In a resurfaced interview from 1991, legendary guitarist Eric Clapton shared his thoughts on the origins of heavy metal music. The interview can be found on YouTube.
“I think it was one of the early heavy metal bands, probably without knowing it,” Clapton said, referring to his former band Cream. “When we disbanded Cream, and they weren’t around anymore, Led Zeppelin filled the voids.”
“They became the first kind of official heavy metal band,” he continued. “So maybe Cream was the forerunner of that.”
The historical interview provides insight into how one of rock’s most influential figures viewed the evolution of heavy metal. It particularly challenges the common belief that Black Sabbath was the first metal band.
As noted by Rock and Roll Garage, Clapton acknowledged Led Zeppelin’s significance. However, he actually found their music to be overwhelmingly loud and not entirely to his taste, despite their role in shaping the genre.
Historical footage from YouTube shows Black Sabbath’s bassist Geezer Butler noting the influence of classical music, particularly Gustav Holst’s “Mars,” on their revolutionary sound.
Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin’s guitarist, acknowledged the influence of earlier blues and rock bands, including Clapton’s work with The Yardbirds. He deliberately took these influences in a distinctly heavier direction.
Clapton also pointed to Blue Cheer as potential originators of heavy metal. He cited their loud, non-traditional sound that departed from strong blues roots, adding another layer to the ongoing debate about metal’s origins.
