Editing Eric Clapton (section)

== Political opinions ==

=== "Keep Britain White" ===
On 5 August 1976, Clapton spoke out against increasing immigration during a concert in [[Birmingham]].<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Stubbs|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/20701-eric-clapton-racism-morrissey|title=Eric Clapton & Enoch Powell to Morrissey: Race in British Music Since '76|website=[[The Quietus]]|date=9 August 2016|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=19 April 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170419140952/http://thequietus.com/articles/20701-eric-clapton-racism-morrissey|url-status=live}}</ref> Visibly intoxicated on stage, Clapton voiced his support for the right-wing British politician [[Enoch Powell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://microsites.virgin.net/music/pictures/profiles/when-popstars-get-political.php?ssid=6 |title=When popstars talk politics: Clapton's shocking rant |publisher=[[Virgin Media]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218181949/http://microsites.virgin.net/music/pictures/profiles/when-popstars-get-political.php?ssid=6 |archive-date=18 February 2009 |access-date=6 June 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock2 |work=[[The Guardian]] |title=The ten right-wing rockers |first=Luke |last=Bainbridge |date=14 October 2007 |access-date=7 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818152641/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/oct/14/popandrock2 |archive-date=18 August 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Barry|last=Miles|title=London Calling: A Countercultural History of London since 1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYn87V36p5AC&pg=PT238|publisher=Atlantic Books|location=London|year=2010|isbn=978-1-848875548|page=|access-date=21 July 2022|archive-date=10 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810045109/https://books.google.com/books?id=gYn87V36p5AC&pg=PT238|url-status=live}}</ref> He addressed the audience as follows:
{{blockquote| 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 vote for Enoch Powell. Enoch's our man. I think Enoch's right, 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 [[wikt:coon|coons]] out. Keep Britain white. I used to be into dope, now I'm into racism. It's much heavier, man. Fucking wogs, man. Fucking [[Saudis]] taking over London. Bastard wogs. Britain is becoming overcrowded and Enoch will stop it and send them all back. The black wogs and coons and Arabs and fucking Jamaicans don't belong here, we don't want them here. This is England, this is a white country, we don't want any black wogs and coons living here. We need to make clear to them they are not welcome. England is for white people, man. This is Great Britain, a white country, what is happening to us, for fuck's sake? Throw the wogs out! Keep Britain white!<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Marzoni|url=https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-fairest-soul-brother-in-england-marzoni|title=The Fairest Soul Brother in England|website=[[The Baffler]]|date=26 February 2019|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722100602/https://thebaffler.com/latest/the-fairest-soul-brother-in-england-marzoni|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

"Keep Britain White" was, at the time, a slogan of the far-right [[National Front (UK)|National Front]] (NF).<ref>{{cite news |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=18 January 2010 |title=Dabbling in right wing politics – David Bowie, Brian Ferry and Eric Clapton |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-ten-worst-rocknroll-career-moves-1774270.html?action=Popup&ino=3 |first=John |last=Hall |date=19 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827082948/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-ten-worst-rocknroll-career-moves-1774270.html?action=Popup&ino=3 |archive-date=27 August 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>''Rebel Rock'' by J. Street. First Edition (1986). Oxford Press Basil Blackwell.pp.74–75.</ref> This incident, along with some controversial remarks made around the same time by [[David Bowie]],<ref name=TW/> were the main catalysts for the creation of [[Rock Against Racism]], with a concert on 30 April 1978.<ref name=racism>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/20/popandrock.race |first=Sarfraz |last=Manzoor |author-link=Sarfraz Manzoor |date=20 April 2008 |access-date=18 January 2010 |work=[[The Observer]] |title=The year rock found the power to unite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227033900/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/20/popandrock.race |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In an interview from October 1976 with ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' magazine, Clapton said that he did not "know much about politics" and said of his immigration speech that "I just don't know what came over me that night. It must have been something that happened in the day but it came out in this garbled thing."<ref name="Farther On">{{cite web|url = http://theband.hiof.no/articles/clapton_interview_sounds_oct_1976.html|title = Eric Clapton: Farther On Up The Road|last = Charone|first = Barbara|date = October 1976|work = Reprint for the web, article from Sounds Magazine|access-date = 19 October 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091016235550/http://theband.hiof.no/articles/clapton_interview_sounds_oct_1976.html|archive-date = 16 October 2009|url-status = dead}}</ref> In a 2004 interview with ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', Clapton referred to Enoch Powell as "outrageously brave".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/dec/01/ericclaptonisnotgod | title=Eric Clapton is not God | work=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | first=Kieron | last=Tyler | date=1 December 2007 | access-date=24 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013657/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/dec/01/ericclaptonisnotgod | archive-date=25 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> He said that the UK was "inviting people in as cheap labour and then putting them in ghettos".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/eric-s-old-post-colonial-blues-1.426495 | title=Eric's old post-colonial blues | newspaper=The Irish Times | first=Brian | last=Boyd | date=25 March 2005 | access-date=24 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013723/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/eric-s-old-post-colonial-blues-1.426495 | archive-date=25 July 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2004, Clapton told an interviewer for ''[[Scotland on Sunday]]'', "There's no way I could be a racist. It would make no sense."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/review.cfm?id=408192004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104143944/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/review.cfm?id=408192004 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2007 |title=A sentimental journey |work=The Scotsman |access-date=22 August 2010 }}</ref> In his 2007 autobiography, Clapton said he was "deliberately oblivious" to racial conflict.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2195792,00.html|work=The Guardian|location=London|title=The gospel according to God|date=21 October 2007|access-date=2 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127022130/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2195792,00.html|archive-date=27 January 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In a December 2007 interview with [[Melvyn Bragg]] on ''[[The South Bank Show]]'', Clapton said he was not a racist but still believed Powell's comments were relevant.<ref name=TW>{{cite web|work=[[The Week]]|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/people/37315/night-eric-wasn%E2%80%99t-so-wonderful|title=The night Eric wasn't so wonderful|date=10 March 2008|access-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810204925/http://www.theweek.co.uk/people/37315/night-eric-wasn%E2%80%99t-so-wonderful|archive-date=10 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018 Clapton stated he was "disgusted" with himself for his "[[cultural chauvinism|chauvinistic]]" and "[[fascistic]]" comments on stage. He added: "I sabotaged everything I got involved with. I was so ashamed of who I was, a kind of semi-racist, which didn't make sense. Half of my friends were black, I dated a black woman, and I championed black music."<ref>{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Sykes|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/eric-clapton-apologizes-for-racist-past-i-sabotaged-everything|title=Eric Clapton Apologizes for Racist Past: 'I Sabotaged Everything'|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=12 January 2018|access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619011314/https://www.thedailybeast.com/eric-clapton-apologizes-for-racist-past-i-sabotaged-everything|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Opposition to fox-hunting ban ===
Clapton supports the [[Countryside Alliance]], which promotes [[field sports]] and issues relating to the British countryside. He has played in concerts to raise funds for the organisation and publicly opposed the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]'s ban on [[fox hunting]] with the [[Hunting Act 2004]]. A spokesperson for Clapton said, "Eric supports the Countryside Alliance. He does not hunt himself, but does enjoy rural pursuits such as fishing and shooting. He supports the Alliance's pursuit to scrap the ban on the basis that he disagrees with the state's interference with people's private pursuits."<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/clapton-headlines-pro-hunt-concert_30_04_2006 | title= Clapton Headlines Pro-Hunt Concert | work= Contact Music | date= 30 April 2006 | access-date= 9 June 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110111075203/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/story/clapton-headlines-pro-hunt-concert_30_04_2006 | archive-date= 11 January 2011 | url-status= live }}</ref>

=== COVID-19 ===
In November 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Clapton and [[Van Morrison]] collaborated on an anti-[[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|mask]], anti-[[COVID-19 lockdowns|lockdown]] single entitled "Stand and Deliver", the profits from which were donated to Morrison's Lockdown Financial Hardship Fund.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eric Clapton, Van Morrison to release new single Dec. 4|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2020/11/28/Eric-Clapton-Van-Morrison-to-release-new-single-Dec-4/8641606569592/|access-date=3 December 2020|work=United Press International|language=en|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202204630/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2020/11/28/Eric-Clapton-Van-Morrison-to-release-new-single-Dec-4/8641606569592/|url-status=live}}</ref> Morrison's stance was criticised by Northern Ireland Health Minister [[Robin Swann]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 September 2020|title=Northern Ireland health minister criticises Van Morrison anti-lockdown songs|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/22/northern-ireland-health-minister-criticises-van-morrison-anti-lockdown-songs|access-date=27 May 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609011654/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/22/northern-ireland-health-minister-criticises-van-morrison-anti-lockdown-songs|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2021, Clapton wrote that he would "not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present", in response to [[Boris Johnson]] mandating that concert attendees be vaccinated.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tsioulcas|first=Anastasia|title=Eric Clapton Says He Won't Play Venues That Require COVID Vaccines|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/22/1019210021/eric-clapton-covid-vaccine-requirement-shows|access-date=22 July 2021|work=[[NPR]]|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722124913/https://www.npr.org/2021/07/22/1019210021/eric-clapton-covid-vaccine-requirement-shows|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton had by then taken both doses of the [[Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine|AstraZeneca vaccine]] and said he had had severe reactions to both injections.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hernandez|first=Angie Orellana|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-17/eric-clapton-astrazeneca-vaccine|title=Eric Clapton feared he would 'never play again after 'disastrous' time with vaccine|work=Los Angeles Times|date=17 May 2021|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518023905/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-05-17/eric-clapton-astrazeneca-vaccine|url-status=live}}</ref> Whether the symptoms he reported were actually vaccine-related was called into question by an [[NBC News]] editorial, given that Clapton previously reported suffering the same symptoms as early as 2013 due to nerve damage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Slate|first=Jeff|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/eric-clapton-s-covid-vaccine-conspiracies-mark-sad-final-act-ncna1281619|title=Eric Clapton's Covid vaccine conspiracies mark a sad final act|work=NBC News|date=15 October 2021|access-date=13 March 2023|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313152121/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/eric-clapton-s-covid-vaccine-conspiracies-mark-sad-final-act-ncna1281619|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2021, Clapton released the single "This Has Gotta Stop" and an accompanying music video. It was described as a protest song against [[COVID-19]] lockdowns, vaccinations, and contains  lyrical and visual statements against what Clapton sees as the erosion of civil liberties as the result of lockdown policies.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 August 2021|first=Melissa|last=Ruggieri|title=Eric Clapton sings 'enough is enough' on new COVID policy protest song 'This Has Gotta Stop'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-covid-policy-protest-song-this-has-gotta-stop/5622559001/|access-date=29 August 2021|newspaper=USA Today|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828134314/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-covid-policy-protest-song-this-has-gotta-stop/5622559001/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=27 August 2021|first=David|last=Browne|title=Eric Clapton Appears Frustrated With Covid-19 Vaccine on New Song 'This Has Gotta Stop'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/eric-clapton-new-song-this-has-gotta-stop-1217935/|access-date=29 August 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 August 2021|title=Eric Clapton Releases Politically-Charged "This Has Gotta Stop"|website=Jambands.com|url=https://jambands.com/news/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-new-song-this-has-gotta-stop-accompanying-video/|access-date=29 August 2021|archive-date=28 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828230413/https://jambands.com/news/2021/08/27/eric-clapton-releases-new-song-this-has-gotta-stop-accompanying-video/|url-status=live}}</ref> Clapton tested positive for COVID-19 in May 2022, causing him to cancel some concerts in his tour schedule.<ref>{{cite news|last=Andrew|first=Scottie|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/17/entertainment/eric-clapton-covid-tour-postponed-cec/index.html|title=Eric Clapton postpones some concert dates after testing positive for Covid-19|work=CNN|date=17 May 2022|access-date=18 May 2022|archive-date=18 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518003653/https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/17/entertainment/eric-clapton-covid-tour-postponed-cec/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Gaza war ===
In November 2023, during the [[Gaza war]], Clapton released a song titled "Voice of a Child", along with a video featuring images of destruction in the [[Gaza Strip]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 November 2023|title=Guitar icon Eric Clapton releases new song accompanied by Gaza imagery|newspaper=Ynetnews|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/sjoddmle6|access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref> In December 2023, Clapton organized a charity concert to raise funds for children in the Gaza Strip. During the event, he played a guitar painted with the colors of the [[Palestinian flag]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 January 2024 |title=Eric Clapton releases fundraising concert for Gaza kids, ignores hostages |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-782583 |access-date=19 February 2024 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref>