2008 to 2019: Eric Clapton Band History and Lineups
2008 to 2019: Eric Clapton Band History and Lineups
In a 29 March 2007 interview with the Associated Press, Eric Clapton said that after the second Crossroads Guitar Festival (28 July 2007), “I’m going to disappear for a year or two and have some fun.” As usual, Eric’s self-imposed “time off” didn’t last very long!
Before 2008 was a month old, Eric Clapton was rehearsing with Steve Winwood for a series of high-profile shows that took place in New York City. The three Madison Square Garden concerts on 25, 26 and 28 February garnered outstanding reviews. The shows were filmed and were released on DVD in May 2009. March 2008 found Clapton working in the studio with Robbie Robertson on tracks for an unnamed project that was later shelved. Eric then embarked on a 27 date tour that visited the U.S., Canada and Europe in May, June, and August. While in the U.S., Clapton even stopped by for a guest appearance at one of Sheryl Crow’s concerts in Florida. Between the U.S. / Canada leg and the launch of the European tour, Clapton tinkered with his band lineup a bit with a change in the rhythm section.
In February 2009, he toured Japan, followed by New Zealand and Australia in March. Then, it was back home to England for a 11-night residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall in May along with dates in Dublin, Liverpool and Manchester. The band lineup for these two tours were significantly different. Finally, there was a 14 date tour of the U.S. with Steve Winwood (10 to 30 June).
Eric toured in 2010, 2011 and 2013, with 2012 being a year dedicated to recording and a handful of high-profile appearances including a guest spot with the Rolling Stones in London and the 12.12.12 Concert in New York City for Hurricane Sandy relief. In 2010, a series of 6 “together and apart” shows took place with Jeff Beck in February in London, New York, Toronto and Montreal followed by an 11-date solo tour where the support act was Roger Daltrey (The Who). In June 2010, Eric toured a number of European cities with Steve Winwood, hosted his third Crossroads Guitar Festival on the 26th. 2011 and 2013 had concert dates around the world. The 2013 Tour was special as it marked Eric’s 50th Anniversary as a professional musician. Also in 2013, Eric’s fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival took place over two nights (12 and 13 April) at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
In 2014 and approaching his 70th birthday, Eric began scaling back his touring regimen.. His tours in 2014, 2015 and 2016 are much smaller in scope than past years, with only a handful of shows taking place. These tours were often centered on a few major cities with multiple nights at each venue. This trend continued through the end of the decade in 2019, a year which also saw the fifth installment of Eric’s Crossroads Guitar Festival.
WINWOOD / CLAPTON BAND (February 2008)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Steve Winwood (piano / hammond organ / guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Ian Thomas (drums)
2008 SUMMER TOURING BAND (Eastern U.S. / Canada)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar / backing vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Pino Palladino (bass), Ian Thomas (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2008 SUMMER TOURING BAND (Europe)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar / backing vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks(bass), Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2009 TOURING BAND I (Japan / New Zealand / Australia)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar / backing vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2009 TOURING BAND II (Ireland / England)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Andy Fairweather Low (guitar / backing vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2009 WINWOOD / CLAPTON BAND (U.S.)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Steve Winwood (piano / hammond organ / guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2010 TOURING BAND (England / North America)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Walt Richmond (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2010 WINWOOD / CLAPTON BAND (England / Europe)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Steve Winwood (piano / hammond organ / guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2011 ERIC CLAPTON / WYNTON MARSALIS BAND (April)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Marcus Printup (trumpet), Chris Crenshaw (trombone), Victor Goines (clarinet), Jonathan Batiste (piano),Carlos Henriquez (bass), Ali Jackson (drums), Don Vappie (banjo)
2011 TOURING BAND
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2013 TOURING BAND
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar / backing vocals), Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / backing vocals), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Jordan (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2014 TOURING BAND (Japan and Mideast)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / backing vocals), Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2014 TOURING BAND (US and Europe)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Andy Fairweather Low (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / backing vocals), Dave Bronze (bass), Henry Spinetti (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2015 70th BIRTHDAY BAND (New York and London)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / backing vocals), Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals). Guests in New York: John Mayer, Doyle Bramhall II, Derek Trucks, Jimmie Vaughan
2016 TOURING BAND (Tokyo)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Andy Fairweather Low (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / backing vocals), Dave Bronze (bass), Henry Spinetti (drums), Dirk Powell (multi-instrumentalist), Sharon White (backing vocals), Michelle John (backing vocals)
2017 TOURING BAND (March and September – U.S.)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Walt Richmond (keyboards), Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Sharlotte Gibson (backing vocals)
2017 TOURING BAND (May – U.K.)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Sharlotte Gibson (backing vocals)
2018 TOURING BAND (May – U.S.)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall (guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Walt Richmond (keyboards), Nathan East (bass), Sonny Emory (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Sharlotte Gibson (backing vocals)
2018 TOURING BAND (From June)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall (guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Sonny Emory (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Sharlotte Gibson (backing vocals)
2019 TOURING BAND
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall (guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Sonny Emory (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Katie Kissoon (backing vocals)
2019 TOURING BAND (September Only)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Doyle Bramhall (guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Sharon White (backing vocals), Katie Kissoon (backing vocals)