Eric Clapton Concerts Setlist

Born in Ripley, UK, Eric Clapton is a rock and blues guitarist and singer, regarded as one of the most influential guitarists in rock music. He ranked high in several lists of greatest guitarists. Eric Clapton played with The Yardbirds and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers before forming Cream, known for blues improvisations and psychedelic pop. After Cream's breakup, he formed Blind Faith and later Derek and the Dominos, producing the iconic song "Layla". He also released his first solo album in 1970.

Eric Clapton grew up thinking his grandparents were his parents and his mother was his older sister. His mother later moved to Germany, leaving him with his grandparents. At that time, the young Eric Clapton received an acoustic guitar for his thirteenth birthday but only became serious about playing it at fifteen. Influenced by blues music, he practiced intensely every single day.

In 1963, Eric Clapton joined The Yardbirds and stayed until 65. The band gained a cult following and toured with Sonny Boy Williamson II. Clapton's nickname "Slowhand" originated from the slow handclapping by audiences when he changed guitar strings on stage. The Yardbirds had their first major hit with "For Your Love" in 1965, but Clapton, dedicated to blues, left due to the band's shift towards a more pop style.

In 1966, Eric Clapton joined Cream, marking his entry into one of the earliest supergroups. At that time, the soon-to-be-a-star developed as a singer and guitarist. Cream's first gig was at the Twisted Wheel Club, followed by a debut at the National Jazz and Blues Festival. Clapton's status as Britain's top guitarist faced competition from Jimi Hendrix, whose innovative style influenced Clapton.

In 1969, the musician formed the group Blind Faith. The supergroup released one LP and embarked on an arena tour. They debuted to 100k fans in London and had a sold-out tour all over the U.S. The LP "Blind Faith" featured six songs.

In the 1970s, Clapton faced personal struggles with drug addiction and romantic turmoil while enjoying career successes. After the breakup of his last group, he battled heroin addiction.

Eric Clapton was active in the early 2000s, releasing "Reptile" in 2001 and performing at events like the Concert for New York City and the Party at the Palace concert. He paid tribute to George Harrison at the Concert for George in 2002 and honored Robert Johnson with two albums in 2004. Rolling Stone ranked him among the top artists of all time, and he contributed to Toots & the Maytals' Grammy-winning album.

In 2010, Eric Clapton teamed up with Jeff Beck for shows in London, New York, Toronto, and Montreal. He also toured the U.S. with Roger Daltrey and later toured Europe with Steve Winwood. Clapton released his album "Clapton" in September 2010 and performed at the Prince's Trust rock gala in November. In subsequent years, he toured many places with Winwood and participated in tribute concerts. In 2012, he joined The Rolling Stones and performed at the Concert for Sandy Relief. Clapton continued touring until announcing plans to stop in 2015 due to travel difficulties.

With an extremely successful career, Eric Clapton has won 18 Grammy Awards and the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music. Eric Clapton is the only artist inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: as a solo artist, and as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. He has sold 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians ever.

Eric proved to be not only a very successful musician but someone with a gigantic heart. In 1998, Eric Clapton founded the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers.

Check this page to see when the next Eric Clapton concert is playing near you.