Eric Clapton in his personal life, which was troubled by romantic longings and drug and alcohol addiction. He became infatuated with Pattie Boyd, who at the time was married to close friend George Harrison, and withdrew from recording and touring to isolation in his Surrey residence as the band broke up. There he nursed a heroin addiction, which resulted in a lengthy career hiatus interrupted only by the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 (where he passed out on stage, was revived, and managed to finish his performance). In January 1973, the Who's Pete Townshend organised a comeback concert for Clapton at
Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse Mann's singer Paul Jones suggested putting together an all-star band to mark the occasion. The band included Eric Clapton on guitar, Paul Jones on harmonica and Jack Bruce on bass (from Manfred Mann), Steve Winwood on vocals and Pete York on drums (from the Spencer Davis Group), and Ben Palmer on piano (who had previously played with Clapton and Jones as a member of the Roosters). Originally, Ginger Baker was intended to fill the drummer's position, but he was unavailable at the time. The Powerhouse only recorded a few songs in March 1966 (produced by Boyd), three of which were