His legacy and musical prowess has transcended decades and genres and he is regarded as beyond a God to some people.
From his time in The Yardbirds, through Cream, to his alter-ego Derek and the Dominos and subsequent solo career that brought him to a new generation through his award-winning MTV UNPLUGGED performance, Eric ‘Slowhand’ Clapton has managed to retain his consistency at the forefront of blues and powerhouse guitar that has influenced umpteen artistes since the 1960s, as well as being part of a group of iconic players which include the likes of Peter Green, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Steve Ray Vaughan.
His record-breaking run of concerts that stretched across 1990 and 1991 have passed into folklore – and the widow of the director who filmed many of the original concerts back in the day had kept the original masters for many years, until David Barnard took over the masters and decided to re-do them in Dolby Atmos, a process that took about four years to complete. What transpires is a totally new experience of Clapton – and a chance to see him at his very best.
The result, ERIC CLAPTON: ACROSS 24 NIGHTS, is a pulsating and scintillating mix of key performances from those nights which packed out the Royal Albert Hall, with a mix of blues, rock and orchestrated revamps courtesy of the late great composer Michael Kamen (DIE HARD, LETHAL WEAPON) who firstly collaborated with Clapton on the music for the acclaimed 1985 TV thriller EDGE OF DARKNESS.
The live rendition of the theme from that show is one of the key moments here and it is an opportunity to see the sadly departed and sorely-missed composer in his element in front of an audience and an orchestra in brilliant form, helping to elevate classics like LAYLA (what Clapton concert would be such without that 1971 icon?). Clapton and Kamen along with saxophonist David Sanborn would team up for the LETHAL WEAPON films.
However, that is not the only virtue of this amazing experience. A youthful Phil Collins (who recently retired Genesis after playing at the 02 Arena) collaborates with the likes of Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, Dire Straits‘ long-term keyboard player Alan Clark (featured on the LOVE OVER GOLD and BROTHERS IN ARMS tours), percussionist Ray Cooper, as well as backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Tessa Niles.
Kissoon does a sterling job duetting with Clapton on TEARING US APART from the AUGUST album (a track Clapton did with Tina Turner at the Prince’s Trust Concert in 1986 attended by the then Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana). Also in the mix are some key blues performances from the likes of Albert Collins and Buddy Guy and there is terrific symmetry here too.
On the way in June 2023 is a complete box-set of an expanded edition of the twenty-four night event (available now to pre-order here:Â https://ec.lnk.to/24Nights)
Dedicated fans will get a chance to relish the whole picture with that. For now, though, check out this snapshot in glorious Dolby Atmos and visually reminiscent of Michael Wadleigh‘s WOODSTOCK and go BEHIND THE MASK – on stage – with this bonafide icon.
