When you think about Eric Clapton, there is one thing that obviously comes to mind. He is one of the greatest guitar players in history, and is a legendary musician of his time. He played with the Beatles, was in some incredible bands, and had some amazing stuff that he wrote in his solo career.
Indeed, his music career is the stuff of legends.
Yet, he is also known for something else: a strain of generally xenophobic views that he has shown glimpses of through that long, legendary career.
Last year, he began speaking out publicly against the Covid-19 lockdown. And while this itself is not necessarily a racist thing, of course, it reminded some of Clapton's racist rantings decades ago. Perhaps this is, not least of all, because many seeming racists are the most vocal critics of the lockdown, not least of all avid Trump supporters in the United States, and the generally pro-Brexit, anti-immigration crowd inside of Great Britain.
Clapton did a song late last year with fellow legendary musician Van Morrison, called "Stand and Deliver." It takes a stand against government lockdowns.
This had some unintended consequences for Clapton, because people suddenly remembered another episode when Clapton let his viewpoints be known. I had vaguely heard of this once or twice, but was again, a but short on details. But on August 5, 1976, while on stage in Birmingham, in the United Kingdom (and apparently while quite intoxicated, as I understand it.
Below is a summary of what he said. The exact wording remains in dispute. No recordings of it exist. But the fact that he did in fact say this is apparently not at all in dispute. Here is what he said:
Do we have any foreigners in the audience tonight? If so, please put up your hands… So where are you? Well wherever you all are, I think you should all just leave. Not just leave the hall, leave our country … I don’t want you here, in the room or in my country. Listen to me, man! I think we should send them all back. Stop Britain from becoming a black colony. Get the foreigners out. Get the wogs out. Get the coons out. Keep Britain white
Unbelievable.
In fact, the backlash to this rant was what inspired some to create "Rock Against Racism."
Just goes to show that just because someone is brilliant in some ways, that certainly does not mean that they are necessarily noble or enlightened, or even remotely decent human beings.
Eric Clapton's Past Racist Comments Surface After Announcement of 'Anti-Lockdown' Single by Jon Jackson, 11/27/20:
https://www.newsweek.com/clapton-morrison-lockdown-single-1550863
Did Eric Clapton Once Unleash a Racist Rant Onstage? In late 2020, internet users highlighted a shocking episode from the legendary blues guitarist's past. Dan MacGuill Published 4 December 2020:
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/eric-clapton-racist-rant/
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