by Christopher Diamantoukos, Haddon Township, NJ

Eddie Van Halen talks about how Eric Clapton was one of his early inspirations and refers to a concert he saw when Clapton was in Derek and the Dominoes. I remember attending that show in the fourth row, which was in November of 1970 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Sitting in with the Dominoes were Billy Preston, Jessie Ed Davis, and Rebop Kwaku Ba.

To me the highlight image I will always remember was when Eric Clapton came back to the chords and melody after the break of “Let It Rain.” Eric was not playing slide guitar on that song, but you never would have known it. I was close enough to see the strain on his face and the sweat falling from his brow as his fingers slid up and down the frets of his guitar. It was very inspiring, very amazing.