CLASSIC CLAPTON are the World's No1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band featuring front-man Mike Hall. In 2010 they are undertaking a 25th Anniversary Tour throughout the UK.
CLASSIC CLAPTON were formed in 1985 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the home-town of The Animals, Mark Knopfler and Sting. This was long before the term "tribute band" was invented. The band originally called themselves "After Midnight" after ECs first solo US hit. Their ability to re-create Claptons electrifying stage performances really caught the audiences imagination. 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, Mike won a national look-alike competition held at Madam Tussauds, London. Mike has met Slowhand twice, and even received a message of encouragement from the guitar maestro (written on a Concorde menu). They are now acknowledged as The World's Number 1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band.
TYNE TEES TELEVISION were so impressed, they made a programme about them, called 'COVER THEIR TRACKS'. It was screened in the UK in 2000 and received rave reviews, leading to national recognition.
In 2001 they embarked on an extensive tour of UK Theatres. When the band started playing outside Newcastle, they had to think of a name for the show which was easily recognisable by people in other regions, who perhaps had not heard ECs hit record "After Midnight". They called the tribute show "CLASSIC CLAPTON".
Since then, the band has toured extensively, including concerts at The Royal Festival Hall, London and a triumphant appearance at Glastonbury Festival, England in 2002. In the past few years they have performed numerous concerts in Europe including Spain, Estonia and Holland.
In July 2009 they appeared at St Andrews Auditorium in Mumbai. This was a great concert - it sold out and apparently many people were turned away. There were quite a few Bollywood stars & celebrities in the audience. A 10,000 mile round-trip for 1 concert, but it was a great experience.
In the past 25 years CLASSIC CLAPTON have become something of a rock institution.
CLASSIC CLAPTON comprises 4 excellent musicians:- Mike Hall (lead vocals/guitar), John Forster (bass guitar /backing vocals), Paul Warren (keyboards/ backing vocals) and Keith Cad (drums).
They have released three albums. Firstly "THE MUSIC OF ERIC CLAPTON" contains brilliant cover-versions of 17 Clapton Classics. Their second album 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.
Eric Clapton has been a major international star since the mid 1960s, when he revolutionised electric guitar playing with virtuoso performances in John Mayalls 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 also as a solo artist).
Eric Claptons recent tours unfortunately have visited only a limited number of large arenas. If fans want to hear all of his hits performed in more intimate surroundings, they really should attend a CLASSIC CLAPTON concert.
The band will be performing authentic versions of all the popular Clapton Classics including Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, I Shot The Sheriff, Sunshine of Your Love, Lay Down Sally, Cocaine and of course Layla! There will even be an "UNPLUGGED" segment.
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
