Eric Clapton celebrates 70th birthday at Madison Square Garden - New York Celebrity
1. Eric Clapton celebrates 70th birthday at Madison Square
Garden - New York Celebrity
Eric Clapton announced on March 12, 2015 that he will celebrate his 70th birthday with concerts on
May 1 and May 2, 2015 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The legendary guitarist turns
70 years old on March 30, 2015. Clapton and his group Cream opened the "new" Madison Square
Garden over 46 years ago on November 2, 1968. That concert wrapped up Cream's final tour of the
United States. The trio (Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker, and bassist Jack Bruce) reunited for three
shows at the world's famous famous arena in 2005. Clapton has performed at The Garden 45 times,
more than any other American venue.
Eric Clapton
Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images
The May 1 and May 2 concerts will feature Clapton, accompanied by his band members Paul
Carrack (keyboards and vocals), Steve Gadd (drums), Nathan East (bass), Chris Stainton
(keyboards), Sharon White (vocals) and Michelle John (vocals). Welsh guitarist Andy Fairweather
Low, and his band and the Low Riders, will perform as his opening act.
2. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 16 at 11
a.m. to Chase cardholders at
Ticketmaster.com. General on sale begins
Friday, March 20 at 11 a.m.
In 2013, Clapton headlined his two-night Crossroads Guitar Festival at The Garden featuring several
stars including Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones, B.B. King, the Allman Brothers Band, Jeff
Beck, Keith Urban, Robbie Robertson, and Vince Gill. The concerts benefited his Crossroads Centre,
a drug treatment facility he founded in Antigua.
Following his May concerts at The Garden, Clapton will return to London to perform seven shows at
Royal Albert Hall on May 14 through May 23. Last year, he released his JJ Cale tribute album, The
Breeze, featuring Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, John Mayer, and Mark Knopfler. He was also the subject
of the tour documentary, "Plane, Trains and Eric."
Recording for over 50 years, Clapton has received 18 Grammy Awards, and he is the only three-time
inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a solo artist, with the Yardbirds, and with Cream).
