Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Eric Clapton’s Triumphant Return to the Stage at Madison Square Garden
Radio.com ^ | March 20th, 2017 | By Brian Ives

Posted on 03/21/2017 8:16:13 PM PDT by Mariner

Last year, Eric Clapton revealed that he is suffering from peripheral neuropathy, a condition which affects nerves in the body’s extremities and can cause numbness, shooting pain and loss of co-ordination; he said that it was making it hard to play guitar anymore. Fans feared that it might spell the end of his career.

Judging by his show at New York’s Madison Square Garden last night (March 19) — his first since discussing his condition — fans need not worry. Over the course of an hour and a half show, Clapton’s guitar playing was as lyrical and soulful as it has ever been. Notably, there were no other guitarists in his band (he has toured with as many as two extra six-stringers in recent years). Clapton handled all lead and rhythm parts himself. And his vocals – always underrated, probably due to his guitar hero status – sounded great as well.

He seemed to be pacing himself a bit: he shared solos with his keyboardists, Chris Stainton and Walt Richmond. Although, on the other hand, he may have been graciously sharing the spotlight with lesser known, but extremely talented musicians. Whatever his reasoning, every solo served the song, and the fact that he played less solos made each of them all the much sweeter.

(Excerpt) Read more at radio.com ...


TOPICS: History; Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last
After MSG Eric Clapton will do a couple of shows at the Forum in LA, and one or two at Royal Albert Hall in London.

Then he will no longer perform in public.

The retirement of a truly great musician.

1 posted on 03/21/2017 8:16:13 PM PDT by Mariner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Jack Bruce is dead, Ginger Baker racked with arthritis and now Eric Clapton unable to keep up.

What a drag it is growing old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJefbp-s9LA


2 posted on 03/21/2017 8:17:40 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Off topic. Eric Clapton has an awesome gun collection.


3 posted on 03/21/2017 8:19:19 PM PDT by BBell (calm down and eat your sandwiches)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

At least “we have the music.”


4 posted on 03/21/2017 8:20:02 PM PDT by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

https://youtu.be/VT-SFgkVlno

Can’t Find !y Way Home.

God Speed, Mr. Clapton.

L


5 posted on 03/21/2017 8:25:11 PM PDT by Lurker (America burned the witch.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BBell

So What?


6 posted on 03/21/2017 8:27:23 PM PDT by Fungi (Five genera of fungi are responsible for 90% of all inhaled fungi. Breathing is not healthy.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Fungi

It’s cool!!!


7 posted on 03/21/2017 8:28:40 PM PDT by BBell (calm down and eat your sandwiches)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Lurker

Yes, the work with Blind Faith was amazing.

But his work with Cream, the greatest collection of three musicians in history, was definitive.

See my link above.

History’s best drummer and best base player backing history’s second best guitar player.


8 posted on 03/21/2017 8:30:17 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

I have a similar condition. I don’t know how to express my gratitude for Clapton doing these shows. He’s an inspiration in more ways than one.


9 posted on 03/21/2017 8:31:42 PM PDT by Read Write Repeat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fungi
Oh, and he has his awesome gun collection in the formerly Great Britain. Rock On!!


10 posted on 03/21/2017 8:32:08 PM PDT by BBell (calm down and eat your sandwiches)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

I got to see him perform a few years back. An absolute master, no doubt.

L


11 posted on 03/21/2017 8:39:02 PM PDT by Lurker (America burned the witch.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Mariner
The retirement of a truly great musician.

That's for sure. I've seen Clapton at least 3 times, including, in my youth, at the Omni in Atlanta for his "Forever Man" tour in 1985 (IIRC).

I was 20, attending Georgia Tech, and me and my buddy decided to go to the Clapton show at the last minute. We hopped on the MARTA subway for a few blocks, and when we hopped off, a business-minded local inner city youth walked right up to us and offered 2 tickets for $5 over face value. The pair cost us $50, and they were in Section 2, row E.

So we waltzed into the Omni, and made the long trek to our seats, waving at friends as we passed each in turn, and arrived at our 5th row center seats to see Eric Clapton!

Best concert tickets I ever had, and probably the best concert either me or my buddy have ever seen, to this day! In particular, I recall the long blues number "Same Old Blues" wherein Clapton just pwned the pentatonic blues, shredding them into oblivion.

Afterwards, we walked out in awe. "Megajam!", was the only term that we thought did the show justice at the time.

When Clapton is in top form, he is absolutely incredible.

To see a good example of Clapton's well-polished skills from that era, I recommend the "Live in '85" video from the aforementioned "Forever Man" tour...

12 posted on 03/21/2017 8:45:21 PM PDT by sargon ("If we were in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, the Left would protest for zombies' rights.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurker; wardaddy

You beat me to it. That is the best version ever.

The ultimate Winwood-Clapton collaboration.


13 posted on 03/21/2017 8:47:32 PM PDT by Pelham (Liberate California. Deport Mexico Now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

I like the Tears in Heaven tune. I heard that he wrote that song for his young boy who fell from their balcony in London and died.


14 posted on 03/21/2017 8:54:15 PM PDT by Mark (Celebrities... is there anything they do not know? -Homer Simpson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

I think I wore out a vinyl copy of “Slowhand.”


15 posted on 03/21/2017 8:54:44 PM PDT by PLMerite (Lord, let me die fighting lions. Amen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner
History’s best drummer and best base player backing history’s second best guitar player.

Okay, I'll bite. In your view who's history's best guitar player? Hendrix?

16 posted on 03/21/2017 8:58:22 PM PDT by pepsi_junkie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: pepsi_junkie

Yeah, I think Hendrix was both a better technician and more soulful/musical. But not by much.

His work on Band of Gypsies, and multiple other live recordings is often exhilarating.

And he would have killed for that rhythm section of equals.


17 posted on 03/21/2017 9:02:54 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Saw Cream approx 68-69, after WofF but before the Farewell album. Good concert, but not as good as Hendrix.


18 posted on 03/21/2017 9:03:36 PM PDT by LS ("Castles Made of Sand, Fall in the Sea . . . Eventually" (Hendrix))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Pelham

Great tune. And an amazing performance of it.

I bid you peace.

L


19 posted on 03/21/2017 9:03:54 PM PDT by Lurker (America burned the witch.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Impossible. Eric Clapton was killed in 1966:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t4qXH_YaBs


20 posted on 03/21/2017 9:06:25 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Apparently I'm still living in your head rent free. At least now it isn't empty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson