Did Eric Clapton Ever Comment on Prince’s Famous 2004 “Gently Weep” Solo?

Eric Clapton has not publicly addressed Prince's interpretation of his famous guitar solo from “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” in 2004. Nonetheless, Clapton's thoughts on this piece have been documented in interviews and statements made after Prince's death. This article provides insight into Clapton's impressions, offering a detailed comparison of the original and the reworked versions.

Eric Clapton's Perspective on the Solo

Clapton, known for his admiration of Prince's guitar prowess, has shared his views on the “Gently Weep” performance in various platforms. In two separate statements, Clapton expressed both admiration and critique, striking a balance between fandom and honest appraisal.

After Prince's Death

Two days after Prince's passing, Clapton made a public statement acknowledging the significance of the moment:

“My deep condolences to the family and friends of Prince. He was a visionary, a true artist who inspired me and many others with his music and showmanship.”

He further expressed his thoughts on Prince's abilities as a guitarist in a more candid manner:

“I’m a fan of Prince as a guitarist. I think that he played Nile Rodgers-esque funk pretty well and he used the sound of a distorted Telecaster as a lead instrument nicely. But the solo on the tribute version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is pretty pedestrian. The person who makes the whole production work is Steve Winwood who is often under-appreciated as a guitarist because his primary instrument was piano. If you listen it's clear that Winwood knew the Harrison and Clapton parts cold. Prince barely learned the song.”

Live Performance and Production

Clapton also highlighted the importance of live performance dynamics, suggesting that the fills Prince provided during the song are more engaging:

“Prince was a great live performer and that was a great bit of showmanship. But I recommend that you listen without the video. What he plays as fills while they're singing is more interesting to me than the solo. Probably because it alludes to Clapton's work. But the solo itself sounds more like a string of garage band cliches. The kind of thing that goes down great live but doesn't hold up on repeated listenings.”

Retracted and Reworked Version

Prince eventually retrieved the solo and brought it back into the song during his collaboration with Dhani Jones, Jeff Br Stratton, and Marc Stern. The result, according to Clapton, was a remarkable performance:

“Prince eventually retrieved the solo and got it back into the song when he did it with Dhani Tom and Jeff and Marc Mann. It was awesome and those looks he sent the guys just as he brought it back were very amusing. He knew what he was doing: it just sounded as if he left the stage to hang in the universe for several minutes.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Eric Clapton did not comment directly on Prince's famous 2004 “Gently Weep” solo, his insights offer a nuanced view of the performance. Clapton combines his admiration for Prince with a practical assessment of the skills displayed, emphasizing the collaborative efforts that elevated the overall performance.

For those interested in delving deeper into this topic, references to Patricia Kings' response and other related articles can be found in the links provided.