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CLASSIC CLAPTON @ Sage Gateshead

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The band was formed in 1985 in Newcastle long before the term “tribute band” was invented and named themselves ”After Midnight” after Eric Clapton’s first solo hit. In the past 33 years they have become one of the best-loved bands on Tyneside.

In guitar/vocalist Mike Hall, the band possesses a front man who not only looks like Eric, he sings and plays guitar like him too!  In 1999, he won a national look-alike competition held at Madam Tussauds.  Mike has met EC twice, and even received a message of encouragement from the guitar maestro (written on a Concorde menu).

 TYNE TEES TELEVISION were so impressed that they made a programme about them, called ‘COVER THEIR TRACKS’.  It was shown in August 2000 and received rave reviews, leading to national recognition.

In 2001 the band embarked on their first extensive tour of UK Theatres.  They called the tribute show “CLASSIC CLAPTON”.  Since then, they have continued to perform throughout the UK including concerts at The Royal Festival Hall, London and a triumphant appearance at Glastonbury Festival in 2002.  They have performed numerous concerts in Europe including Ireland, Spain, Estonia, Holland and France.  In 2009 they appeared for the first time in Mumbai. They were invited back for 3 more concerts in India in 2016. This included performing in front of 3500 people in an open air sports arena in Mumbai. On 18 March 2017 they appeared in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  In December 2015 over 400 people travelled from throughout the UK to help the band celebrate their 30^th Anniversary at Sage Gateshead.

CLASSIC CLAPTON comprises 4 excellent musicians:-  Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar), Paul Warren (keyboards/ backing vocals), Danny Davison (drums) and Dave Robson (bass guitar /backing vocals).  Dave is a former member of chart band Geordie.  In fact he was with them at the time Brian Johnson left to join AC/DC. Mike, Dave & Danny are all original members of CLASSIC CLAPTON. Paul joined in 2007.

The band has released three albums.  Firstly “THE MUSIC OF ERIC CLAPTON” contains brilliant cover-versions of 17 Clapton Classics.  Their second is a live double CD ”CLASSIC CLAPTON Unplugged”  recorded at Belfast Waterfront Hall.  In 2005 they released their third album “CLASSIC CREAM” – featuring 20 songs made famous by the sixties super-group.  All three albums will be available at Sage Gateshead.

Eric Clapton has been a major international star since the mid 1960’s, when he revolutionised electric guitar playing, with his virtuoso performances in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.  He has won an incredible 19 Grammies and is the only triple inductee into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist).

Eric is now in his seventies.  His recent tours unfortunately have visited only a limited number of large UK arenas.  If fans want to hear all of his hits performed in more intimate surroundings, they really should attend a CLASSIC CLAPTON concert.  The whole of Clapton’s illustrious career will be covered including Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds, Blind Faith, Derek & The Dominos and the solo years.   

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