COVER STORY
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“ Sunshine ” was written because Jack and I went to see Jimi Hendrix . Jack was so floored that he wrote this riff for Jimi . It was a tribute to Jimi and the way he played .
Ifirst met Eric Clapton a few days before his birthday in late March , 1985 in Dallas , Texas . He was rehearsing with his band getting ready to do a tour for his Behind the Sun album . For three days we would get together for a couple hours and talk over tea . He was charming , warm , funny , and brutally honest . Over the next couple of decades , we would do another seven interviews . I find him to be simply one of the best guitarists ever and a fierce supporter of the blues , which has inspired him to say , “ carry the torch and pass it on .”
I ’ d like you to comment on some of the songs you were playing with Cream .
In that time the band was young enough to be influenced . “ Sunshine of Your Love ” was done before we ’ d become really famous . That was written because Jack and I went to see Jimi Hendrix . Jack was so floored by Jimi Hendrix that he wrote this riff for Jimi . It was a tribute to Jimi and the way he played . That riff was just for him . So we did that song kind of thinking of Jimi
“ Sunshine of Your Love ” by Cream
JANUARY / FEBRUARY DIGITAL EDITION GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER 35