Gary Moore, 1952-2011

One was from Eric Clapton and the other was from Joe Bonamassa. Both were stellar ovations of the blues legend.

Shortly after they were posted, a comment was added to each by user “Damian”. The comments were both very well stated and worthy of re-publishing for those who do not follow TheGuitarBuzz comments.

While I am sure that these comments were not intended to stir up a lot of heated controversy, they did included enough direct commentary to ruffle a few E-strings. Lets agree to take them in the spirit of how they were written…full of passion, emotion, sincerity and from the heart of a guitar player still struggling with the loss of Gary Moore. We all know that he was taken from us way too soon…

The first was in response to the Eric Clapton Tribute Video:

I suspect he played it acoustically because he couldn’t pay it justice electrically. I’m kinda pleased that at long last Clapton has acknowledged Gary, but it’s too little too late. It’s angered me for years that he never said a word about him when he was alive, never invited him on stage, (despite playing with every other blues player imaginable), never invited him to the Crossroads festival, and never even uttered his name in interview. He obviously had a problem with Gary, a man who only ever paid due reverance to Clapton, and constantly sang his praises and acknowedged his influence. Perhaps he felt Gary had “stolen his thunder” when “Still Got the blues” went stellar. Perhaps he felt Gary wasn’t “authentic” enough, as he’d been playing Rock for 2 decades. Perhaps he felt Gary had “humiliated” BB and the 2 Alberts by “blasting them off stage”, (despite the fact all three of them expressed their love for Gary’s playing). Perhaps he simply knew what we all did…that Gary was better than him at playing the style of blues he made famous. Whatever the reason, I’ll resent Clapton for the fact for the rest of my days, and this little tribute smacks to me of a guilty conscience. Gary would’ve been overjoyed had Clapton done this while he was alive. No point now!
- Comment by Damian, 6-11-11

The second was in response to the Joe Bonamassa Tribute Video:

So pleased that Joe did this. He has always acknowledged Gary as an influence and it was great to hear that they were beginning to forge a friendship, though they only had an opportunity to meet 2 or 3 times. Gary is my all time favourite, and Joe has become second in line in the last 5 years, so this really touches me, though it is obviously tinged with sadness and regret that we will never get to see the 2 of them share a stage together, which I feel sure would have happened at some point. How GREAT would that have been!?
- Comment by Damian, 6-11-11

The best way for me to end this post is to include yet another tribute video – this one from the legendary bass player Jack Bruce, joined by Joe Bonamassa.

Eric was quoted to say: “This album wasn’t what it was intended to be at all. It’s actually better than it was meant to be because, in a way, I just let it happen. It’s an eclectic collection of songs that weren’t really on the map—and I like it so much because if it’s a surprise to the fans, that’s only because it’s a surprise to me, as well.”

Crossroads 2010 DVD

The ultimate Eric Clapton collaboration took place earlier this year at the “CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010” on June 26 at Chicago’s Toyota Park.

For one day only, Clapton gathered the past, present, and future of guitar music onto one stage for an incredible all-day musical event in front of a crowd of over 27,000.

The third Crossroads Guitar Festival was a sold out, 11-hour tour de force with all profits benefiting The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons.

Rhino Entertainment captured every epic note from that blistering summer day in Chicago and will release over 4 hours in High Definition on “CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010.” Fans around the world will have a chance to experience many of the festival’s greatest moments including performances by Clapton, ZZ Top, Steve Winwood, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Bill Murray, and many others as well as behind-the-scenes footage and candid interviews with the performers.

CLICK HERE to preview Eric Clapton & Sonny Landreth performing PROMISED LAND.

Pre-Order for the DVD is available through Amazon.com. Click below:

Eric Clapton's New CD Cover Art

Eric Clapton’s discography is a work of art. And now, at age 65, he is adding yet another masterpiece.

Clapton’s new 14-track studio album, titled “Clapton”, will be released on September 27 in the U.K. and the following day in the United States.

Although Clapton has varied his musical style throughout his career, it has always remained grounded in the blues.

Despite this focus, he is credited as an innovator in a wide variety of genres. The new release is made up of a varied mix of new material and cover tunes.

Several songs, like “Rocking Chair” and “When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful,” will be familiar to concert-goers as Eric and his band have been performing them on stage.

Click below to listen to “Diamonds Made From Rain” which had its’ world-wide premiere on BBC Radio yesterday.

Here is the complete track list:

01. Travelin’ Alone
02. Rocking Chair
03. River Runs Deep
04. Judgment Day
05. How Deep Is The Ocean
06. My Very Good Friend The Milkman
07. Can’t Hold Out Much Longer
08. That’s No Way To Get Along
09. Everything Will Be Alright
10. Diamonds Made From Rain
11. When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful
12. Hard Times Blues
13. Run Back To Your Side
14. Autumn Leaves

Crossroads Guitar Festival

How I wish I was on my way to Chicago…..

Eric Clapton’s 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival takes place tomorrow, Saturday, June 26th at the Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. The Crossroads Guitar Festival is a music festival and benefit concert first held in 2004 and again in 2007.

The festivals benefit the Crossroads Centre founded by Eric Clapton, a drug treatment center located in Antigua. The concerts are also intended to be a showcase for a variety of guitarists, all of whom are hand-picked by Eric Clapton himself.

The complete performance schedule for the all day event was posted today on Eric’s Fan Club site:

(www.WheresEric.com)

Check out this lineup:

11:50A – 12:15P Sonny Landreth

12:20P – 12:55P Robert Randolply joined by Joe Bonamassa, & Pino Daneile

1P – 1:40P Robert Cray with Jimmie Vaughan, & Hubert Sumlin

1:45P – 2P Bert Jansch

2:05P – 2:20P Stefan Grossman

2:25P – 2:50P ZZ Top

3P – 3:40P Doyle Bramhall joined by Gary Clark, Sheryl Crow

3:50P – 4:35P Vince Gill joined by Albert Lee, James Burton, Keb Mo

4:45P – 5P Citizen Cope

5:05P – 5:20P Earl Klugh

5:25P – 5:50P John Mayer

6P – 6:35P Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang

6:45P – 7:35P Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band joined by Warren Haynes, Sheryl Crow, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, & Johnny Winter

7:45P – 8:20P Jeff Beck

8:35P – 10:05P Eric Clapton with Steve Winwood

10:10P – 10:30P BB King with Robert Cray Band

10:30P – 10:50P FINALE

That’s a whole lotta guitar playing mojo for a single event!

I would love to hear from anyone who attends! Otherwise I will have to wait for the DVD…

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood

Hot off the press from my friends at “Where’s Eric…”

Legendary musicians Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood kick off their 16 date European 2010 Tour on 18 May at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England. The tour includes two nights at London’s Wembley Arena, an “open air” concert on the Konigsplatz in Munich, plus “one night only” stops in Antwerp, Paris, Arnhem, Berlin, Vienna, Belgrade, Istanbul and other cities.

Eric and Steve will be joined on stage by Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass) Steve Gadd (drums) with backing vocals by Michelle John and Sharon White.

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood first connected in 1969 when they formed Blind Faith with Ginger Baker and Rick Grech. One of rock music’s first “supergroups”, the band was short-lived and released only one album. The eagerly anticipated 2010 European dates follow last summer’s U.S. Tour. Their three amazing nights at Madison Square Garden in February 2008 were captured on Live From Madison Square Garden. Released in May 2009, the DVD and CD sets highlight the duo’s shared history in Blind Faith, their abiding love of the blues, coupled with some signature solo songs and a few of their personal favorites.

CLICK HERE for the entire Tour Schedule.

Clapton & Bramhall - Budokan Arena in Tokyo in 2009

I received several emails about the origin of the video, complimenting the superb sound and picture quality.

The video is from the Japanese leg of Clapton’s tour and was taken at the Budokan Arena in Tokyo in February, 2009.

You can find the “Limited Edition” PAL DVD on eBay. Hmm…Legal?

If this concert comes out on US DVD anytime soon I will be in line for a copy!

Here is a clip from the acoustic set of the same show titled “Traveling Alone”.

It showcases Eric Clapton & Doyle Bramhall II at their best. I love the vibe of this one. One listener called it “haunting”…and I agree.

WATCH:

The first Crossroads Guitar Festival, in June 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, was an unprecedented collection of guitar icons from blues, rock and contemporary music.

The sold-out show was chronicled in a 2-disc DVD that has since gone on to become one of the world’s top-selling music DVD’s, recently achieving the 8x platinum mark in the United States alone.

The Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 was the second such concert by Clapton and was also staged at Toyota Park in July of 2007 and was filmed for a second DVD that met similar acclaim and achieved multi-platinum status.

The 2010 show will be held on June 26th at Toyota Park in Chicago.

Like the previous concerts and the best-selling DVDs from those festivals, this year’s event benefits the Crossroads Centre, the addiction-treatment facility founded by Clapton on the Caribbean island of Antigua in the early Nineties. “But it’s a selfish thing,” he admits delightedly. “I can go to one place and hear all of my favorite musicians in one day.”

Current Artist Listing Confirmed

• Allman Brothers Band
• BB King
• Bert Jansch
• Buddy Guy
• David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos
• Doyle Bramhall II
• Earl Klugh
• Eric Clapton
• Gary Clark Jr.
• Hubert Sumlin
• James Burton
• Jeff Beck
• Jimmie Vaughan
• Joao Gilberto
• Joe Bonamassa
• John Mayer
• John Renbourn
• Keb Mo
• Pino Daniele
• Robert Cray
• Robert Randolph
• Sheryl Crow
• Sonny Landreth
• Steve Winwood
• Vince Gill
• ZZ Top

Tickets for the Crossroads Guitar Festival will go on sale to the public on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 10 AM Central Time via TicketMaster.

Tickets will be priced at $100 plus parking and applicable fees.

[Video]

The myTouch 3G Fender Limited Edition is available for $179.99 with a new two-year T-Mobile agreement.

I will admit, it’s pretty cool!

U.S. audiences recently saw Jeff Beck’s guitar mastery at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. Beck’s 40 minute set with guests Sting, Buddy Guy and Billy Gibbons along with a blistering rendition of “Superstition” in Stevie Wonder’s set received strong critical acclaim.

The Beck-Clapton collaboration will undoubtedly be one an amazing show.  The artists will perform in sets “Together and Apart”.

The duo have shared the stage at Festivals and benefits previously. Both artists admitted to having a fantastic time on stage together…

The following shows have been announced:

• Thursday, February 18, 2010, New York, NY, Madison Square Garden
• Sunday, February 21, 2010, Toronto, Canada, Air Canada Center
• Monday, February 22, 2010, Montreal, Canada, Bell Center

“Eric and I played together in Japan earlier this year and had a blast. Since then we have been in regular contact and talked about doing a similar show for our fans. Looking forward to the shows in 2010,” — Jeff Beck.

“I’ve always considered Jeff Beck to be one of the finest guitar players around. He’s a friend, a great guy, and a truly gifted musician. We had such a fun time in Japan that it seemed natural to play together again,” — Eric Clapton.

My guess is that other cities will follow… if not, be ready to buy the double DVD in the fall!