There always comes a time, but still sad to hear. Clapton's music was a mainstay on my Walkman during high school. I had a chance encounter with him in the men's washroom in the KLM Lounge in Schiphol airport about 15-years ago. But before I realized it was EC himself it was already a bit late to get an autograph.
Without a doubt one of the most significant guitarists in rock & roll history.
-a