Eric Clapton: Mr. Slowhand turns 70!
On March 30, 2015, one of the great guitar geniuses celebrates his seventieth birthday: ERIC CLAPTON. Not only due to his enormous sales figures (70 million albums and 5 million singles) and accolades (19 Grammys) is he considered one of the most important musicians in rock history, but it is primarily his skills as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist that have left an indelible mark on rock history.
On the occasion of his 70th birthday on March 30, ERIC CLAPTON has announced a tour with nine dates, which will take him twice to the Madison Square Garden in New York (May 1 & 2) and seven times to the Royal Albert Hall in London (May 14 & 15, 17-21, and 23). CLAPTON will be accompanied on stage by his band, which consists of Paul Carrack, Steve Gadd, Nathan East, Chris Stainton, Sharon White, and Michelle John. Just in time for the tour, the Best Of album "Forever Man" will be released as a 3-CD, double-CD, double-vinyl, and in two different download configurations.
Born in 1945 in Ripley/Surrey, England, ERIC CLAPTON played in a number of bands in the 1960s that shaped today's rock music and enjoyed cult status even during their active years. He was part of the Yardbirds from 1963 to 1965, then joined the band of the Godfather of the British Blues Explosion, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, in 1965, and in 1966 founded the first "supergroup" in music history, Cream, with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. During this time, his fans wrote the slogan "Clapton is God" on the walls of London. In 1969, he formed the group Blind Faith with Steve Winwood before recording the monumental hit "Layla" with Derek And The Dominos in 1970. Also in 1970, CLAPTON launched his solo career with the album "Eric Clapton" and celebrated his breakthrough in 1974 with the US Top 10 album "461 Ocean Boulevard." He earned his nickname "Mr. Slowhand" through his incredibly laid-back guitar playing, which he showcased on the eponymous album from 1977.
After overcoming serious drug problems, CLAPTON was able to continue his successes in the 1980s and 1990s with renewed energy. The 1988 album "Crossroads" and the live album "MTV Unplugged" released in 1992 became milestones of modern blues. However, his most famous song "Tears In Heaven" had a tragic background: CLAPTON wrote the heartbreaking ballad after the accidental death of his four-and-a-half-year-old son.
Since the 1990s, ERIC CLAPTON has increasingly dedicated himself to his blues roots: In 1994, he released "In The Cradle," a selection of influential blues classics, and in 2000, he recorded the album "Riding With The King" with B.B. King, while in 2004, he presented "Me And Mr. Johnson," a tribute to his great idol, the bluesman Robert Johnson.
Since 2004, ERIC CLAPTON has been hosting the immensely successful Crossroads Festival, which takes place every three years, with proceeds benefiting the Crossroads Centre Antigua. It was initiated by ERIC CLAPTON in 1993 to help drug-addicted musicians reintegrate into life.
http://ericclapton.com
https://facebook.com/ericclapton
On March 30, 2015, one of the great guitar geniuses celebrates his seventieth birthday: ERIC CLAPTON. Not only due to his enormous sales figures (70 million albums and 5 million singles) and accolades (19 Grammys) is he considered one of the most important musicians in rock history, but it is primarily his skills as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist that have left an indelible mark on rock history.
On the occasion of his 70th birthday on March 30, ERIC CLAPTON has announced a tour with nine dates, which will take him twice to the Madison Square Garden in New York (May 1 & 2) and seven times to the Royal Albert Hall in London (May 14 & 15, 17-21, and 23). CLAPTON will be accompanied on stage by his band, which consists of Paul Carrack, Steve Gadd, Nathan East, Chris Stainton, Sharon White, and Michelle John. Just in time for the tour, the Best Of album "Forever Man" will be released as a 3-CD, double-CD, double-vinyl, and in two different download configurations.
Born in 1945 in Ripley/Surrey, England, ERIC CLAPTON played in a number of bands in the 1960s that shaped today's rock music and enjoyed cult status even during their active years. He was part of the Yardbirds from 1963 to 1965, then joined the band of the Godfather of the British Blues Explosion, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, in 1965, and in 1966 founded the first "supergroup" in music history, Cream, with Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. During this time, his fans wrote the slogan "Clapton is God" on the walls of London. In 1969, he formed the group Blind Faith with Steve Winwood before recording the monumental hit "Layla" with Derek And The Dominos in 1970. Also in 1970, CLAPTON launched his solo career with the album "Eric Clapton" and celebrated his breakthrough in 1974 with the US Top 10 album "461 Ocean Boulevard." He earned his nickname "Mr. Slowhand" through his incredibly laid-back guitar playing, which he showcased on the eponymous album from 1977.
After overcoming serious drug problems, CLAPTON was able to continue his successes in the 1980s and 1990s with renewed energy. The 1988 album "Crossroads" and the live album "MTV Unplugged" released in 1992 became milestones of modern blues. However, his most famous song "Tears In Heaven" had a tragic background: CLAPTON wrote the heartbreaking ballad after the accidental death of his four-and-a-half-year-old son.
Since the 1990s, ERIC CLAPTON has increasingly dedicated himself to his blues roots: In 1994, he released "In The Cradle," a selection of influential blues classics, and in 2000, he recorded the album "Riding With The King" with B.B. King, while in 2004, he presented "Me And Mr. Johnson," a tribute to his great idol, the bluesman Robert Johnson.
Since 2004, ERIC CLAPTON has been hosting the immensely successful Crossroads Festival, which takes place every three years, with proceeds benefiting the Crossroads Centre Antigua. It was initiated by ERIC CLAPTON in 1993 to help drug-addicted musicians reintegrate into life.
http://ericclapton.com
https://facebook.com/ericclapton
