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2009 UK Tour - October 27, 2008

Eric Clapton has plans to perform in Dublin, Liverpool and Manchester in May 2009 before returning to a venue he has said is "like playing in my front room" - London's Royal Albert Hall.

All U.K. concerts go on sale to the general public on 27 October. Platinum Seats Pre sales begin 23 October for select venues - visit http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk for full details.

All information is subject to change. Concerts are sometimes not listed on official ticket-seller or venue websites until 24 hours before the sale is scheduled to begin. More information can be found at http://www.ecaccess.cc

Source : news.google.co.uk

JJ Cale and Eric Clapton Win Grammy for Road to Escondido - February 11, 2008

Eric Clapton can add another Grammy to his collection. 2006's The Road to Escondido from Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale received a Grammy at last night's award ceremony for Best Contemporary Blues Album (vocal or instrmental). Also noteworhy was guitarist Brad Paisley's win in the Best Country Instrumental Performance category for "Throttleneck," which is from Paisley's 5th Gear album (Paisley also performed "Ticks" during the telecast).

From Tom Watson's Modern Guitars review of The Road to Escondido: Reviews of the J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton album, The Road to Escondido, make me laugh. They read like a botanist walking through a field of flowers - heavy on facts and light on scents. The important context of Escondido isn't the Cale-Clapton music connection unless you're an historian. If you're a sympathetic listener, the important context isn't music at all, it's place.

Source : www.modernguitars.com

Eric Clapton heads north - show announced for Harewood House in June - February 1, 2008

Guitar legend Eric Clapton has announced a special north of England show for this summer, performing in the grounds of Harewood House, near Leeds on Sunday 29th June.

As the only three time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and 18-time Grammy award winning artist, Clapton ranks as one of the most successful touring musicians of all time. His musical journey spans some five decades including stints with such seminal bands as The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos, culminating with a hugely successful solo career.

Supporting Clapton with be 'special guest' Robert Randolph & The Family Band.

Source : www.efestivals.co.uk

Clapton and Police play Park gigs - January 29, 2008

Eric Clapton and The Police are to headline this year's Hard Rock Calling festival in London's Hyde Park.

Clapton will lead the first night of the two-day event and will be joined by special guests John Mayer and ex-girlfriend Sheryl Crow.

The Police will top the line-up on the second night, with KT Tunstall and Starsailor also on the bill.

The gigs are on 28-29 June with tickets on sale on 1 February. It is part of Hard Rock's Ambassadors of Rock Tour.

'Amazing'

The concert will mark Clapton's first headlining gig at Hyde Park for more than a decade.

"We are very excited about this year's Hard Rock Calling event as we have two amazing headline acts, following on the tradition from the past two years which saw Roger Waters, The Who, Peter Gabriel and Aerosmith perform," said Toby Leighton-Pope from organisers Live Nation.

Tickets for the gigs cost £50 for the Saturday, £65 for Sunday or £110 for the weekend.

Source : www.bbc.co.uk/news

Slowhand on South Bank Show - October 18, 2007

Eric Clapton is to appear on The South Bank Show, for the first time in twenty years, this December.

Interviewed once again by South Bank Show host Melvyn Bragg, Clapton chats at length about conquering his addiction with alcohol which was at it's peak at the time of their first meeting.

The filmed interview also sees Clapton talk frankly about his family, the death of his son, the intensity of his relationships with other great guitarists and with women, his influences and his most moving songs - and how he has now finally found peace.

The show which airs on ITV1 on December 2, will also include rare and exclusive performance footage

Other highlights on The South Bank Show this Christmas include an interview with Annie Lennox behind the scenes as she prepares for a peace concert. The show airs on December 16.

Source : www.uncut.co.uk

Guitar Heroics Captured On Clapton's 'Crossroads' DVD - October 2, 2007

Eric Clapton's second Crossroads Guitar Festival will be immortalized on DVD Nov. 20 via Rhino, Billboard.com has learned. The double-DVD set features 38 tracks from the July 28, 2007, show outside Chicago, with performances from Clapton, Jeff Beck, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Steve Winwood and Willie Nelson, among many others.

Among the highlights of "Crossroads" are a rare on-stage collaboration between former Blind Faith mates Clapton and Winwood, Clapton dusting off material from Derek and the Dominos plus covering George Harrison's "Isn't It a Pity" and an uncommon live appearance from the Band's Robbie Robertson with Clapton on Bo Diddley's "Who Do You Love."

The package wraps with Buddy Guy's "Sweet Home Chicago," featuring guest turns from Clapton, Robert Cray, John Mayer, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan and Johnny Winter.

Clapton is gearing up for the Oct. 9 release of his autobiography, atply titled "Clapton -- The Autobiography," and the two-CD retrospective "Complete Clapton" (Warner Bros.). The artist will appear during release week on NBC's "Today," CNN's "Larry King Live" and NPR's "All Things Considered."

Here is the track list for "Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007":

Disc 1
Introduction (by Bill Murray
"Uberesso" (Sonny Landreth)
"Hell at Home" (Sonny Landreth with Eric Clapton)
"Maharina" (John McLaughlin)
"Rosie" (Doyle Bramhall II)
"Outside Woman Blues" (Doyle Bramhall II)
"Little By Little" (Susan Tedeschi with the Derek Trucks Band)
"Anyday" (The Derek Trucks Band)
"Highway 61 Revisited" (Johnny Winter with the Derek Trucks Band)
"Nobodysoul" (Robert Randolph & The Family Band)
"Poor Johnny" (Robert Cray)
"Dirty Work at the Crossroads" (Jimmie Vaughan with the Robert Cray Band)
"Sitting on Top of the World" (Hubert Sumlin with the Robert Cray Band & Jimmie Vaughan)
"Paying The Cost To Be The Boss" (BB King with the Robert Cray Band, Jimmie Vaughan & Hubert Sumlin)
"Rock Me Baby" (BB King with the Robert Cray Band, Jimmie Vaughan & Hubert Sumlin)
"Sweet Thing" (Vince Gill)
"Country Boy" (Albert Lee with Vince Gill)
"If It Makes You Happy" (Sheryl Crow with Vince Gill & Albert Lee)
"Tulsa Time" (Sherly Crow with Eric Clapton, Vince Gill & Albert Lee)
"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (Willie Nelson with Vince Gill & Albert Lee)
"On The Road Again" (Willie Nelson with Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill & Albert Lee)

 

Disc 2
"Belief" (John Mayer)
"Gravity" (John Mayer)
"Don't Worry Baby" (Los Lobos)
"Mas Y Mas" (Los Lobos)
"Cause We Ended As Lovers" (Jeff Beck)
"Big Block" (Jeff Beck)
"Tell The Truth" (Eric Clapton)
"Isn't It A Pity" (Eric Clapton)
"Who Do You Love" (Robbie Robertson with Eric Clapton)
"Presence Of The Lord" (Steve Winwood with Eric Clapton)
"Can't Find My Way Home" (Steve Winwood with Eric Clapton)
"Had To Cry Today" (Steve Winwood with Eric Clapton)
"Dear Mr. Fantasy" (Steve Winwood)
"Crossroads" (Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood)
"Mary Had A Little Lamb" (Buddy Guy)
"Damn Right I've Got The Blues" (Buddy Guy)
"Sweet Home Chicago" (Buddy Guy with Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, John Mayer, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan & John Winters.

Source : www.billboard.com

The Autobiography
IN STORES 9TH OCTOBER 2007

Book Description
The legendary musician who defined rock in the 1960s and continues to astonish and delight a wide spectrum of music lovers tells, for the first time, the story of his personal and professional journeys in this pungent, witty, and painfully honest autobiography.

Synopsis
Eric Clapton is far more than a rock star. Like Dylan and McCartney he is an icon and a living legend. He has sold tens of millions of records, played sell-out concerts all over the world and been central to the significant musical developments of his era. His guitar playing has seen him hailed as 'God'. Tracks such as 'Layla', 'Sunshine Of Your Love', 'Wonderful Tonight' and 'Tears In Heaven' have become anthems for generations of music fans. Now for the first time, Eric tells the story of his personal and professional journeys in this pungent, witty and painfully honest autobiography. But the rock star lifestyle has had a darker side too. In more than forty years at the forefront of his profession he has twice survived near fatal addictions to drugs and alcohol, the death of his own young son, the deaths of friends such as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon, the break-up of marriage and the disintegration of relationships with a succession of beautiful women. Eric was born an illegitimate child to a Canadian airman in 1945 and raised by his grandparents. Until the age of 9 he believed his absentee mother to be his sister. When the truth was revealed he felt a sense of abandonment and i

From the Inside Flap
Eric Clapton is far more than a rock star. Like Dylan and McCartney he is an icon and a living legend. He has sold tens of millions of records, played sell-out concerts all over the world and been central to every significant musical development of his era. His guitar playing has seen him hailed as ‘God’. Tracks such as ‘Layla’, ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, ‘Wonderful Tonight’ and ‘Tears in Heaven’ have become anthems for generations of music fans. Now for the first time, Eric tells the story of his personal and professional journeys in this pungent, witty and painfully honest autobiography.

Eric was born illegitimate in 1945 and raised by his grandparents. He never knew his father and until the age of nine believed his absentee mother to be his sister. In his teens his solace was the guitar and he soon became a cult hero in the club circuits of Britain. With the foundation of the world’s first super group Cream in 1996 he became a world superstar.

But the rockcstar lifestyle has had a darker side. In more than forty years at the forefront of his profession he has twice survived near fatal addictions to drugs and alcohol, the deaths of close friends such as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon, the death of his four-year-old son, the break-up of marriage and the disintegration of countless relationships with a succession of beautiful women.

These are the memoirs of a survivor, someone who has reached the pinnacle of success, who has had it all, but whose demons have never left him. .At the age of 60 Eric is cured of alcoholism and is in a long term relationship with three young daughters. He is now ready to tell his story as it is, hiding nothing, with a directness and searing honesty that will make this book one of the most compelling memoirs of our time.

About the Author
Eric Clapton was born in 1945. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Yardbirds and in 1966, he formed Cream with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos followed before Eric embarked on his solo career which has spanned three decades to date. He has produced dozens of bestselling albums selling tens of millions of copies. He is married with three daughters and lives with his family in Surrey.

Complete Clapton
IN STORES 9TH OCTOBER 2007


Disc 1  
I Feel Free  
Sunshine Of Your Love  
White Room  
Crossroads  
Badge  
Presence Of The Lord  
After Midnight  
Let It Rain  
Bell Bottom Blues  
Layla  
Let It Grow  
I Shot The Sheriff  
Knockin' On Heaven's Door  
Hello Old Friend  
Cocaine  
Lay Down Sally  
Wonderful Tonight  
Promises  
I Can't Stand It

 

 
Disc 2  
I've Got A Rock n' Roll Heart  
She's Waiting  
Forever Man  
It's In The Way That You Use It  
Miss You  
Pretending  
Bad Love  
Tears In Heaven  
Layla (unplugged)  
Running On Faith (unplugged)  
Motherless Child  
Change The World  
My Father's Eyes  
Riding With The King  
Sweet Home Chicago  
If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day  
Ride The River  

Clapton's Daughter Launches Solo Career - November 16, 2006

Legendary guitarist ERIC CLAPTON's daughter RUTH is launching a solo singing career. The 21-year-old is the result of a brief relationship Clapton had with her mother YVONNE KELLY while he recorded on the Caribbean island of Montserrat in the 1980s. Ruth has already supported her father, providing backing vocals for him at concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden, and is now setting off alone. Her first gig is at a nightclub in Doncaster, England. She says, "I've sung backing vocals at a few of my dad's gigs, but this is a bit different. For a start I'll be doing my own songs, so I'll be putting myself out there really, and that would scare anyone. "In Doncaster, I'll be able to see everyone's face in the audience."

Source : www.contactmusic.com

The Road To Esondido Available Nov. 7th 2006 - September 21, 2006

After years of admiring each other’s musical masterworks and Clapton covers of Cale songs such as “After Midnight” and “Cocaine,” guitar greats J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton have teamed up for the first time to create an original album together, The Road To Escondido. The 14-track CD was produced and recorded by the duo in August 2005 in California. The resulting music defies being labeled into any one category, but instead finds influence across the spectrum of blues, rock, country and folk. A hybrid sound that is unique musically, while still bearing the signature styles of Cale and Clapton recognized by fans around the world. The songs are warm and rich, with deep flowing rhythms, yet use an economy of words to express much.

In a true collaboration, Cale and Clapton jointly produced and recorded the album, each playing and singing on the tracks. Cale wrote 11 of the songs, Clapton wrote “Three Little Girls,” John Mayer wrote “Hard To Thrill” and the duo cover the blues classic “Sporting Life Blues.” J.J. Cale’s touring band accompanies them on the album as well as guest musicians including, Taj Mahal, John Mayer, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II, Albert Lee, Nathan East, Willie Weeks and Steve Jordan. Particularly special is the involvement of Billy Preston, who donated his classic keyboard talents throughout the album. The album is dedicated to Preston and Clapton’s late friend Brian Roylance.

"Eric and I have known each other for a long time and it was a great experience to finally make a record together – he’s a great musician and it was a pleasure to work so closely on this project with him,” said J.J. Cale.

"This was the realization of what may have been my last ambition, to work with the man whose music has inspired me for as long as I can remember, there are not enough words for me to describe what he represents to me, musically and personally, and anyway I wouldn't want to embarrass him by going overboard, for he is a truly humble man.....I think it's enough to say that we had fun, made a great record, and I for one already want to make another,” said Eric Clapton.
Clapton has often said that he has tried to achieve the J.J. Cale sound and has credited Cale with singular influence over his style as a solo artist. Mojo Magazine asked Clapton in 2000 which other musician he would most like to be, his response was quick: “I don't model myself on him but I like J.J. Cale, his philosophy, writing skills, musicianship. He's a fine, superior musician, one of the masters of the last three decades of music."

J.J. Cale is known for being reclusive. He lets his music speak for itself and by his own choice has not become famous in the conventional terms of the word. Instead, preferring to shun the spotlight for a more simple existence based on his musical creations. Ironically, doing just that, and focusing on his music, has turned him into a guitar legend over the past four decades. The depth of his influence can be felt in artists such as Clapton and Mark Knopfler, but the sheer breadth of his appeal is made clear by the diverse group of artists who have covered his songs from Johnny Cash, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Allman Brothers to Bryan Ferry, Deep Purple, Santana and more recently jam bands like Widespread Panic.

Cale grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and cites Chet Atkins, Les Paul and Chuck Berry as some of his earliest influences. He is often quoted as saying, “In trying to imitate them, I missed it. And I came up with my own kinda thing.” And so, Cale began playing the local Tulsa club scene in the early 1950’s surrounded by other natives such as David Gates (Bread) and Leon Russell. After moving to Los Angeles in the mid-60’s, he recorded the song “After Midnight.”

Already an accomplished guitarist with bands such as the Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith, Clapton ventured to a solo career with the release of his 1970 self-titled Eric Clapton album. Mutual friend Delaney Bramlett had given Clapton a copy of Cale’s song “After Midnight.” Clapton decided to cover the song and it was the first single from the album. The song became a chart-topping success. Clapton was quick to offer praise for Cale’s work while promoting the album. Cale had been told of the cover but has said that he didn’t pay much attention until the song came on the radio in Tulsa.

Years later, in April 1976, Cale was performing at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in support of his Troubadour album release. Clapton sat in on the performance and later during that trip surprised Cale in the studio with a version of “Cocaine” that would appear on his 1977 Slowhand release. Again becoming a chart-topping success.

In the years to follow, the two would occasionally cross paths, but would largely carry on with their respective musical careers. Until 2004 when Clapton was organizing a Dallas-based guitar festival called Crossroads. The 3-day festival featured the world’s most elite guitarists. Clapton invited Cale to perform at the festival and Cale agreed to attend. In turn, Cale invited Clapton on-stage for the set and Clapton gladly joined, unannounced, for the entire set as a member of Cale’s band. The set was a highlight of the performances from the festival.

Crossroads gave Clapton an opportunity to ask Cale to consider producing an upcoming album for him. If Clapton had been seeking to replicate the trademark Cale sound, having him as producer on an album would surely achieve that unique musical quality. As the two worked on the project, creative ideas took flight and they decided to take the project further formulating a true co-produced album. The Road To Escondido marks the first full-length album the two have created together.

Cale’s entire 40-plus year career has produced only 13 albums. But most critics agree that each effort is well worth the wait. Lauded by his peers and completely unfazed by musical fads, J.J. Cale is an American icon, a craftsman like no other.

Clapton’s career, also spanning more than 40 years, has resulted in 18 Grammy Awards and the distinct honor of being the only triple inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Source : www.ecaccess.cc

Eric Clapton's Russian Gig Cancelled - July 30, 2006

Rock star Eric Clapton has been forced to cancel a planned gig in Moscow's Red Square, after Russian authorities refused to grant him a permit.

The Wonderful Tonight singer had been possession of an official permit allowing him to perform at the famous venue next Thursday, but in a shock decision officials decided to withdraw it on Friday.

The musician's publicist Kristen Foster says, "Eric Clapton is extremely sorry to disappoint his Russian fans but the circumstances if the cancellation are beyond his control.".

Source : www.starpulse.com

Clapton Headlines Pro-Hunt Concert - April 30, 2006

ERIC CLAPTON has agreed to headline a controversial seven-hour concert supporting the Countryside Alliance in its fight to lift the ban on fox hunting in the UK.

The Tears In Heaven hit-maker, who is a keen game shooter, will join fellow rockers BRYAN FERRY, PINK FLOYD's ROGER WATERS and NICK MASON, ROGER DALTREY of THE WHO and GENESIS guitarist MIKE RUTHERFORD at the gig at Highclere Castle in Berkshire this summer (06).
Clapton's spokesperson confirmed last night (29APR06), "Eric supports the Countryside Alliance. He doesn't hunt himself, but does enjoy rural pursuits such as fishing and shooting.

"He supports the Alliance's pursuit to scrap the ban on the basis that he doesn't agree with the state's interference with people's private pursuits. "The ban on fox hunting was imposed by the British government in February (06), and the concert is expected to face opposition from animal rights activists. (AS/WNSMA/SC).

Source : www.pr-inside.com

Cream plan reunion shows - February 15, 2006

Legendary rock trio Cream, which reunited last year for a handful of concerts in London and New York after a bitter break-up in 1968, has scheduled more shows, bassist and singer Jack Bruce said.

But don't expect a world tour. Rather, Bruce told Reuters that he, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker will set up camp in select cities for multiple dates, just as they did last year.

"What we feel is that it's so special, and also so emotionally draining that it's not something we could do every day," he said. "We will play more, but where and when I'm not at liberty to say."

He declined to say when an official announcement might be made, joking that he would "get chopped" if he said anything.

Bruce, 62, was speaking hours before Cream was due to receive a lifetime achievement Grammy during a ceremony also honouring rocker David Bowie, country singer Merle Haggard, opera diva Jessye Norman, folk group the Weavers, late bluesman Robert Johnson and recently deceased comedian Richard Pryor.

Bruce, flying in from his farm in Britain, was set to be the group's sole representative. He said Clapton, 60, had other commitments, while it was impractical for Baker, 66, to leave his farm in South Africa.

All three did show up in Los Angeles 13 years ago when Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, burying their differences long enough to play three songs, including their hit Sunshine of Your Love, for a black-tie crowd.

Then they went their separate ways until last year, when they reunited for four lucrative shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, the scene of their farewell concert on November 26, 1968, and then three at New York's Madison Square Garden.

In its first iteration, the band lasted a little over two years, brewing a potent mix of blues and psychedelia that paved the way for hard rock. But Baker and Bruce fought bitterly, leaving Clapton to play the thankless role of peacemaker.

Cream cultivated the tensions, churning out four albums, and rock-radio staples such as Sunshine of Your Love and White Room.

But the group's demise was inevitable.

Bruce said he is less explosive in his old age, and the band knows better how to handle problems, but there remains an underlying, brotherly tension with Baker.

On the other hand, he described Clapton as "the most beautiful, kindest, most understanding guy that I've come across.".

Source : smh.com.au

"Back Home" wins a Grammy - February 10, 2006

At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on 8 February 2006, Clapton's most recent studio album, "Back Home" was awarded a Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. The album's engineers are Alan Douglas and Mick Guzauski.

Source : grammy.com / whereseric.com

David Bowie and Eric Clapton to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Grammys - January 11, 2006

Rock legends David Bowie and the Eric Clapton-fronted Cream are to be honoured for their contributions to music with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys next month (FEB06).

Bowie and the proto-heavy metal trio will be formally recognised on 7 February (06), while the award is due to be presented the following evening during the live Grammy telecast.

The rockers will share their accolade with country icon Merle Haggard and late comedy innovator Richard Pryor, as well as deceased blues legend Robert Johnson, opera vocalist Jessye Norman and pre-eminent folk quartet the Weavers.

Mariah Carey, Kanye West and newcomer John Legend lead the nominations at the 2006 Grammys with eight apiece.

Source : starpulse.com

Clapton Announces 2006 Tour - November 6, 2005

Eric plans to tour the UK in May 2006. With a new band, he will play in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham, before returning to the venue he has made his own, the Royal Albert Hall, for seven shows. Eric, who was reunited recently with his Cream bandmates Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker for seven sensational shows in the Royal Albert Hall and New York's Madison Square Garden, last toured the UK in May 2004.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 November 2005 at 9am (UK time / GMT) and tour details are as follows;

GLASGOW SECC - Monday 8 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 040 4000

MANCHESTER MEN ARENA - Tue 9 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 190 8000

BIRMINGHAM NEC - Thursday 11 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 909 4133

SHEFFIELD HALLAM FM ARENA - Friday 12 May 2006
box office (UK) 0114 2565656

NOTTINGHAM ARENA - Sunday 14 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 121 0123

LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Tue 16, Wed 17, Fri 19, Mon 22, Tue 23, Thur 25, Fri 26 May 2006
box office (UK) 020 7589 8212

24 hour ticket hotline (UK) 0870 143 2202 / www.bookingsdirect.com
Maximum 6 tickets per household
Agency and credit card bookings subject to booking fee
Royal Albert Hall ticket sales by telephone & internet only


EricClapton.com
ECaccess.cc

Source : ecaccess.cc

Eric Clapton renews deal with Reprise Records - November 4, 2005

Eric Clapton has renewed his deal with Reprise Records, for whom he has recorded since 1983.

Since Nielsen SoundScan began tabulating sales in 1991, the artist has sold 15.2 million copies of his Reprise releases in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"I am happy to continue my relationship with Reprise Records," Clapton said in a statement. "We've done a lot in the past 25 years, and there's still plenty of music yet to be made."

The artist just concluded a three-night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden with Cream; a live album from the trio's May run in London was recently issued by Reprise, which is owned by Warner Music Group. His most recent solo release, "Back Home," debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and quickly slid down the chart.

Although it is unknown what Clapton's next project will be, he will presumably devote time to writing his memoirs for Random House, which is due for a 2007 release to coincide with a North American tour and a boxed set.

Source : reuters.com

Eric Clapton to tell life story "warts and all" - October 13, 2005

Eric Clapton will follow musicians Bob Dylan and Sting with a book about his life, telling of his 40 years as the top rock and blues guitarist of his age in which he went "to hell and back," publisher Doubleday said on Thursday.

Doubleday in the United States, and Century in Britain, both owned by Bertelsmann AG said they would jointly publish the book in spring 2007 and paid Clapton a "substantial advance."

Trade industry sources said the advance was between $4 million and $6 million.

Clapton will talk openly about his life, including the death of his child in a tragic fall from a New York apartment and his raucous years in the rock world, said Doubleday spokesman David Drake.

"Clapton is 60 and happily married and he feels very good about his life, and feels ready to look back in an honest way, warts and all," said Drake. "He's ready to write really candidly about his peaks and valleys and about how he has gone to hell and back."

Clapton, the illegitimate son of a Canadian soldier and an Englishwoman, played with some of the best blues and rock musicians of his day and survived bouts of heroin addiction and heavy drinking.

Christopher Simon Sykes, a close friend since 1967, will collaborate with him in writing the book.

Dylan's book, "Chronicles: Volume One," which has been on best seller lists and won literary prizes, serves as a model for the new Eric Clapton book, Drake said. "Dylan's is the kind of model we envisioned, and in the same way we see this book bringing out the distinct voice of Eric Clapton. He will be intensely involved in the book writing process," said Drake.

A boxed set of his music will be released by Warner Brothers to coincide with the book, the publishers said, and Clapton will tour ahead of its release.

He appeared in Britain recently in a reunion with Cream, including bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker, and the group will play in New York later this month.

Source : reuters.com

Cream Reunion - Three Nights Only at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, New York - October 24th, 25th, 26th, 2005 - September 7, 2005

On the heels of four hugely successful nights at London's Royal Albert Hall and after much speculation, the eagerly anticipated Cream reunion lands in New York for three exclusive nights at Madison Square Garden. In what will be one of the must see shows of this decade and their only appearance in the U.S., legendary rock group, Cream - Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, - will play Madison Square Garden October 24th, 25th, 26th, 2005.

These shows will be produced by Ron Delsener Presents and tickets will be available in advance to American Express cardmembers.

Ticket On-Sale Information

Tickets will go on-sale first to American Express cardmembers through a special pre-sale, beginning Monday, September 12th at 9am Eastern Standard Time (EST). Tickets can be purchased via ticketmaster.com and there will be a 4 ticket per person limit.

If tickets remain, they will then go on-sale to the general public on Monday, September 19, 2005.

Source : ecaccess.cc

Eric Clapton "Back Home" on New Album - June 20, 2005

Set for Release August 30th, 2005

"Back Home," Eric Clapton's first album of new original material in nearly five years, will be released on Reprise/Duck Records on August 30th.

Featuring twelve songs, five of which were penned by Clapton with creative collaborator Simon Climie, "Back Home" also includes "Love Comes To Everyone" by George Harrison, the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody," a rendition of Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright's "I'm Going Left," and compositions by Vince Gill, Doyle Bramhall II and others. See below for a complete song listing and writing credits.

Produced by Eric Clapton and Simon Climie, who together also wrote the album's debut single "Revolution," "Back Home" additionally spotlights an all-star backing band, many of whose members have worked extensively with Clapton over the years. Included are drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Nathan East, guitarists Andy Fairweather Low and Doyle Bramhall II, and keyboardists Billy Preston and Simon Climie.

Among the special guests appearing on "Back Home" are Steve Winwood (synthesizer), John Mayer (guitar), Robert Randolph (dobro), Chris Stainton (Fender Rhodes), Stephen Marley (percussion), Abraham Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Pino Paladino (bass) and Toby Baker (keyboards). The album also highlights string arrangements by Nick Ingman and performances by the Kick Horns.

"I wanted to make a studio album without quite knowing what it was going to be," remarks Clapton on the creative impetus behind "Back Home." Working closely with Climie, Clapton began recording over a year ago, working around his touring schedule and family commitments. "We kind of resigned ourselves to the fact that it was going to take a long time," the multi Grammy® Award-winning artist continues, "but when we got stuck or if it wasn't moving fast enough we'd stop and do a Robert Johnson song. That would clear the air and we'd go back and carry on for the new album. As a result, we ended up with a complete Robert Johnson album first, which was released last year as 'Me And Mr. Johnson.'"

It was through the writing and recording process, Clapton explains, that the theme of "Back Home" emerged. "One of the earliest statements I made about myself," he reveals, "was back in the late '80s, with 'Journeyman.' This album completes that cycle in terms of talking about my whole journey as an itinerant musician and where I find myself now, starting a new family. That's why I chose the title. It's about coming home and staying home. Even though," he adds with a laugh, "I'll be out on the road again next year, playing this music."

"Back Home" song selections and writing credits are as follows:

1) "So Tired" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
2) "Say What You Will" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
3) "I'm Going Left" (Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright)
4) "Love Don't Love Nobody" (Joseph Jefferson, Charles Simmons)
5) "Revolution" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
6) "Lost And Found" (Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Jeremy Stacey)
7) "Heaven" (Doyle Bramhall II, Suzanna Melvoin, Mike Elizondo)
8) "Love Comes To Everyone" (George Harrison)
9) "One Day" (Vince Gill, Beverley Darnell)
10) "One Track Mind" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
11) "Run Home To Me" (Eric Clapton, Simon Climie)
12) "Back Home" (Eric Clapton)

Source : Reprise/Duck Records

Radio 2 : "Slowhand at 60"- March 6, 2005

Radio 2 will also present a tribute to guitar legend Eric Clapton called Slowhand at 60.

DJ Johnnie Walker, who was born on the same day as Clapton on 30 March, will host a show dedicated to the musician on 26 March.

The show will also feature an interview with Clapton in which he talks openly about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction and the highlights of his 40-year career.

Source : news.bbc.co.uk

Queen asks Clapton: Who are you? - March 3, 2005

The Queen of England had no idea who Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were when they attended a reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

The legendary guitarists were taken aback when the British monarch asked them what their jobs where, at an event to celebrate the music industry's valuable contribution to British culture.

The Queen asked Clapton, "Have you been playing a long time?" to which he replied, "It must be 45 years now."

Clapton laughs: "It doesn't matter at all that she did not know who were are or what we do. I wouldn't expect her to."

Source : breakingnews.iol.ie

Eric Clapton to headline Glasto 2007! - February 18, 2005

Eric Clapton has been confirmed to play at the 2007 Glastonbury Festival, organiser Michael Eavis revealed this week - and it's definitely White Stripes, Coldplay and Kylie for this year!

Eavis told the Wells Journal that the guitarist had agreed to play at the festival during a chance meeting with him at a BBC new years eve party, which was presented by rhythm and blues performer Jools Holland. The deal was apparently followed up last night (Thursday) when Clapton phoned Worthy Farm and asked to come and play.

The Glasto boss said: "He had wanted to play next year but because we haven't got a festival in 2006, we shook hands on him coming to 2007. Eric's a favourite of mine, he'll be brilliant."

Back to this year, and a Glastonbury source has 'confirmed' to Virtual Festivals the acts that will be headlining the Pyramid Stage. As rumoured for weeks, The White Stripes will play Friday, Coldplay Saturday, with Kylie finishing things off on Sunday.

Source : www.virtualfestivals.com

Eric Clapton's wife has baby girl - February 2, 2005

The Sun newspaper reported that Clapton's American wife, Melia McEnery, gave birth to a daughter in a London hospital on Tuesday. Clapton's spokesman, Andy Prevezer, said only that "there has been a birth" and gave no other details.

The 59-year-old singer-songwriter has two young daughters with McEnery and a 19-year-old daughter, Ruth, from a previous relationship.

Source : www.zwire.com

Celeb Telethon To Aid Tsunami Victims - January 13, 2005

A host of Hollywood's A-list movie and music stars, including Madonna, George Clooney and Eric Clapton, have signed up for a star-studded celebrity telethon in aid of the Asian tsunami victims.

"Tsunami Aid: A Concert Of Hope" will be televised live on Saturday, the NBC television network, which is organising the even, said on Tuesday.

Participants from the music world include Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, Diana Ross, Gloria Estefan, Norah Jones, Mary J. Blige, Tom Jones and Brian Wilson.

Holly wood will be represented by Halle Berry, Kevin Spacey, Uma Thurman, Matt Damon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Bruce Willis, Danny DeVito and Tim Robbins.

Scheduled to last two hours, the event will be broadcast live from three venues in Los Angeles, New York and London.

Pledges will be taken throughout the broadcast by telephone and via the Internet, with all the funds raised going to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross.

Source : entertainment.iafrica.com

Cardiff Tsunami Gig Sold Out - January 11, 2005

The Asian Tsunami Benefit gig, taking place at Cardiff Millennium Stadium next weekend, has completely sold out, in just three days.

Huge acts have already been announced for the day long event including The Manic Street Preachers, Snow PAtrol, Feeder, Eric Clapton, Badly Drawn Boy, Embrace, Jools Holland and Lemar.

The shows, which sold over 40,000 tickets on the first day of general sale, will see each main act perform a 30-45 minute set.

It is also being rumoured that more huge acts are set to be announced soon.

There are strong suggestions that UK's biggest selling artists Coldplay and Stereophonics will be making special guest appearances.

Organisers of the show are also in the process of discussing live TV coverage with various broadcasters, which could also be shown worldwide.

Source : www.stereoboard.com

Clapton Agreed To Cream Reunion Over Age Concerns - January 9, 2005

Veteran rocker Eric Clapton only agreed to reform supergroup Cream when he realised it might be the last time the three-piece play together.

Guitarist Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baber split up in 1968, but are now reuniting for a series of concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall in May 2005.

And 59-year-old superstar Clapon wanted to make sure he teamed up with his band mates one more time, fearing otherwise he'd miss out on the opportunity.

He says, "It's something I've been thinking about for a couple of years now."

"We're all getting on a bit and I wanted to do it before it was too late and while we still have the energy."

"We're not going to do any more than about four shows, but it will be a great thing just to see if we've got it in us to get back to where we were."

Source : www.contactmusic.com

Eric Clapton sells house - May 23, 2004

Eric Clapton has sold his Venice beach house for about $1.4 million.

The legendary British rock guitar player has no plans at this time to buy another property in Southern California. Clapton also has homes in England, France and the West Indies.

The Venice home, which he owned for four years, has an ocean view and one bedroom plus two bathrooms in nearly 2,100 square feet. The living room has a 30-foot-high cathedral ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto a Japanese bamboo garden.

Source : www.miami.com

US Tour Announced - April 8, 2004

Eric Clapton is going out on two month tour across America with less than one month off after his current European tour.

There is still no word about a Clapton tour for Australia. Eric Clapton hasn't toured Australia since 1985.

The current tour is to mark the release of his new album 'Me and Mr Johnson', his album of Robert Johnson covers. Johnson, a blues artist of the 1920's only ever recorded 29 songs up to the time he was murdered at the age of 27. Eric has previously recorded three Clapton songs. One of his signature tunes 'Crossroads' is a Johnson blues classic. 'Me and Mr Johnson' features 14 more Johnson tunes, taking the Clapton tally to 17 and leaving room for a sequel to 'Me and Mr Johnson' if he chooses.

CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL

4th June 2004 Dallas, TX Crossroads Guitar Festival
5th June 2004 Dallas, TX Crossroads Guitar Festival
6th June 2004 Dallas, TX Crossroads Guitar Festival

 

US TOUR

9th June 2004 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
11th June 2004 Little Rock, AR Alltel Arena
12th June 2004 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
14th June 2004 St. Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg Times Forum
15th June 2004 Ft. Lauderdale. FL Office Depot Center
16th June 2004 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
18th June 2004 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
19th June 2004 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center
21st June 2004 Washington, DC MCI Center
23rd June 2004 Albany, NY Pepsi Arena
26th June 2004 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
28th June 2004 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
29th June 2004 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
30th June 2004 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
3rd July 2004 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center
4th July 2004 Mansfield, MA Tweeter Center
7th July 2004 Toronto, ON Air Canada Center
9th July 2004 Buffalo, NY HSBC Arena
10th July 2004 Cleveland, OH Gund Arena
12th July 2004 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena
13th July 2004 Detroit, MI Palace Of Auburn Hills
15th July 2004 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
17th July 2004 Chicago, IL United Center
18th July 2004 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
20th July 2004 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
22th July 2004 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
24th July 2004 Denver, CO Pepsi Center Arena
27th July 2004 Seattle, WA Key Arena
28th July 2004 Portland, OR Rose Garden Arena
30th July 2004 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
31st July 2004 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
2nd August 2004 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl

Source : www.undercover.com.au


Eric Clapton Sets Digital Sales Record; Me And Mr. Johnson Album Also Debuts at #6 on Billboard 200 - April 7, 2004

Me And Mr. Johnson, Eric Clapton's brilliant tribute to the music of blues pioneer Robert Johnson, broke records when it was offered for sale at digital music stores late last month.

The fourteen-song collection, produced by the artist and Simon Climie, and featuring such Robert Johnson classics as "Kind Hearted Woman Blues," "Come On In My Kitchen" and "Hell Hound On My Trail," was made available on March 23, a week before its official release at retail on such digital outlets as applemusic.com, napster.com, musicmatch.com, listen.com, buymusic.com. and liquidaudio.com, as well as the Warner Bros. Records Digital Music Store.

As a result, Me And Mr. Johnson racked up more pre-sale digital orders than any other artist release in Warner Music Group history. It's a trend that continues with high demand for the album at retail outlets following its March 30th release, resulting in a debut at #6 on Billboard's Top 200 album sales chart this week.

In other Eric Clapton news, the guitarist will perform a series of U.S. dates this summer with a full itinerary to be announced as available. The tour will kick off with the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas on June 4, 5 and 6.

Source : www.businesswire.com


"Me And Mr. Johnson" in at No. 10- March 28, 2004

The latest album from Eric Clapton has started well with it's first week's release and already it is in at No. 10 in the UK Album Charts.

Amazon are reporting that "Me And Mr. Johnson" is now ranked 6th in their album charts. The week before it's official release it was ranked 1st on Amazon. Who says there is no room in the charts for blues?

Source : www.amazon.co.uk / www.bbc.co.uk


Clapton's Compass- March 28, 2004

Of course, Eric Clapton remembers the first time he heard Robert Johnson's music.

He was 15. Already an aspiring blues guitarist, he would play a limited repertoire in the corner of a pub. Clapton and a friend used to buy blues albums, unheard, simply because they were intrigued by pictures on the cover. One day, his friend brought a copy of Johnson's "King of the Delta Blues" album to the pub. The friend didn't particularly like it. "I didn't know quite what to make of it, either," said Clapton, who nearly 45 years later has recorded an album solely composed of the late Johnson's songs. The CD, "Me and Mr. Johnson," will be released next Tuesday. "It was the first record I'd heard that didn't have any kind of attempt to be entertaining," he said. "It was just simply what it was. As I listened to it more and more, it got stronger each time I would go back to it. It was my first experience of music happening that way, that each time you listened to it something more would be revealed." He heard the attributes of adolescence -- low self-esteem, loneliness, sexual desire and frustration -- expressed in raw form through Johnson's voice and guitar.

"It became like a beacon to me, that album," Clapton said in an interview with The Associated Press. It still is. Throughout his career, Clapton has repeatedly turned to Johnson when he found himself drifting musically. "I get in touch with the little boy, the adolescent, again and I find that very invigorating," he said. "It's like when people tell me, 'My wife and I got married to "Wonderful Tonight."' I mean, from my point of view, 'Wonderful Tonight' is a nice little song, but for someone else, it has tremendous significance. It all has to do with what they experienced." The Mississippi-born Johnson recorded only a few dozen songs in the 1930s, but became the prototype blues legend when he died at 27 under mysterious circumstances. Nearly two years ago, Clapton and his band went into the studio to lay some groundwork for a new album. They worked on a few original compositions and some covers, including one Johnson song, "Travelin' Riverside Blues." When Clapton brought a CD of the session's highlights home, he found that all he wanted to listen to was the Johnson song. The band returned to the studio last summer, again with the intent to make a conventional album. But Clapton had a little exercise in mind. Every time the band reached an impasse in recording, he'd suggest they play a Johnson song. For fun.

"All the time, I kind of intuitively knew that I was going to make a Robert Johnson album," he said.

For Clapton, it was almost a case of now or never for paying tribute to his childhood idol. He's turning 60 next year and, he said, "I'm not sure when I'm going to be on the decline." One of the reasons it took him so long is that he was unsure of an approach. Do you try to stay true to Johnson's original recordings or use them as a starting point for new interpretations? "It has taken me to this stage in my career or my life to be man enough to tackle it," he said. He told his band to perform the compositions as if they were in a bar playing an ordinary blues song, and the words were all they knew. "That way, the album gets to have some different flavors," he said. "Otherwise, everything would wind up sounding pretty much the same." Normally, a record company would recoil in horror when a big star wanted to make a cover album. But Clapton's history with blues obviously runs deep. When he's explored it, most notably with the "From the Cradle" album, his fans have responded. Clapton is preoccupied with two other projects this spring. He's organizing a three-day guitar festival, planned for June 4-6 in Dallas, to raise money for Crossroads Centre Antigua, the drug and alcohol treatment center he founded in 1997. Clapton is also auctioning off guitars as another fund-raiser for the Crossroads Centre. Clapton will perform at his own guitar festival, of course, along with Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Brian May, Joe Walsh, Jimmy Vaughan and others. Clapton has mentioned, during his 2001 "Reptile" tour, that it might be his last extended concert tour. But with the Dallas festival on the horizon, he and his band will hit the road.

"I can't just do that (the Dallas performance) because I'd no way be able to play well," he said. "We've got to be in pretty good shape. We've got to do a tour first just to get ready. We're touring Europe through March and April to warm up." Then, following Dallas, he'll do a tour of the United States "to kind of wind down." The guitar auction will take place on June 24 in Christie's, the New York auction house. Clapton is donating more than 50 of his own guitars, with other instruments donated by Vai and Pete Townshend. It includes a cherry red Gibson Clapton bought "with my first real money from the Yardbirds," that has the case with Cream stamped on it.

"I've used it all through my career," he said. "It's the first proper electric guitar I ever had. That one is probably the most valuable." He'll hold back a couple of guitars to work with and then build up his collection again. "You're talking about people coming out (of the treatment center) with a new life," he said. "What's a guitar?"

Source : www.milforddailynews.com


Clapton joined by old friends for charity concert - March 16, 2004

Eric Clapton has played on stage with former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman.

The two rock giants, were joined by Jools Holland, Bob Geldof and a roll-call of 60s and 70s stars in a charity concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on Monday night.

Musicians including former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Peter Green, Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone of the Zombies, Gary Brooker of Procol Harum and Geno Washington played their hits in a variety of combinations - mostly backed by Wyman's band, the Rhythm Kings, with Georgie Fame on organ.

Clapton, who recently announced he was selling most of his guitars for charity, was playing on a UK stage for the first time in three years.

Proceeds from the One Generation 4 Another concert - at least £125,000 - will go to Lord's Taverners, which gives children, especially those with special needs, "a sporting chance".

The charity donates 40 minibuses to schools and colleges each year to transport pupils to sporting events, as well as wheelchairs, ponies and swimming equipment.

The Taverners was founded 54 years ago by cricket-loving entertainers but this was its first major rock concert.

Taverners president Richard Stilgoe said: "This new rock concert will, I hope, be the first of many.

"Some Lord's Taverners may be too old for sex and need medication rather than drugs, but we love rock and roll and are thrilled that such a fantastic constellation of stars are decorating our first Albert Hall spectacular."

Source : www.ananova.com


Clapton launches charity T-shirt - March 12, 2004

Rock legend Eric Clapton has launched his own T-shirt for charity.

The 58-year-old star has created the image of a golden sunburst complete with smiley face against a sky blue backdrop for the T-shirt, which will raise funds for the drug treatment centre he founded.

The singer, who suffered from a drug and alcohol addiction himself before going straight in 1982, admitted that he did not really understand his own design. He said: "It's been in my head all my life and goes deep with me but I don't know what it means or what it's supposed to express." The former Cream legend founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua in 1997 and continues to fund the drink and drug rehabilitation retreat in the Caribbean.

He said: "My philosophy from day one was that, if we can get one person sober, then we have succeeded. We've done a bit more than that and hopefully we can carry on in the same way. The centre provides help for local people as well as international clients. The star, whose hits include Layla and Wonderful Tonight, today said rehabilitation was a cause he had "believed in for a long time".

"There were times when I thought it would never get started but, through hard work, we have seen some incredible changes and now it is really flourishing." Clapton has acknowledged a drug habit that began at art school when he was 15. By 1969, he was downing two bottles of vodka a day and, five years later, his addiction to heroin was costing him £1,500 a week.

The guitarist, who lost his four-year-old son Conor when he fell from the window of a New York skyscraper apartment in 1991, is the latest in a long list of stars who have created charity T-shirts for the cafe.

Sting, Elton John, Peter Gabriel and REM's Michael Stipe have done so before him.

Source : www.itv.com


EXPO 2005 'Love the Earth': Eric Clapton, Other Major Artists to Take Part in Musical Program - March 11, 2004

The 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan, will be held for 185 days beginning on March 25 of next year. The theme of this event, which will take place in the Nagoya Eastern Hills (Nagakute Town, Toyota City, and Seto City) in Aichi Prefecture, is "Nature's Wisdom."

As part of EXPO 2005, the "Love the Earth" musical program will be particularly significant. We are proud to announce that Eric Clapton and other top musicians will take part.

Along with pavilions, EXPO 2005 will host special events designed around one of our key phrases: "Let's Connect at EXPO 2005." The "Love the Earth" musical program will symbolize both this phrase and the theme of EXPO 2005.

"Love the Earth" will deliver a powerful message to the world through the "global language" of music, fostering exchange between various people and cultures while reemphasizing humanity's ties to nature. Major artists from Japan and around the world will come together and perform at EXPO 2005; they will also be presenting their messages to the world ahead of this international gathering.

We are pleased to announce that guitarist Eric Clapton, a giant on the global music scene for 40 years, will be playing a major role in "Love the Earth." Mr. Clapton is offering his support for EXPO 2005 and the "Love the Earth" message. He is joining EXPO 2005 as Executive Music Consultant, and he has written a new song, titled "Say What You Will," as a theme song. This song will be released as part of the "Love the Earth" compilation CD, which will be available before EXPO 2005 kicks off. The song will also be used in advertising and public-relations work, helping to raise the profile of EXPO 2005.

This program will involve a number of famous artists from around the world, including Yo-Yo Ma, the renowned cellist; and Sarah Brightman, the celebrated soprano singer.

For the latest information on the "Love the Earth" program or any of the artists involved, please view the official website of the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition. http://www.expo2005.or.jp/

Source : biz.yahoo.com


Clapton sells treasured guitars for drug clinic - March 10, 2004

"The rock musician Eric Clapton is to sell almost all of his most-treasured guitars to raise money for a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and alcoholics that he founded on a Caribbean island.

"This lot is the A team," said Clapton, who will auction the guitars at Christie's in New York. "What I am keeping back is just what I need to work with."

Clapton has also persuaded the guitarists Pete Townshend of The Who and Brian May of Queen to donate instruments to the sale on June 24 in aid of the Crossroads Centre on Antigua.

The auction is expected to raise at least £550,000, although many observers believe that this estimate is conservative. When Clapton sold some of his guitars to help the centre five years ago the sale made £3.2 million, six times the estimate.

"These guitars in fact are the ones that I kept back from the first auction because I seriously could not consider parting with them at that point," he said. "I have picked out all the great Rock and Blues guitars. I have had great use out of nearly all of them. I have tremendous respect and affection for them."

The most famous of the 56 guitars which Clapton is auctioning is Blackie, the composite Fender Stratocaster which he said "has become part of me".

Blackie, which is estimated at £55,000 to £85,000, was built by Clapton from three Stratocasters that he bought in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1970.

He is also selling a 1964 cherry-red Gibson ES335, the guitar which he has owned longest.

It could fetch up to £45,000 while a 12-string guitar nicknamed Ivan, which Clapton co-designed with Tony Zemaitis in 1969, is estimated at £28,000.

Source : www.telegraph.co.uk


Clapton Retiring Two Famous Songs - March 2, 2004

Eric Clapton is putting away two of his best-known songs.

Clapton said he was performing in Japan when he realized he couldn't perform the songs "Tears in Heaven" and "My Father's Eyes" any more.

Both songs deal with the loss of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell out of a New York apartment window in 1991. It's not that the songs are too painful, it's that Clapton is stronger now.

Clapton said he doesn't feel the loss anymore, which is so much a part of performing them. He said he can't connect with the feelings he had when he wrote the songs, and he doesn't really want them to come back.

He said he's happier now and maybe later he'll introduce the songs again from a more detached point of view.

Source : www.thewpbfchannel.com


Crossroads Guitar Festival - February 27, 2004

"Eric has announced a three-day Crossroads Guitar Festival to take place Friday, June 4 through Sunday, June 6 at Fair Park in Dallas. This one-time event, created for music enthusiasts around the globe, will raise money for Crossroads Centre Antigua, the treatment and education center founded in 1997 by Eric Clapton and now an independently run entity.

This unique event at Fair Park will kick off Friday, June 4 with the opening of the Guitar Center Village, coordinated by Guitar Center, the national retailer of musical instruments.

The festival will be the first of its kind to create a unique bridge between fans and musicians through leading guitar manufacturer exhibits and guitar clinics. Attendees will be offered once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be in an intimate setting as artists give fans the ultimate look into their craft. The Guitar Center Village activities for Saturday, June 5 include live music performances on three stages. SIRIUS Satellite Radio, as a supporting sponsor will host one of these stages and will broadcast from the Festival.

The Crossroads Guitar Festival culminates on Sunday, June 6 with an All-Star special benefit concert at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. The concert, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue through Sunday evening will include performances by Eric Clapton and Doyle Bramhall II, J.J. Cale, Larry Carlton, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, David Hidalgo, Eric Johnson, B.B. King, Sonny Landreth, Brian May, Pat Metheny, Robert Randolph, Otis Rush, Carlos Santana, Hubert Sumlin, Dan Tyminski, Steve Vai, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Walsh and ZZ Top. The extraordinary "house bands" will be none other than Booker T & The MG's, Jimmie Vaughan's band and Eric Clapton's band. Other artists will be announced as details are confirmed.

On June 24, 2004, Christie's, the New York based auction house will present "Crossroads Guitar Auction ~ Eric Clapton and Friends for the Crossroads Centre." This auction will feature more than fifty guitars personally owned by Eric Clapton, as well as a group of guitars donated by musician friends including Pete Townshend and Steve Vai. Pre-sale exhibitions will be organized in Dallas during the Festival (June 4-6), in Los Angeles (June 8-12) and New York (June 19-24). The proceeds of the sale will benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua.

CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL HOURS
Friday, June 4
4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Guitar Center Village open to the public
Saturday, June 5
1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Guitar Center Village open to the public and live entertainment on three stages
Sunday, June 6
11:00 a.m. Guitar Center Village open all day to the public & doors open to stadium
1:00 p.m. - TBD Cotton Bowl Concert

Tickets to each day of the Crossroads Guitar Festival will be sold separately and will be available starting March 13 through Ticketmaster at http://www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are priced $15 for Friday, $30 for Saturday and $60 for Sunday.

About Crossroads:
Founded in 1997, Crossroads Centre, Antigua was created to provide treatment and education to chemically dependent persons, those with other compulsive addictive behaviors, their families and significant others. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the movement toward a change in lifestyle. Crossroads Centre, Antigua also operates a 16 bed halfway-house called The Bevon House (exclusively for local Antiguan residents) and facilitates a school-based education series, Breaking the Cycle, in all local schools.
http://www.crossroadsantigua.org

Source : www.eric-clapton.com Newsletter


New Album - February 17, 2004

Me And Mr. Johnson
DUE FOR RELEASE 22ND MARCH 2004

Me And Mr Johnson

When You Got A Good Friend
Little Queen Of Spades  
They're Red Hot  
Me And The Devil BLues  
Traveling Riverside Blues  
Last Fair Deal Gone Down  
Stop Breakin' Down Blues  
Milcow Calf Blues  
Kind Hearted Woman Blues  
Come On In My Kitchen  
If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day
Love In Vain  
32-20 Blues  
Hell Hound On My Trail  

Source : http://www.play.com


Clapton Back At Crossroads - February 3, 2004

"I should have done it a long time ago," says Eric Clapton about his tribute to the man who first inspired him to pick up a guitar, Robert Johnson. The album, titled Me and Mr. Johnson, is due March 23rd.

Clapton -- whose first lead vocal was a 1966 rendition of Johnson's "Ramblin' on My Mind" with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers -- says he fell in love with the Johnson collection King of the Delta Blues Singers when it came out in 1961; most of the tracks on Me and Mr. Johnson are drawn from that album.

With a band that includes Billy Preston on keyboards and Andy Fairweather-Low and Doyle Bramhall II on guitars, Clapton swaggers through low-key renditions of "Milkcow's Calf Blues," "Hellhound on My Trail" and "32-20 Blues."

"Johnson's style was so complicated that it usually takes two people to copy his sound," says Clapton. "I've always found it necessary to delegate parts of his arrangements to other musicians."

Clapton's favorite track is "Kindhearted Woman Blues." "It was so gentle," he says of the original. "Blind Willie Johnson, Charley Patton and Son House were all rough-sounding guys. Robert Johnson wasn't able to mask his vulnerability."

Source : http://www.rollingstone.com


Clapton, Tarrant Make New Year's Honours List - December 31, 2003


Rock legend Eric Clapton has been named, alongside TV presenter Chris Tarrant and the entire England rugby team, on the New Year's Honours list. The 58-year-old musician follows in the footsteps of Elton John and Mick Jagger by receiving an honour for his services to music. He will be awarded a CBE.

Source : http://www.hellomagazine.com


Michael Kamen Dies at 55 - November 18, 2003

Grammy Award-winning composer Michael Kamen, whose film scores include those for Highlander, Lethal Weapon and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, has died aged 55.

As well as 75 film scores, his work also included many collaborations with pop and rock musicians, including Metallica, Eric Clapton, The Eurythmics, Bob Dylan, Des’ree, Sting and Pink Floyd (with whom he worked on their album The Wall).

Kamen also composed and conducted the music for the opening and closing ceremonies at the Atlanta and Salt Lake City Olympics, and served as music director for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Party last year.

The direction his career would take – straddling both the popular and classical musical worlds – was perhaps clear from an early stage. While studying oboe at the Julliard School, he formed a rock-classical fusion band called New York Rock and Roll Ensemble, which appeared on the first of Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts with the New York Philharmonic.

He was recently involved in the Music Education Consortium – along with percussionist Evelyn Glennie, flautist Sir James Galway and cellist Julian Lloyd Webber – which has lobbied the Government to improve the standards of music education in schools. As a result of his involvement Kamen was recently appointed to the board of London’s Royal Academy of Music.

He died of a heart-attack earlier this week.

Source : http://www.gramophone.co.uk


New CD Released - November 12, 2003

Ballads

Ballads

Tears In Heaven (Unplugged) 4:37
Change The World (Live) 6:04
Circus 4:10
Miss You 5:06
Just Like A Prisoner 5:31
Badge (Live) 2:55
Old Love 5:02
Come Rain Or Come Shine 4:34
Running On Faith 2:00
Pretty Girl 3:33
Wonderful Tonight (Live) 4:11
Over The Rainbow (Live) 4:51
Layla (Live) 9:03

Source : http://www.cduniverse.com