can claim to have racing royalty as well as actual royalty behind the wheel. This 3.0GXL Group 1 Competition Coupé competed in the 1973 Avon Tour of Great Britain and was driven by Prince Michael of Kent, who finished a respectable 16th. It later took place in a race at the Österreichring driven by none other than the three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda. Motorsport stardust was further visited on the car when the British motorcycle world champion Barry Sheene raced in it in a celebrity event at Brands Hatch. The £80,500 selling price sounds expensive, but maybe not for a thoroughbred race car with such a distinguished past. At the cheaper end of the spectrum collectors could scratch their itch for 1990s nostalgia with one of the era's great 'hot hatches' — a 1990 Renault 5 GT Turbo. These cars are rapidly rising in value due to people revisiting the dream cars of their youth, and this one-owner-from-new car did not disappoint at £26,450. Bonhams also uses the occasion to promote the next sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. Highlights already announced include a one-owner 2007 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Coupé with only 770 kilometres on the clock, which is selling at 'no reserve'. It will undoubtedly go for a fine price, but it is unlikely to reach some of the standout sales of the past, such as Juan Manuel Fangio's Mercedes-Benz W196R Formula 1 car from 1954, which sold for £19.6 million at the festival in 2013.
