Hello I'm Krestey Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive.

For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music.

The program was originally broadcast in 1989,

and the presenter was Sue Lolly. My castaway this week is a musician and a rock star. At the age of nine he discovered that his

parents were in fact his grandparents. The guitar he was brought as compensation

for this revelation turned out to be one of the most significant events in his life.

In the heady days of the 60s he commanded a huge following playing in such groups as the

yard birds cream and blind faith. Drugs and later drink disrupted his career, but he always

remained a musician who enjoyed dedicated support from his fans. He's now 44. Drugs and drink seem to be behind him and his career is once

more successful and lucrative. He is Eric Clapton, also known as Slohan Clapton once upon a time. Why was that Eric?

I think it was a pun on the name Clapton,

Sloughhand Clapton, that's the only reason I can think of ever having it.

Also known blasphemously as God, I think. Well that was I think a term of endearment back in the old days. It was the only way they the young kids could think of giving me the ultimate credit really I suppose I never took it seriously though

but you don't like you don't much care for being idolized do you? Well of course my ego responds very well to it but it actually to you

a lot to live up to it. I mean it's nice to begin with, but then you find that there are expectations attached,

which you can never live up to.

But is there an element in which having known now great fame and having been idolized

that if you had your choice again you would prefer anonymity? I would prefer to be acknowledged as a good

musician I think and then have the anonymity of a private life.

But that's impossible, it's a utopian dream.

So...

You can't have one without the other.

...