Nobody else but Chris Welch could have written this book about Eric Clapton, a wonderfully illustrated history that traces the English guitarist's rise from a young picker born Eric Clapp to his dramatic rise as one of the world's most renowned musicians. Welch was in his first week of working at Melody Maker, an English music newspaper, when he met Eric Clapton (then with The Yardbirds) and interviewed him. From that moment on, Welch became one of the guitarist's inner circle.

In this extraordinarily beautiful book that contains more than 400 color and black-and-white photos, Welch covers Slowhand's entire career. There are stories about The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, the Plastic Ono Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Derek and the Dominoes, and Clapton's solo career.

In his introduction, "Riding with Mr. Clapton," Welch writes,

"It is a privilege to be able to tell his story and look back on his achievements in this book, drawing largely from my own encounters and past conversations. Mr. Clapton always thanks audiences at his shows with a particular salutation. It's one I'd like to offer him now as autumn leaves fall. 'God bless you, Eric.'"