News

Eric Clapton Starts ’06 Japan Tour

11 Nov 06

On 11 November 2006, Eric Clapton and his band kicked off an 18-date tour of Japan with the first of four nights at Osaka Jo Hall. The opening night setlist was different than that of the recently completed U.S. Tour. It included "Tell The Truth" – from 1970’s Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs – and "Outside Woman Blues", which Eric first performed with Cream. The latter was performed during the "sit down" portion of the concert. Also of note, Eric broke out a Gibson Les Paul in the second half of the concert, playing it on "After Midnight" and for part of "Little Queen of Spades" after which he returned to playing his trademark Fender Stratocaster.

One fan in attendance told Where’s Eric!, "Eric is now sixty-one but he is definitely not a boring old fart as some cynics call him. The thrill is not necessarily gone…in fact, it has only just begun".

Clapton’s touring band for Japan features Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks on Guitar, Chris Stainton and Tim Carmon on Keyboards, Willie Weeks on Bass, Steve Jordan on Drums and backing vocals by Michelle John and Sharon White. There is no supporting act.

For the 2006 Japan Tour, Eric will have a signficant web presence with exclusive Japan-based internet sites. Eric has even launched a blog in conjuntion with honeyee.com. Hiroyoshi Fujiwara, who has worked with Eric on a number of projects, also hosts a blog which has some content related to Eric’s tour of Japan.

– Eric Clapton’s Japan Tour 2006 Blog
– Hiroshi Fujiwara’s Blog
– Eric Clapton Japan Tour 2006 Special Site
– UDO Artists, Inc – Eric Clapton

Tour rehearsals

Tour rehearsals took place in Osaka earlier in the week. Film clips of them aired on Japanese television on Friday:
– Mezamashi TV: EC & JJ
– Mezamashi TV: EC

Setlist 11 November 2006: Osaka-Jo Hall (Castle Hall), Osaka, Japan

Opening Night Set List:

01. Pretending
02. I Shot the Sheriff
03. Got to Get Better in A Little While
04. Old Love
05. Tell the Truth
06. Motherless Children

Sit Down Set
07. Key to The Highway
08. Outside Woman Blues
09. San Francisco Bay Blues
10. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
11. Running On Faith

12. After Midnight
13. Little Queen of Spades
14. Further On Up The Road
15. Wonderful Tonight
16. Layla
17. Cocaine

Encore
18. Crossroads
(125 min.)