ERIC CLAPTON |
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TOUR DETAILS |
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PROMOTER: (unknown) ERIC CLAPTON BAND:
SUPPORT ACT: (unknown) DATES / CITIES / VENUES:
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Eric Clapton's first Australian tour was greatly anticipated, Cream having been a seminal influence on many Australian acts, and fans were fortunate to see what many regard as his best-ever touring band, the same lineup that recorded his mid-70s albums 461 Ocean Boulevard and There's One In Every Crowd. Eric's classic 1975 live album EC Was Here was recorded on the American leg of this tour and released in August that year. The schedule for the tour was somewhat unusual, with only one concert each in Melbourne, Perth, two in Adelaide, three in Brisbane and five shows in Sydney, including one at the recently opened Sydney Opera House., although one Hordern Pavilion concert was cut short because Clapton fell ill mid-show, so it was re-scheduled. Clapton's band for this tour included his long serving bassist, the late, great Carl Radle, who had been a member of Derek & The Dominos, plus hotshot British blues guitarist George Terry. Hawaiian-born backing vocalist Yvonne Elliman first came to fame after moving to the UK in the late' 60s. She was spotted by Tim Rice and Andrew LLoyd Webber singing at The Pheasantry folk club in Chelsea in 1969. (Coincidentally, the building that housed the club had also been the home of both Clapton and Australian artist Martin Sharp ca. 1967). She shot to fame after Rice and Lloyd Webber offered her the role of Mary Magdalene in the original UK stage stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar and she reprised that role in both the American stage production and the film version, for which she won a Golden Globe. While in America she met her first husband Bill Oakes, president of RSO Records. He introduced her to Eric Clapton, who invited her to sing backup on his hit I Shot the Sheriff, after which she became a full-time member of his band and stayed with him for five years. Like Marcy Levy, she had a very successful career both as a backing vocalist and as a solo artist. In 1976 she worked extensively with The Bee Gees and featured heavily on the epoch-making Saturday Night Fever soundtrack; several tracks including the mega-hit If I Can't Have You were written specifically for her. She recorded six solo albums between 1972 and 1980. Her debut album I Don't Know How To Love Him yielded a hit with the title track. Her second LP, 1973's Food of Love was made with considerable input from Pete Townshend, and their version of The Who's I Can't Explain was sampled extensively by Fat Boy Slim for his 1997 track Going Out Of My Head. After her second marriage, Yvonne left the business in the '80s to concentrate on her family. The other backing vocalist on the tour was Marcy Levy (aka Marcella Detroit).A successful songwriter and a sought-after session vocalist since the mid-70s, the multi-talented Marcy also produces, plays keyboards, guitar and harmonica, and has enjoyed a diverse and very successful career. She first came to public attentnion as a member of Bob Seeger's band in the early 70s and joined Clapton's backing group in 1974. She recorded seven albums with Clapton in the '70s and with Clapton and George Terry she co-wrote his oft-covered hit Lay Down Sally. She left Clapton in 1978 for a solo career but rejoined him briefly in 1984. She has co-written songs recorded by Belinda Carlisle, Randy Crawford, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Melissa Manchester and co-wrote the track Overcome on the 1995 Tricky album Maxinquaye. Besides her stint with Clapton, she has sung and/or played on recordings by Leon Russell, Steven Stills, Stanley Clarke, Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Al Stewart, Charlie Daniels, Elton John, Hall & Oates, Jimmy Barnes, George Benson, Michael Bolton, Elkie Brooks, Peabo Bryson and Belinda Carlisle. She settled in the UK in the late '80s and asssumed the stage name Marcella Detroit (the surname being taken from her home town). She formed the alt-pop duo Skakespear's Sister (1988-1992) with former Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey (who is married to The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart). They enjoyed major success including several UK and international Top Ten singles and albums. Marcy has also released several solo albums. *NOTE: During his Hordern Pavilion performance on 20 April 1975 Eric became ill mid-show, and the concert was stopped after 75 minutes. Food poisoning was given as the official explanation. As a compensation for the shortened show, an additional show was staged for free on 22 April. For this concert, Eric had shaved his beard off.
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| RECOLLLECTIONS | |
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Corrections? More information? Did you see this tour?
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| REFERENCES / LINKS | |
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All Music Guide Slowhand Tourography
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