Eric Clapton announces four live U.S. dates for next year

PanARMENIAN.Net - Eric Clapton has announced four live dates in the U.S. for next year, NME said.

The legendary guitarist has hinted at retiring from music altogether in recent years, with the 71-year-old revealing in June that nerve damage from his peripheral neuropathy has impacted on his ability to play guitar.

But any talk of retirement in 2017 has been dismissed with today’s (November 28) announcement of a short run of U.S. shows. Clapton will return to the live stage in New York City and Los Angeles in March for four dates, with the shows billed as a celebration of Clapton’s 50 years in music (via JamBase).

Musicians Walt Richmond, Steve Gadd, Nathan East, Chris Stainton, Sharon White and Michelle John will make up Clapton’s backing band for the gigs.

Clapton will be supported by Jimmie Vaughan and Gary Clark Jr on the short run. The full schedule can be seen below.

March 19 – Madison Square Garden, New York City

March 20 – Madison Square Garden, New York City

March 25 – The Forum, Los Angeles

March 26 – The Forum, Los Angeles

Tickets go on sale on December 3.

Clapton first started to hint at retiring back in 2014, claiming that touring had become “unbearable” and “unapproachable.”

“There are tons of things I’d like to do, but I’m looking at retirement too,” Clapton told Uncut at the time. “What I’ll allow myself to do, within reason, is carry on recording in the studio. I don’t want to go off the boil to the point where I’m embarrassing myself.”