Multi-camera audience shot footage from Eric Clapton’s 50th Anniversary Tour has arrived for the first time! This video, featuring the second day of seven consecutive shows at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May 18th, from his 2013 tour celebrating his 50th anniversary, has been uploaded online. This is a rare, never-before-seen video. While we recently released “Birmingham 2013: The Video,” a recording of his Birmingham performance from the same year, this multi-camera footage surpasses that quality. The primary shot was from the third-floor stands directly to the left of the stage, providing excellent coverage of Clapton’s entire body, with occasional pull-backs to capture the stage. However, from the solo at the end of “I Shot The Sheriff,” there’s also a super-close-up frontal shot of Clapton, likely from the front row of the arena seats (you’ll be amazed at how close it is). These two angles allow you to enjoy the entire day without getting bored. Compared to the release “Birmingham 2013: The Video,” this performance did not feature “Wonderful Tonight,” but instead featured the rare “Blues Power” and an encore performance of “Sunshine of Your Love.” Since the set varied daily on this tour, it’s worth seeing this performance. Of course, even within the same song, Clapton’s solos are completely different, so you can enjoy comparing them with the Birmingham performance. The audio is synchronized with the excellent stereo audience recording, so there’s no disruption even when switching from the main angle to the arena shot. Clapton’s look for the day was a navy blue polo shirt with white trimming on the collar and jeans, giving him a very relaxed look. 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of Clapton’s professional debut with the Yardbirds, marking the occasion with an energetic world tour. Clapton was 68 years old at the time. Just as fans around the world were convinced that he would continue to work hard even after reaching this milestone, Clapton made the following statement in an interview published in the March 14th issue of the American music magazine Rolling Stone earlier this year, causing a stir: “(Omitted) So, to borrow a line from singer-songwriter J.J. Cale, I’m going to stop when I’m 70. Of course I’ll continue performing and doing one-off shows, but I think I’ll stop touring (Omitted).” Fans were in a panic. Was he going to stop touring in just two years? If so, this tour might be his last. But as it turns out, Clapton is still touring today. As his body began to feel strained with age, he developed rheumatism, and his fingers began to lose control due to old age. Clapton continued to make repeated statements about stopping touring, but fans have grown accustomed to his “boy who cried wolf” comments, and now believe he’ll continue as long as he has the energy and stamina. In 2013, Clapton’s age of 68 was certainly old enough to consider retirement. Nevertheless, Clapton’s performance here, fueled by the 50th anniversary celebration, is truly impressive and ageless. This tour saw the return of the Willie Weeks & Steve Jordan rhythm section, a first for the first time since 2007. This tour also featured exclusive support bands and a comprehensive setlist. Enjoy the full scope of his 50th anniversary stage performance on this release. Following the Birmingham tour, this release is the definitive footage of the 2013 tour. Midway through the European tour, they wowed local fans with a new and fascinating setlist and a mature performance. This is the 50th anniversary tour of their professional debut. As this milestone marks a turning point, let’s take a look at the tour schedule for this year, which is full of energy. <> – March 14th to April 6th: American tour – April 12th and 13th: 4th Crossroads Guitar Festival held at Madison Square Garden in New York – May 9th to June 19th: European tour including London (however, the Vienna performance on June 11th and the Stuttgart performance on the 12th were cancelled due to a herniated disc) here – November 13th and 14th: Appeared at the Annual Indoor Music Festival held in Basel, Switzerland. (This was broadcast on the Swiss radio station SRF3 as “Balloise Sessions” on the 18th.) The 50th anniversary tour first took Clapton to America and Europe, his biggest markets. Along the way, he also hosted his own “Crossroads Guitar Festival,” and considering the preparations and negotiations for performers, it was a very busy year. The Birmingham performance was the third show of the tour, preceding the London Renzoku performance. The highlight of this tour was the change in the setlist. The first surprise was the opening number, “Hello Old Friend,” which he performed for the first time in 37 years since the 1976 tour. Just like in 1976, he began the show standing up, holding a Martin. The following “My Father’s Eyes” was also re-arranged for acoustic guitar, a refreshing change. From his newly released album “OLD SOCK,” he played “Further On Down The Road” on acoustic guitar. The acoustic set, which featured signature songs worthy of the 50th anniversary, a solid set of old blues, and a featured solo artist, Paul Carrack, in the middle and encore, was both satisfying and surprising. The setlist changed almost every show on this tour. Highlights of the first half, before the acoustic set, included a stunning rendition of “Got To Get Better In A Little While,” a Dominoes number, followed by his signature “I Shot The Sheriff.” The former featured a brilliant performance by the rhythm section of top-notch session musicians Steve Jordan and Willie Weeks, fueling Clapton’s fiery solo. The latter’s solo at the end was particularly impressive, delivering the killer solo fans crave. Enjoy the show! During the acoustic set in the middle of the set, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out and Tears in Heaven were performed as daily specials. The second half, packed with signature songs, kicked off with the rare Blues Power. Another rare addition, Love In Vain, added a special touch, heating up the crowd with the riveting groove of Blues Power before cooling down with Robert Johnson’s Love In Vain. The highlight of the second half was Little Queen of Spades. Clapton’s playing here was incredible! The solos given to each member were also worth listening to, but Clapton’s closing solo was simply intense. This was the first year that the band ended the encore with High Time We Went, featuring Paul Carrack. It was typical of Clapton to allow talented guest musicians to shine (this tour was the first time Carrack was used, and this pattern would continue for some time). Before that, Sunshine of Your Love was played as a special extra. Looking at the entire set, it’s clear that the performance, which encompassed tracks from his early career with Cream and the Dominos, popular solo hits, and a touch of Clapton’s signature blues, was packed with highlights worthy of a 50th anniversary tour. This tour featured a stellar lineup of talented musicians, including some of Clapton’s finest supporting musicians, including Doyle Bramhall II, Willie Weeks, Steve Jordan, and Chris Stinton. This tour also featured pedal steel and mandolin player Greg Rees, who played on the “Old Sock” album, and veteran British singer and keyboardist Paul Carrack. Their addition broadened the scope of the songs, adding a touch of country and soul. This was particularly evident in the opening track, “My Father’s Eyes,” which was performed with a different acoustic arrangement from the 1998-2001 tour, creating a unique and captivating sound. Greg Rees’ pedal steel is a standout from the opening track, and Jordan’s careful selection of a higher-tuned snare drum is a welcome addition. Then there’s High Time We Went, featuring Paul Carrack. This Joe Cocker cover showcases Carrack’s soulful vocals, and Clapton’s vocals, with only the chorus and a guitar solo, showcases his mastery of session playing. All of the members are highly skilled musicians, and the resulting sound is of the highest quality and depth in the modern era. They also provided excellent support during the acoustic set, creating a flawless performance. Not to be forgotten are the two female backing singers, Michelle John and Sharon White, who have been working on the album since 2004. Their powerful vocal work elevates each track even further than the studio versions. I think you can see from this work that Clapton’s culmination stage, which celebrated his 50th anniversary with his local London fans, was a victory for all musicians. Perhaps Clapton reconsidered his retirement from touring after this tour and this stage. It’s clear that he enjoyed it and it was a fulfilling night. Royal Albert Hall, London, England 18th May 2013 AMAZING SHOT!!! 1. Hello Old Friend 2. My Father’s Eyes 3. Tell The Truth 4. Gotta Get Over 5. Black Cat Bone 6. Got To Get Better In A Little While 7. Come Rain Or Come Shine 8. I Shot The Sheriff 9. Driftin’ Blues 10. Further On Down The Road 11. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out 12. It Ain’t Easy 13. Layla 14. Stones In My Passway 15. Tears In Heaven 16. Blues Power 17. LoveIn Vain 18. Crossroads 19. Little Queen Of Spades 20. Cocaine 21. Sunshine Of Your Love 22. High Time We Went Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals Doyle Bramhall II – guitar, backing vocals Greg Leisz – pedal steel guitar, mandolin Chris Stainton – piano, keyboards Paul Carrack – organ, keyboards, vocals Willie Weeks – bass Steve Jordan – drums Michelle John – backing vocals Sharon White – backing vocals COLOR NTSC Approx.134min.