Eric Clapton Announces 2017 North American Shows

While guitar hero Eric Clapton has talked retirement and “final shows” a number of times in the past, Slowhand isn’t done with live performances yet. Clapton and his longtime band have announced a series of four North American shows scheduled for March.

Eric Clapton will play the familiar confines of Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 19 and 20. Then, the guitarists and his band will cross the country for a pair of shows at The Forum in Los Angeles. Jimmie Vaughan and Gary Clark Jr. are aboard as special guests. The shows are billed as a celebration of Clapton’s 50 years in music and just as many decades performing at these two legendary venues.

In 2015 Clapton played a set of 70th birthday shows and shared a handwritten note within the program, “I swear this is it, no more…..I know I’ve been threatening retirement for the last fifty years, but I didn’t think I’d ever really want to stop. I love what I do and always have done, but over the last few decades I’ve found what I was always really looking for, a loving family who love me just the way I am, which means I can relax and rest when I need to, and more and more I treasure the beauty of that….” The letter went on to say, “Hopefully, I might be able to remember and breathe some life into this old stuff…. in truth believe me, with these great guys to play with, I’ll be having the time of my life!” Thankfully for music fans EC thought better of retirement.

Clapton’s band for the run will be Walt Richmond, Steve Gadd, Nathan East, Chris Stainton, Sharon White and Michelle John. A presale for Chase customers begins Thursday, December 1 at 12 p.m. ET and will be followed by the general on-sale on Saturday, December 3 at 10 a.m. local.