Life has few certainties; you are born, you die, and somewhere in May Eric Clapton will be performing for a few nights at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
The Royal Albert Hall, the RAH, is perhaps the most beautiful concert hall in the world, certainly one of the most beautiful, and Clapton has considered the iconic music temple his home for many years.
No artist has played there as often as he has, and his most legendary performances took place there: Cream’s Farewell Concert, the equally famous reunion concerts of the same band in 2005, the 24 Nights series, the Concert for George hosted by Eric, more recently the Jeff Beck Tribute – the list goes on.
In December 1964, a young Clapton played there for the first time, then as a guitarist with The Yardbirds, and how unreal it is that the same man, a legend by now, will fill the RAH three more times in 2025.
Eighty years old, still going strong, still knows no stopping. Blessed are those who, like me, are not yet so old and still have the chance to admire this guitar god in the flesh.
This year’s three Albert Hall performances are part of a series of eight concerts on European soil after Clapton already played eight times in April at the Budokan in Tokyo – another place he likes to go. A small American tour will follow in the autumn. I see Clapton on his second night in London.
While the RAH gradually fills up with expectant fans, it is Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders’ turn first. They have the honour of warming up the hall properly. That is something that can be entrusted to Andy, friend and long-time collaborator of Eric, and associates.
They are given fifty minutes, and they spend them well. It feels as if we are being presented with a full-fledged concert, numbers from the entire oeuvre pass by, played energetically, interspersed with a humorous anecdote here and there – AFL in its purest form.
Classics like ‘Wide Eyed And Legless’ and ‘(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice’ are omitted for once and that’s actually fine. There’s a lot of blues, and that has to do with Andy’s latest album, The Invisible Bluesman, which recently reached number one in the Official UK Jazz & Blues Chart.
In my opinion, it’s a perfect match for the main act. Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders can count on an enthusiastic audience and leave the hall in good spirits.
Exactly forty minutes later, according to schedule, Eric Clapton – a man of the times, at least in recent years – and his band appear on stage. The entrance alone clearly brings the hall into raptures, a standing ovation follows, wild cheering.
People call out to Eric, who calmly as ever raises his hand to the audience and silently hangs his guitar around his neck. The cacophony dies down when Sonny Emory turns off and Eric Clapton lets his first licks resound through the Royal Albert Hall.
A collective goosebump moment and the prelude to the so recognizable intro of ‘White Room’. What a start! He can still play at the age of eighty, but vocally Clapton also sounds very strong, his voice is truly beautiful.
The Cream classic is immediately followed by ‘Key To The Highway’, an 8-bar blues that Clapton has almost always had as the second number on his setlist for more than ten years.
No punishment, because the number is extremely suitable to demonstrate the versatility of the band for the first time; in addition to Eric himself, Chris Stainton (keyboard), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar) and Tim Carmon (Hammond organ) solo. A short “good evening” follows – apart from a few thank you’s, it will be the only thing Eric Clapton says tonight – and immediately afterwards ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ is started.
“A gipsy woman told my mother, before I was born”… I can hear it hundreds of times and not get tired of it. Another blues cracker, with even stronger solos than on ‘The Key’.
Eric Clapton Old Love – Live RAH May 23, 2025
Then Cream part two; ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. The famous rock riff is unusually preceded by a nice uptempo piece in which Eric Clapton improvises, his fingers gliding smoothly over the fretboard. The song, in which the Brit is vocally supported by bassist Nathan East and backing vocals Katie Kissoon and Sharon White, sounds full and it is perhaps the best live version I have ever heard of the song.
The first electric set is already over, time for the acoustic middle section. Clapton sits down and there is time to catch his breath. Although, even for those who have studied Clapton’s setlists of this year in detail, there are suddenly some very surprising chords.
There are many connoisseurs in the audience, because the amazement is palpable throughout the RAH, and the vast majority immediately recognize ‘Let It Grow’, from 461 Oceans Boulevard (1974), which, as it turns out, Clapton last played live fifty years (!) ago.
Eric’s voice sounds fragile and it is a moving rendition of his own song. Big applause, this was something unique – the song was not played again the following evening. We were there, we were there.
Then ‘Kind Hearted Woman Blues” by Robert Johnson, which Clapton recorded on his album Me And Mr. Johnson (2004). It’s great that Clapton, even at the age of eighty, doesn’t shy away from using the falsetto. Eric and acoustic blues, I like it.
Eric Clapton Tell The Truth – Live RAH May 23, 2025
In addition to good old ‘Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out’, the lovely ‘Golden Ring’ and the ever emotional ‘Tears In Heaven’, all good, ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’ is also part of the acoustic set this year. Nathan East on vocals, and Clapton on a cutaway guitar, something that doesn’t happen very often. The song, with its fine chord progression and downward bass line, always has something magical and that really comes into its own in a Royal Albert Hall.
After this it’s time to plug in again, the Palestine Fender is brought out, the volume goes up. Derek & The Domino’s era, ‘Tell The Truth’. Eric Clapton has taken off his suit jacket in the meantime, rolled up his sleeves. “There you set there, looking so cool, while the whole show is passing you by”, I just feel addressed. This time, besides Clapton, also Doyle Bramhall II on vocals and the guitar solos of both gentlemen alternate nicely.
Time for the pièce de résistance of the evening: ‘Old Love’. And specifically ‘Old Love’ with the presence of Tim Carmon. Because every fan knows the version with Tim from 1999 in Madison Square Garden, and that is about the best there is.
It may not be as good as it was then tonight, but it comes close and the eleven minutes that the masterpiece is long this time fly by. Just like the concert, unfortunately, because we are nearing the end.
Fortunately, first there is the always cracking ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Little Queen Of Spades’, which has been one of those fixed highlights of Eric Clapton’s performances for years. A slow blues of almost fifteen minutes with long solos by the band members, all working towards an all-consuming final solo by the frontman himself. The same goes for today, it is overwhelming.
Eric Clapton Let It Grow – Live RAH May 23, 2025
The final piece of the official part is Cocaine. Clapton is having a great time and laughs broadly throughout the song. As always, it is up to Chris Stainton to work towards the end: “She don’t lie, she don’t lie, she don’t lie…” “Cocaine”, the audience chants in unison. It is finito.
Almost there, of course there is still an encore. ‘Before You Accuse Me’ has (finally) replaced ‘High Time We Went’ as an encore since last year and that fits better. At least Clapton sings himself, and the song lends itself much better to some closing soloing. Nice this time is that Clapton has woven a piece of Freddie King’s ‘Hide Away’ into his solo.
Eric Clapton Sunshine Of Your Love – Live RAH May 23, 2025
A worthy end to a fantastic concert. The entire band bows together and you can see from Eric and Chris that the old backs are becoming a little less flexible. If that is all… I dare to dream of next year, May ’26 is definitely blocked.
