In 1968, Eric Clapton heard an album that showed him a new world. He wanted to join them immediately

The Band’s *Music from Big Pink* gave Eric Clapton a new direction in 1968, shifting his attention towards songwriting and a broader blend of musical influences. The article says he was so taken with the group’s sound that he wanted to join them, though he ultimately channelled that inspiration into his own music.

Clapton recalled listening to a tape of The Band after gigs with Cream, describing their music as a blend built from Black musical traditions. He later drew on the influence of Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm in his early solo work and performed with The Band at their farewell concert, *The Last Waltz*, where his guitar strap came undone during a solo.