News

New Clapton Band Lineup For Spring And Summer Tour Dates

3 Apr 14

Eric Clapton’s 2014 Tour resumes April 27 with the guitarist’s first headlining appearance at the 45th New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. That gig will be followed by a handful of U.S. shows with U.K. and European concerts in June. Eric has assembled a new band for these dates. There will be familiar faces and some old friends who haven’t been out on tour with EC in quite some time. Joining Eric on stage in April, May and June will be Andy Fairweather Low (guitar), Dave Bronze (bass), Henry Spinetti (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Paul Carrack (keyboards), Sharon White (backing vocals) and Michelle John (backing vocals). Andy last toured the U.S. with Eric in 2001, Dave in 1995 and Henry in 1982!

Who’s Who In Eric Clapton’s April / May / June 2014 Band:

Andy Fairweather Low
Andy first worked with Eric in 1983 on the ARMS Tour and Roger Water’s “Pros & Cons Of Hitchhiking” project. Andy began working steadily with Eric in 1992 and toured steadily in the band until 2003. Since then, he’s played a number of high-profile and charity gigs in the U.K. and Europe with Eric and the 2009 U.K / Ireland Summer Tour. The April / May dates will be Andy’s first tour with Eric in the U.S. since 2001.

Henry Spinetti
Henry was part of Eric Clapton’s “all British” band between December 1979 and September 1982, along with Chris Stainton. His list of touring and album credits is lengthy, including stints with Tina Turner, Neil Sedaka, Joan Armatrading, Gary Brooker, Roger Chapman, George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Gerry Rafferty and Paul McCartney. Over the years, Henry has continued to play at small, private gigs with Eric, as well as one-off concert appearances in the U.K. and Europe. Eric often guests at charity gigs by No Stiletto Shoes, a band which features Henry on drums, Andy Fairweather Low on guitar, Dave Bronze on bass and Gary Brooker on vocals and keyboards.

Dave Bronze
Since launching his career in 1976, Dave has been in a number of bands as well as an in demand freelance session player and producer. Just a few of the musicians he’s worked with are Robin Trower, Duane Eddy, Jeff Beck, Phil Collins, Leo Sayer, Eric Bibb, Steve Winwood, Paul Carrack and Brian Ferry. Since the 1980s, Dave has worked with Eric Clapton at one-off and charity concerts in England and Europe; a practice that continues until the present day. Many of these gigs featured Henry Spinetti on drums. Dave previously toured with Eric during the 1994 / 1995 Blues Tour and the 1996 Royal Albert Hall dates.

Chris Stainton
This year, Chris is celebrating 35 years working with Eric on the road and in the studio. He first joined Eric’s band in 1979 and has had only two brief breaks since then. Over his lengthy career, Chris has also worked extensively with Joe Cocker and many other musicians, including Pete Townshend, Ringo Starr, Bryan Ferry, Peter Frampton, David Gilmour, and Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. 

Paul Carrack
Paul is a relative newcomer to Eric’s band, only joining the touring lineup in March 2013. He’s enjoyed solo chart success and has been a member of several chart-topping bands including Ace, Squeeze, Roxy Music and Mike + The Mechanics. His most recent album is Rain or Shine (2014). Until the EC tour picks up again, Paul is out on a solo tour in the U.K.

Michelle John
Michelle joined Eric’s band in 2004. Her list of credits is lengthy, having worked with Nick Carter, Lulu, Richard Ashcroft, Samantha Mumba, Bryan Ferry, Annie Lennox and more. Michelle recently released a solo EP, Little Me.

Sharon White
Sharon joined Eric’s band in 2004, and along with Michelle John, has been a fixture on backing vocals ever since. Sharon has also worked with a diverse group of artists including Westlife, Ringo Starr, Zucchero, Herbie Hancock, Natasha Beddingfield, Corine Bailey Rae, Bryan Ferry and Annie Lennox.

Want to hear what the band about to hit the road with Eric sounds like? Check out this pro-shot concert video from their gig at the Baloise Session this past November:

Eric Clapton & His Band – 2014 Tour Dates
These are all of the remaining EC tour dates for this year
April 27: New Orleans Jazz Festival, New Orleans, LA, United States
April 30: Mud Island Amphitheatre, Memphis, TN, United States
May 2: Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Pelham, AL, United States
May 3: Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA, United States
June 2: The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
June 22: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
June 24: SAP Arena, Mannheim, Germany
June 26: Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria
June 28: MoSIR Stadium, Oswiecim, Poland