Clapton's nickname

[CharlieP]

I know Eric Clapton has a nickname, but do any of you know what it is?

[I know]

His nick name is Slowhand, but his real name is Eric Patrick Clapp.

[Jim Gregory]

AKA God

[Tubby]

The nickname Slow Hand was the result of a young Eric frequently breaking guitar strings with the Yardbirds. Whilst restringing his guitar the impatient audience gave him a slow hand clap.

[vikkirn]

slo hand

[AHUGH9]

The answer Clapton gives to this question confirms that the nick-name comes from school. Because his name was Clapp, someone thought of calling him Slowhand Clapp, and it stuck when he started playing the guitar.

[sistar]

I heard that it was from the string breaking thing as already mentioned.
Eric's real name IS Clapton, by sheer coincidence, his grandmother who raised him remarried a Mr Clapp after Mr Clapton died, but they never officially adopted him, so he kept his mothers name, she was Patricia Clapton, (hence I guess Clapton's middle name is Patrick).
He also had an Uncle Adrian Clapton, who he thought was his older brother until he found out the truth at 14.
Many sources claim he changed his name from Clapp, but its just not true!

[vicious_sid]

God