Eric Clapton ignores his own COVID-19 tour mandate

Photo: Neil Lupine / Redferns

First Eric Clapton loses all his famous friends, and now he’s on his knees [guitar riff] say goodbye to its morals. Almost two months after he said he would refuse to perform in concert halls where proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all participants, Rolling stone reports that Clapton reversed course on September 18 for his show at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. The place, by Rolling stone, not only did it take at least one dose of vaccine to attend, but also the wearing of masks for the duration of the ensemble, from “Cocaine” to “I shot the sheriff”. Clapton, who is vaccinated against the coronavirus but suffered ‘catastrophic’ side effects from AstraZeneca’s jab, previously said in July that he was against performing only in front of participants smart enough to protect themselves from a pandemic. “I want to say that I will not play on any stage where there is a discriminated audience,” he explained at the time. “Unless there are arrangements for all to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.” Clapton also admitted, surprisingly, that his friends ghosted him because of his COVID-19 ideology. Everyone except Van Morrison, of course.