As Clapton got more and more into guitar, he cared less and less about art school. According to Bob Gulla, he started turning in so little work that the school kicked him out. Clapton was okay with that because by this time, he'd become a full-blown guitar enthusiast. By day, he started working for his grandfather to pay the bills, and by night, he did what any young aspiring musician would do and joined a band.

Clapton's first group, the Roosters, lasted less than a year. Shortly afterward, he caught up with an old art school friend, Keith Relf, and also started talking music with fellow blues enthusiast Paul Samwell-Smith. Pretty soon, Clapton was slinging guitar as a member of the Yardbirds, a popular band that combined American blues with British rock. Clapton's 18 months with the Yardbirds gained him a lot of fans as the band followed the trail of the Rolling Stones, earning a residency at the same Crawdaddy Club the Stones had played. Clapton then hopped on as lead guitarist for the Bluesbreakers. By this time, his name was big enough that an anonymous fan sprayprainted the phrase "Clapton is God," birthing a meme that still lives. By 1966, Clapton joined with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce to form Cream, a British rock power trio that swiftly became a worldwide phenomenon.

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