The guitarist that Eric Clapton saw as a competitor in the 60s

The guitarist, songwriter and singer Eric Clapton started his musical career in 1962 and in the following years became one of the most influential guitar players of England. He was part of The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and Cream during that decade and showed that he was really a talented artist that could also sell a lot of records.

But obviously, there were many other incredible players like him at the time but as he said once in an interview with Classic Rock magazine,  he didn’t saw people like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Mick Taylor as competitors. But there was another one he pointed out that he felt like was a competitor and devotee.

The guitarist that Eric Clapton saw as a competitor and devotee in the 60s

In the interview with Classic Rock, Clapton was asked if he saw names like Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Mick Green and Mick Taylor as competitors back in the 60s. The musician explained that he didn’t see them in that way and revealed that the only one he considered to be a competitor was Albert Lee. The British musician is two years older than him and started his career in 1959. Also known as “Mr. Telecaster”, Lee has a praised solo career and played with names like Chris Farlowe, The Crickets, Emmylou Harris and Bill Wyman.

“I didn’t see it that way (them as competitors). I didn’t see anybody as competition. Actually, the only person I was really conscious of – and in a way it was because he was really serious – was Albert Lee. Albert was playing with Chris Farlowe. And Albert to me was a very interesting guy, because he was a devotee – and he still is – of the Everly Brothers, and therefore of rockabilly. Also Jimmy Bright and Speedy West were his heroes, and that’s serious country virtuoso playing.”

He continued:

“Those guys played with Tennessee Ernie Ford. And yet he was playing in an R&B band with a soul singer. So I found all of that really, really interesting and attractive. He just had a great touch. So if there was anyone I was really keen on then it was him. I didn’t even know about… Jeff Beck, when I left The Yardbirds, I went to see him play in a club with The Tridents, I think he was with, and it was great.”

“No doubt about it, he was – is – a pioneer. But it didn’t move me deep down. I didn’t like the way The Yardbirds went off, in that weird kind of pop thing that they did. It was another direction from where I wanted to go, that’s for sure,” Eric Clapton said.

Clapton and Albert Lee worked together in the 70s and 80s

Lee was part of Clapton’s solo band from 1978 to 1984, touring and recording. He was part of the albums: “Another Ticket” (1981) and “Money and Cigarettes” (1983). Curiously, as Lee said in a radio interview once, Clapton fired the whole band twice during that era, but he continued as part of the group.

“Just five (I worked with him): ’79 to ’84. He fired the whole band twice. I managed to survive a couple of times. So it taught me a lesson.”

“I thought, ‘Well, this may not last forever’. Sure enough, I got the message that he wanted to make some changes again. He was in a bad way at the time. I don’t think he did very much after that for a little while. But fortunately, he’s put it all back together and he’s doing great now,” Albert Lee said.