Clapton vs Bonamassa

Bonamassa is great and I listen to his music often, but he's got a Looooooooong ways to go before he can reach the likes of Clapton.
 
Clapton is not god, but amazing. His achievements are more than legendary, probably the best blues / rock player ever. Times are a changing, what happened then probably can’t happen now. Bonamassa is humble and gives credit to others. The more he does, the more I appreciate his greatness. He can stand up with anyone on a stage.
 
It's hard for me to pick because I always associate the artist with the group. Match Eric Clapton with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, for example. A complete package.

Joe Bonamassa and Eric Clapton together. Tough choice.

 
Do any of you know of Sean Costello. I saw him many times as he traveled through the Denver area, 3 times at the Little Bear if that means anything. Check YouTube, esp. The Hucklebuck to start. He died way too early in 2008 of an overdose, at 28 not 27. His death still bothers me, it seems like yesterday. A truly gifted musician.
 
Bonamossa is technically as good as anyone ever. I personally feel he lacks a little personality to his style. But still an unbelievable player.

As far as greatest living player, I’d take Gilmore over both.
As far as the young players go, I’d take Derek Trucks over them all.
 
wytex said:
Stevie played a dive bar in town while I was in College in East Texas, 3 times. What shows they were.
Saw Bonamassa in a 1500 seat theater and he was awesome but no Stevie.
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First time I knew of him was on a show called Austin City Limits or something to that effect. I was blown away. Up to that point I listened mostly to butt rock. Butt rock being my buddies description of hair metal. Glad I found Stevie. Led me to more and better music. mtmuley
 
Enjoyment of musicianship is vey subjective. Off the top of my head, a list of great deceased blues guitar players I would include would be the 3 Kings, Mike Bloomfield, Roy Buchanan, Johnny Winter, and others. Bloomfield, maybe the first of the great white blues guitarists.
 
Mike Bloomfield was a relative unknown because he played mostly the blues genre in a rock era. That and he couldn't kick his heroin habit and it ended up killing him. Much like Hendrix, Joplin, and Morrison, his demons got him. But make no mistake-he was on par with those 3. Clapton was even impressed and influenced by Mike Bloomfield. Google him and you could find a youtube video about his life. It's about an hour long, it seems.

I'm kinda surprised no one mentioned Robben Ford. Outstanding blues/jazz guitarist.
 
For you country fans, Albert Lee, may be the best country picker ever. And he is a contemporary of Clapton. Small world.
 
Gunnihunter said:
For anyone who cares, of the best still living, is it Clapton or Bonamassa? I used to think Clapton, but as prolific as Joe is, my opinion is starting to change. For the unaware, Google Joe Bonamassa and be amazed. On YouTube look for Beth and Joe. “I’d rather go blind”.
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Two way different styles of playing. Mrs Sikora and I have tics for Beth Hart in the middle of May I think.
 
eelgrass said:
It's hard for me to pick because I always associate the artist with the group. Match Eric Clapton with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, for example. A complete package.

Joe Bonamassa and Eric Clapton together. Tough choice.

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I seen a YouTube vid of Joe Bon was telling the story of what all took place the night of the show. Sound check was at 4:30 Clapton walks on the stage he had a fender amp and a brand new Fender Strat that a local guitar shop lent him I going to assume he have a tech or someone from Joe’s camp carry the stuff in. Any he says that he plugged in play the song in one take later play it for the crowd then Eric went back to his house,
 
Gunnihunter said:
For anyone who cares, of the best still living, is it Clapton or Bonamassa? I used to think Clapton, but as prolific as Joe is, my opinion is starting to change. For the unaware, Google Joe Bonamassa and be amazed. On YouTube look for Beth and Joe. “I’d rather go blind”.
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Bonamassa for sure that boy can rip on that guitar I'm a big time blues listener
Anymore the blues players are making new music that is great
 
Doyle Bramhall II
He’s in Eric’s band when he can. Andy “Fairweather” Low. He’s the guitar player you see with EC on Unplugged Etc. look up his rendition of Gin House Blues.
 
I saw Clapton in Denver several years ago and he was playing with Doyle Bramhall, Derek Trucks, and Steve Winwood. Bramhall is really good.
 

Steve Winwood has always been on my favorites list.


Joe Walsh is right up there as well, kind of a weird dude but he rips.
 
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runamuk said:
Ahh..
I was just funn’in with Coloradoman.
I agree with everything you say.

But the best ever hands down?
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Nope, nobody is the best ever. But he has to be on the list. My listening tastes change over time so I’m always looking for the next best one. Currently I’m obsessed with finding the best Umphrey’s Mcgee youtube performance. Not easy when there are thousands. Their guy Jake Cinninger is near the top of the best guitar player list somewhere.
 
Miss Georgia Doyle’s sister
1712429723512.jpeg
 
Answering the OP's question, Clapton. Been a fan of his for, OMG, almost 50 years! He's definitely at or near the top of the list. Man has 9 lives though. Glad he's still around.

Bonamassa is dang good also.

SRV died in a helicopter crash in 1990. He was touring and opening for Clapton at the time. I attended the first concert after his death. Hated SRV wasn't there.

But I gotta post a link to this. The baddest version of the baddest guitar rock ever. Ignore the audience though.

 
I bought tickets for The Rolling Stones Hackney Diamond show in Seattle for May 15th a few months ago, great seats too.
Something came up a few days ago and I won’t be able to make it.
So I gave a buddy of mine, the concert tickets and airline tickets. Him and his 15 year-old son will be going.
I wasn't to bummed about missing the show, I have seen them several times.
But the biggest kick in the guts about the whole deal is a couple of hours after I transferred everything over to him I was listening to XM radio, and it was announced that Joe Bonamassa was going to open for them only for the Seattle show.
I’ve never seen Bonamassa live, I’m pretty certain he’s going to light the place up pretty good. When he announced it on his show on Bluesville, he talked about what an honor it would be to open for the Stones and said for everybody to hold onto their hat.
 
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Joe2Kool said:
Answering the OP's question, Clapton. Been a fan of his for, OMG, almost 50 years! He's definitely at or near the top of the list. Man has 9 lives though. Glad he's still around.

Bonamassa is dang good also.

SRV died in a helicopter crash in 1990. He was touring and opening for Clapton at the time. I attended the first concert after his death. Hated SRV wasn't there.

But I gotta post a link to this. The baddest version of the baddest guitar rock ever. Ignore the audience though.

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EC’s first show after the crash was Tue 28-Aug-1990 Sandstone Amphitheater Bonner Springs, Kansas, the second was Wed 29-Aug-1990 Arena St. Louis, Missouri (United States) My girlfriend went and she was surprised EC never mentioned a word about Stevie which she thought was odd
 
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coloradoman said:
In my opinion yes!
I also say John Bonam is the best drummer of all time Hands down too.
YMMV
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coloradoman said:
In my opinion yes!
I also say John Bonam is the best drummer of all time Hands down too.
YMMV
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Now you went and did it coloradoman! John B was a construction worker type guy which I love because I am one as well and he could hit the drums harder than anyone else before him but best of all time!? I think what you’re saying is the best Rock Drummer? But Mr Ginger Baker as Eric has said puts John B to shame. Check out the Cream reunion at The King Albert Hall and Ginger’s drum solo and you be the judge. I googled 100 greatest drummers of all time and Meg from The White Stripes was #94 Tommy Lee was another on the list OMG and a bunch of others. Oh John B’s his son needs to find a new career instead of going on tour playing his dad’s songs and playing along with a vid of his dad what an accomplishment! Hank Jr did it but he was 7 years old at the time and his mom made him do it. I know he plays with Sammy but that’s a charity gig because like many Sam just Loves Led Zep! Please don’t say Jimmy Page is the best guitar player Please Don’t! JK LOL

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Clapton was one that Bonamassa idolized.
Bonamassa is one of the best technical players and quickest cleanest there is. He probably know more about the instrument historically also.
I’ve been lucky to see most of the greats
 
joesikora said:
EC’s first show after the crash was Tue 28-Aug-1990 Sandstone Amphitheater Bonner Springs, Kansas, the second was Wed 29-Aug-1990 Arena St. Louis, Missouri (United States) My girlfriend went and she was surprised EC never mentioned a word about Stevie which she thought was odd
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Hmmm. SRV died on Aug 27th, 1990. A Google search says EC played in Knoxville on Aug 31st. In my mind, that was the first concert after SRV's death. But, I guess not!

Like your GF, I specifically remember EC never mentioned SRV. And like her, I was surprised.
 
nocwalker said:
Clapton was one that Bonamassa idolized.
Bonamassa is one of the best technical players and quickest cleanest there is. He probably know more about the instrument historically also.
I’ve been lucky to see most of the greats
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Yes in deed! Warren Hayes said in an interview that no one picks every string playing lead then he stopped and said “well except for Bonamaasa” LOL!
 

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