Eric Clapton - Crossroads Guitar Festival

Eric Clapton: For Beck, musical matches aren't always harmonious

During joint sets on Jeff Beck's recent mini-tour with Eric Clapton, the pair interacted genially and respectfully on a half-dozen blues songs. But Beck concedes that collaborations between superior talents can be tricky.His approach to playing with the man he replaced in The Yardbirds was "definitely not gunslinging. I've been accused of being too polite. Maybe my mom came into my head and said, 'Don't show off. There's someone else there. Don't shred them off the stage, even if you could.' It's bad form, and doesn't make for a good concert. What's the point of upsetting the person you're aligned with?"
Beck's views on other recent matchups:
Jimmy Page, who inducted Beck into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year and played with him after his speech: "I wasn't sure how they would dovetail Jimmy into the proceedings. ... Unbelievably, in the hotel elevator (right before the ceremonies), I got a phone call from the bass player, who suggested that right in the middle of Beck's Bolero, they stop and just start playingImmigrant Song (a Page-written Led Zeppelin classic). So that's what we did. Nobody knew it was going to happen. Not the lighting guys or anybody. That's what I love."
Metallica, which led the all-star jam at the Rock Hall ceremonies: "I wanted to put my guitar down. I know those things (the jams) are for the dustbin — they're not worth anything. The sound is horrible, the bass player (generally) is three bars behind."
Stevie Wonder, whom Beck joined on Superstition at the Rock Hall 25th Anniversary concerts last fall: "It's a slightly fractured friendship, and I don't know why. He knows what I think about him, but there's always a little bit of a rub there."
Joss Stone, who sings two songs on Beck's new Emotion & Commotion album: "Devonshire (England) is not the sort of place one would expect to find a white soul diva who sounds as though she came out of the Staple Singers. She's a little Janis Joplin, a little Tina Turner, all in one."
Imelda May, who performed with Beck at the Grammys on a Les Paul tribute: "Imelda was so perfect. She looked like she walked out of a Coke commercial."

Eric Clapton-Only Liked Old Men's Voice

Eric Clapton had to grow into learning to love his ''old man'' singing voice.

The legendary blues guitarist claimed he has taken a long time to grow into liking the sound of his singin voice, but now he has grown huskier as he has got older he is more satisfied with it.

When asked if he liked his singing, Eric said: "No. I do now. It's taken me to be an older guy, an old man, to have an old man's voice. Because I only liked old men's voices".

Eric Added: "As a kid, I didn't like pip-squeaked singers. It was always someone with authority. And for a singer to have authority, they have to have some kind of social standing. Otherwise, it's fake."

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/eric-claptons-old-man-voice_1133002

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck announce North American dates

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck have announced details of three North American shows next February.The legendary guitarists, both former members of The Yardbirds, will play New York's Madison Square Garden on February 18, before heading to Canada for shows in Toronto and Montreal.

Eric Clapton Tickets for the Toronto show go on sale this Friday (December 4), and Montreal the following day (December 5). New York tickets will be available from December 12.Preceding the tour the duo are also set to play two shows at

London's O2 Arena on February 13 and 14.

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck will play the following:New York, NY, Madison Square Garden (February 18)Toronto, ON,

Air Canada Centre (21)Montreal, QC,

Bell Centre (22)

Eric Clapton - August

Eric Clapton and Phil Collins joined together for a second collaborative effort with the November 1986 release August. They shared producing chores as Collins pop sensibilities combined with Clapton’s blues/rock foundation to provide a solid and satisfying listening experience.
The drumming and synthesizers may have been very eighties but they allowed room for Clapton’s guitar excursions. It may have been slicker and more polished than many of his past album releases, but it retained his signature sound.
Clapton assembled his usual collection of stellar backing musicians. Greg Phillinganes was back on board as the keyboardist and would become an important part of his touring band for the next several years. Saxophone player Michael Brecker, trumpet player Randy Brecker, and a couple of friends brought their brass sound to five of the tracks and were a welcome addition.
August would only reach number 37 on the American charts, but would continue to sell well for years and ultimately become one of his most commercial successes.
The songs roll smoothly into one another. “It’s The Way That You Use It,” co-written with Robbie Robertson, features a gritty vocal and excellent guitar solo. “Tearing Us Apart” contains a fine vocal by the legendary Tina Turner. “Taking A Chance” finds Clapton’s guitar floating over Phillinganes keyboards. All three tracks were hits on the American Mainstream Rock Charts and received considerable airplay.
“Run” and “Hung Up On Your Love” were both written by Motown soul artist and composer deluxe Lamont Dozier and receive a horn laden treatment in support of his classic guitar playing.
August may be a product of the eighties, but it is good eighties. It remains a good effort by one of rock music’s guitar gods.

Eric Clapton: Donates Personal Item

Rock and Roll Hall the 25th anniversary of Fame Concerts were less than a week away when headliner Eric Clapton pulled out because of gallbladder surgery. By now, we know that Mr. Clapton is recuperating nicely and that even in his absence, the concerts were memorable events. And yet, not everyone is glad. Entry on Eric Clapton's an October 24 facebook page states "I think that it sucks that you had to cancel your Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert in NYC! We paid a small fortune for those tickets!" Even though this "fan" cannot feel Mr. Clapton's pain, he apparently feels hers.To everyone's surprise, Eric Clapton has announced that he will donate his gallbladder to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where it is expected to remain on permanent display. In a statement, Clapton declared "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has long been the home of personal items like Buddy Holly's high school diploma. I am happy to donate this most personal item, an organ from my own body. Now, even though my fans cannot always see me, they will always be able to see part of me. It is my sincere hope that this will satisfy ya, and not slide on by ya."Dr. Hiram Ingraham, President of the Greater Cleveland Gastroenterology Society, offered praise reminiscent of Clapton's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist: "I want to send respect out to the gallbladder that quietly stored and secreted bile while great guitar solos were being created. I want to send respect out to the only gallbladder that attended every Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos concert. I want to send respect out to the only gallbladder to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times."In related news, Clapton's gallstone will be auctioned off by Christie's with proceeds to benefit BUTT, Before U Type, Think.

Eric Clapton: Recovering From Surgery

As previously reported, British guitarist Eric Clapton had to step out of an October 23 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert at New York's Madison Square Garden due to a medical procedure needed to remove stones from his gallbladder. Clapton's publicist currently told BBC News that he is successfully recovering from the operation and that he "remains committed" to dates at London's O2 Arena in February. Clapton was replaced at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gig by buddy guitarist Jeff Beck, with whom he'll play at the O2 Arena dates.