baɪ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn hiː tˈiːmd ˌʌp wɪð ˈɛɹɪk klˈæptən fɚðə fˈɜːst tˈaɪm, bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ ɐn ˌɪntɚmˈɪtənt wˈɜːkɪŋ ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp ðæt hɐz lˈæstᵻd tə ðə pɹˈɛzənt tˈaɪm.
By 1979 he teamed up with Eric Clapton for the first time, beginning an intermittent working relationship that has lasted to the present time.