Stephen Dale Petit's Journey: From Challenges to Collaboration with Eric Clapton
Blues guitarist Stephen Dale Petit faced challenges in recent years, including a cancer diagnosis and heartbreak. However, in 2025, he released his new album, Be The Love, featuring a guest solo from Eric Clapton. Petit shared his surreal experience of befriending Clapton and convincing him to play on the album, despite initial setbacks.
Their collaboration began with Petit creating a musical section for Clapton, leading to a memorable studio session at Hoxa HQ in London. Clapton's solo on the track left Petit moved to tears, describing it as "insane" and highlighting Clapton's ability to channel energy from various sources. The session spanned two days, during which Clapton left his guitars at the studio, allowing Petit to play them in a gesture of guitar-player love.
Despite a rocky start and initial doubts, Clapton's solo on Be The Love became a standout moment for Petit. The guitarist expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with his hero and the emotional impact of Clapton's performance. The full interview with Petit can be found in the latest issue of Guitarist magazine, available for purchase at Magazines Direct.