Clapton 'wanted to join Rolling Stones'

Eric Clapton was once desperate to join the Rolling Stones according to Keith Richards.

The Stones guitarist says Clapton only recently came clean about how much he wanted to team up with the act when they lost their regular guitarist.

He told a special edition of Mojo magazine devoted to the Stones that Clapton would not have fitted in and was too "lazy".

Richards said the ex-Cream musician wanted to join when Mick Taylor left the band in 1974.

Clapton had only recently enjoyed solo success with top 10 hit I Shot The Sheriff, following a period in the early Seventies in which he had been using hard drugs.

Richards said: "Eric wanted to jump in after Mick Taylor, but never did say so. But he expected us to call, although I only just found out.

"'Why didn't you call me?' Because you're too damn good - and your own man," Richards said.

"There are certain guys that are band players and there's certain guys that ain't. If there's anybody lazier than me, it's Eric.

"He's got it all, but Eric's like Mick Taylor in a way. He needs to hire guys to play with him to kick him up the arse."