Concert Details
13 January 1973 – The Rainbow Concerts
Location:
Venue: Rainbow Theatre
City: Finsbury Park, London
Country: United Kingdom
Band Lineup:
Eric Clapton – guitar / vocals
Pete Townshend – guitar / vocals
Ronnie Wood – guitar / vocals
Steve Winwood – keyboards / vocals
Rick Grech – bass
Jim Capaldi – drums
Jimmy Karstein – drums
Reebop Kwaku Baah – percussion
Support:
Average White Band
Show Notes:
The concert was part of “Fanfare For Europe” celebrating Great Britain’s entry into the Common Market. It was organized by Eric Clapton’s friend, Pete Townshend, and Lord Harlech (father of EC’s girlfriend, Alice Ormsby-Gore) to bring Eric back into the public arena as a working musician and give him incentive to quit his drug habit. Both the early and late shows were recorded.
Early rehearsals took place at Ronnie Wood’s home before moving to the Guildford Civic Hall.
It should be noted that this is Eric’s first public use of Blackie and the tremolo was still attached at this time. Blackie was played during the first show and Eric switched to a Gibson Les Paul for the second.
Marc Roberty in Eric Clapton Day By Day: The Early Years 1963-1982, noted that Eric’s guitar tone changes in “Let It Rain” as Eric broke a string on the Les Paul and rather than wait for it to be restrung during the drum solo, he picked up his Fender Stratocaster (Blackie) to finish the number.
Set List:
EARLY SHOW – 6:30PM
01. Layla – released
02. Badge – unreleased
03. Blues Power – unreleased
04. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – unreleased
05. Roll It Over – unreleased
06. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad – unreleased
07. Little Wing – released
08. Bottle of Red Wine – unreleased
09. After Midnight – released
10. Bell Bottom Blues – released
11. Presence of the Lord – unreleased
12. Tell The Truth – unreleased
13. Pearly Queen – unreleased
14. Let It Rain – unreleased
15. Crossroads – unreleased
LATE SHOW – 8:30PM
01. Layla – unreleased
02. Badge – released
03. Blues Power – released
04. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – unreleased
05. Roll It Over – released
06. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad – unreleased
07. Little Wing – unreleased
08. Bottle of Red Wine – released
09. Presence of the Lord – released
10. Tell the Truth – released
11. Pearly Queen – released
12. Key to the Highway – released
13. Let It Rain – released
14. Crossroads – released
15. Layla – unreleased