Project Detail

Eric Clapton: A Life in 12 Bars

Synopsis

“CLAPTON IS GOD”. With these words graffitied across London, Eric Clapton became the ultimate guitar hero. He is the only ever three-time-inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an 18-time Grammy Award-winner, and widely renowned as one of the greatest performers of all time. But behind the scenes lay restlessness and tragedy. The insatiable search to grow his artistic voice left fans surprised as he constantly quit successful bands, from the groundbreaking Yardbirds to 1960s super-group Cream. His isolated pursuit of his craft, and fear of selling out, served as a catalyst for his evolution as an artist.
Stretching from his traumatic childhood living in a “house of secrets”, to his long and difficult struggle with drugs and alcohol, and the tragic loss of his son in a heart-breaking accident, Eric Clapton always found an inner strength and healing in music. Told through his own words and songs, as well as those of his family, friends, musical collaborators, contemporaries and many heroes – including BB King, Jimi Hendrix and George Harrison.
Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2017 - TIFF Docs - World premiere

Details

Year
2017
Type of project
Features
Running time
135 mins
Director
Lili Fini Zanuck 1st Feature
Producer
John Battsek, Lili Fini Zanuck, Larry Yelen, Stephen 'Scooter' Weintraub
Co-Producer
George Chignell
Executive Producer
Vinne Malhorta
Editor
Chris King, Paul Monaghan
Sound
Sound Recordist: Russell Edwards, Stevie Haywood
Composer
Composer: Gustavo Santaolalla; Music Supervisor: Gary Welch

Categories

Production Status

Production Company

A Passion Pictures and Showtime Documentary Films production

Passion Pictures

County House
33-34 Rathbone Place
London
W1T 1JN

Sales Company

Page updates

This page was last updated on 12th May 2025. Please let us know if we need to make any amendments or request edit access by clicking below.

See also

You may also be interested in other relevant projects in the database.

Art Sex Music Art Sex Music

Director: Caroline Catz

Year: 2026

A biographical documentary of the artist Cosey Fanni Tutti based on her best selling memoir.

Douglas Gordon by Douglas Gordon Douglas Gordon by Douglas Gordon

Director: Finlay Pretsell

Year: 2026

Under the skin of Douglas Gordon, probing what it means to be an artist. Capturing the chaotic energy of a working studio and blurring the lines between art, performance, and reality. The filmmaker's presence challenges the authenticity of the process, exposing the tensions, collaboration, and unpredictability of documenting a boundary-pushing artist. Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2026 - Panorama Dokumente

Birds of War Birds of War

Director: Janay Boulos, Abd Alkader Habak

Year: 2026

The love story of a London-based Lebanese journalist and a Syrian activist/cameraman as told through thirteen years of personal archives across revolutions, war and exile. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World premiere