This Musician Is the Only Artist To Be Inducted Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Three Times

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognizes the figures who have helped shape rock music and beyond. A few musicians have had the honor of being inducted twice, most often both as part of a band and as a solo artist. But just one has the distinction of making it in three times. Eric Clapton was first inducted in 1992 with The Yardbirds, which he was a member of from 1963 to 1965. He was inducted a second time as part of the supergroup Cream in 1993. That led the band to reunite and perform for the first time in 25 years.

“We haven’t seen one another for 20 years, and we clicked immediately into the group that we had always had,” Clapton told The Real Music Observer in 2024. “And it was magic, and I thought, ‘Okay, if this is why we’re doing this Rock and Roll Hall [of Fame induction], then I’ll go with it.”

Eric Clapton Was Inducted Into the Hall of Fame as a Soloist and Member of Cream and The Yardbirds

With Cream’s induction, Clapton became the first musician to be inducted as a member of two bands. His third induction followed in 2000, when he was inducted as a solo artist. Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after their first release.

“For me, it’s about the music. I’m just a messenger,” Clapton said at the time.

Despite those inductions, Clapton has been critical of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, especially in recent years. “I think of it as a frat boys club that happened to lure [me] in,” he told The Real Music Observer. “I think the fact that they had Ahmet Ertegun [former Atlantic Records president and chairman of Rock Hall] was the ticket for me. He was doing it for people like Ruth Brown and The Drifters, all those early Atlantic [Records] artists that were being forgotten.”

Clapton is also known for his work with Blind Faith, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and Derek And The Dominos. He could hypothetically be inducted into the Hall of Fame a fourth time should any of those groups be inducted. Clapton is often regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He has received plenty of other accolades throughout his career, including 18 Grammy Awards. His most recent album, Happy Xmas, was released in 2018.