Eric Clapton's SAD Final Act.

[Straw Man]

46. Levon Helm is considered almost a saint where I live ...

... which is near Woodstock, NY. But there ain't no such thing in the real world. In his autobiography, he makes excuses for segregationist Orval Faubus, who was governor of Arkansas when Helm was growing up, claiming that Faubus was actually a progressive who had to oppose integration in order to be elected. Yeah, OK, whatever ... Best singing drummer in rock history, but maybe he could've/should've kept his mouth shut that time.

Then there's Clapton. Politics aside, all the best parts of "Layla" weren't his work. The trademark guitar riff was created and played by Duane Allman. The gorgeous extended fadeout was the work of co-writer Jim Gordon, and the exquisite playing therein was by Bobby Whitlock on piano and Duane on guitar. Without those things it's a pretty lackluster song, as evidenced by the solo acoustic version by Clapton.

Buh-bye, Eric. Nothing like ending your career with a whiny whimper.