That time J.J. Cale told me that Eric Clapton had paid his rent for the last 30 years

By Steve Newton

J.J. Cale is the coolest musician I’ve ever interviewed, and I’ve interviewed quite a few.

Talk about laid back and down to earth.

And what a wicked guitar player, as if being one of the world’s finest songwriters weren’t enough.

I did my first interview with him in 1990, and my second (and last) in 2009.

The last time he was touring behind his final solo album, Roll On, which featured guitar by Eric Clapton on the title track.

At one point in the interview I asked J.J. if he ever felt strange knowing that Clapton had more success with his songs than he did.

Have a listen:

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