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CLASSIC CLAPTON

@ Empire Theatre & Cinema

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CLASSIC CLAPTON the World’s No1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band, featuring front man Mike Hall will be making their first ever appearance at The Empire in October.

They will perform all of EC’s classic songs including Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, I Shot The Sheriff, Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and of course Layla!  There will even be an “UNPLUGGED” segment.

NEARLY 2 HOURS OF CLASSIC CLAPTON

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 34 years they have become something of a rock institution and have also become one of the best-loved bands in the North East.

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 they 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 & Ireland 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 Mumbai. In March 2017 they appeared in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

CLASSIC CLAPTON comprises 4 excellent musicians:-  Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar) was born in Durham. Danny Davison (drums) and Dave Robson (bass guitar /backing vocals) are both Newcastle lads.  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. Steve Hutchinson from South Shields has recently re-joined the band on keyboards & backing vocals. He was a member of The Animals for 6 years during the 1990’s alongside original members Hilton Valentine & John Steel.  He previously played with Classic Clapton from 2003 – 2005.

CLASSIC CLAPTON have 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 supergroup.  All three albums will be available at The Empire.

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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