Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

About Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars is a 2017 documentary film about the life of British rock musician Eric Clapton. It was directed by Lili Fini Zanuck who had worked with Clapton on the movie 'Rush' (1991). The film tracks Clapton's career and his personal life, from his traumatic childhood through his extensive career in music. Using an abundance of archival materials, videos, and interviews, Zanuck reveals the man behind the legend.

Making / Production

The production of the film took almost three years. It was produced by Lili Fini Zanuck, John Battsek and Scooter Weintraub. It features extensive interviews with Clapton and many of his family, friends, musical collaborators, and key figures in his life. The film also incorporates a wide array of archival footage, photos, and music.

Actors

• Eric Clapton: The central figure of the documentary, Clapton himself shares his life experiences and his journey in music in a candid way.
• BB King: The legendary Blues artist, King features in the documentary because of his deep musical influence on Clapton.
• George Harrison: A close friend and collaborator, Harrison's contribution provides a unique insight into their shared history.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title of the documentary references Clapton's mastery of the traditional 12-bar blues form.
• This is director Lili Fini Zanuck's second collaboration with Eric Clapton. Their first was on the movie 'Rush' in 1991.
• Clapton's favorite guitar, often referred to as "Blackie," can be seen in numerous scenes of the documentary.

Awards

The film was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Music Film in 2019.

Quotes

• "Music saved me." - Eric Clapton
• "I was functioning as a musician, but, meanwhile, all around me, everything was just spinning out of control." - Eric Clapton
• "I knew that I had a gift of some sort. I found myself in this area of being a musician, and it seemed to be the area of least resistance for me." - Eric Clapton

Music, Soundtrack

• "Crossroads" - Recorded by Cream, this is one of Clapton's most iconic songs and is featured prominently in the documentary.
• "Wonderful Tonight" - A heartfelt track, and one of Clapton's most personal and endearing.
• "Tears in Heaven" - Written after the tragic death of his son, the song is a focal point in the film.