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Forums >Music: Non-Prince > Eric Clapton - Purple Rain

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The legendary guitar player honored another last night, when Eric Claptonperformed Prince's "Purple Rain" during the first date of his three-night stand at London's Royal Albert Hall.

As the fan site Where's Eric notes, "Purple Rain" served as the encore of a show that started with a cover of "Que Sera Sera" as tribute to singer and actress Doris Day, whose death at the age of 97 had been announced earlier in the day.

Clapton's 17-song set also included favorites like "I Shot the Sheriff," "Layla" and "Crossroads."

A few days after Prince's death in April 2016, Clapton explained how he discovered Prince's music in the midst of a particularly dark time. "I'm so sad about the death of Prince," he wrote on Facebook.

"He was a true genius and a huge inspiration for me, in a very real way. In the the '80s, I was out on the road in a massive downward spiral with drink and drugs. I saw Purple Rain in a cinema in Canada, I had no idea who he was, it was like a bolt of lightning! In the middle of my depression, and the dreadful state of the music culture at that time, it gave me hope. He was like a light in the darkness. I went back to my hotel and, surrounded by empty beer cans, wrote 'Holy Mother.' I can't believe he's gone."

Clapton will play shows in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix in September in the run-up to the fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival, which will take place in Dallas on Sept. 20-21. As usual, Clapton will play both nights.

The bill also includes sets from old friends and fellow guitar heroes like Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck.

I thought he did a great job.

RodeoSchro said:

I thought he did a great job.

Its beautiul. His playing makes me tearful. Always has. I wish he would go on soloing.

Saw that yesterday. Flippin awesome. Clapton was such an admirer of Prince. His tweet after Prince's death was really heartfelt.

Hate it!

I was wary that the knuckelhead contingent wouldnt understand the meanng of the performance.

rdhull said:

I was wary that the knuckelhead contingent wouldnt understand the meanng of the performance.

Appreciate the sentiment, we know it means a lot to him etc....just a shit performance IMHO...& no I can't do any beter !

I liked that he did it for an encore and the crowd reaction was so genuine and wonderful. A fellow musician's tribute to Prince.

Edit -Watched it again and realized it's not about if I like Eric Clapton or not. Clearly an emotional and great moment.

[Edited 5/16/19 11:13am]

Not a fan of tributes, especially Purple Rain ones.

Not a fan of Eric Clapton since I learnt of his shocking racist outburst back in the day.

InThisBedIDream said:

Not a fan of tributes, especially Purple Rain ones.

Not a fan of Eric Clapton since I learnt of his shocking racist outburst back in the day.

yeah thats a shame but

He did a good job, he stayed true to his vibe while respecting Prince & the Revolutions Purple Rain

OldFriends4Sale said:

BlackCandle said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

He did a good job, he stayed true to his vibe while respecting Prince & the Revolutions Purple Rain

...which seemed to be more respect than Prince showed him, as per his Glam Slam Miami '95 sermon on how "...anybody can play the blues..." & "...God? It can't be Eric Clapton".

If Clapton had a problem with it he probably wouldn't have covered Purple Rain in the first place. He said the movie inspired him to write Holy Mother in the OP.

npr.com

...Clapton even remembers the first blues song he heard on the show: "Whoopin' the Blues" (full song audio) by harmonica player Sonny Terry and singer and guitarist Brownie McGhee.

"That's where it started for me," he says...

[Edited 5/15/19 14:25pm]

That was beautiful.

His racist rant was 40 years ago when he was heavy into drugs, and alcohol, and he has profusely apologized since then.

Yea, saw this the other day, thought it was a solid performance, thanks for sharing

InThisBedIDream said:

Not a fan of tributes, especially Purple Rain ones.

Not a fan of Eric Clapton since I learnt of his shocking racist outburst back in the day.

ok, ...

that was a loooong time ago

hope that no one brings up something you might have said or done 40yrs ago that you don't think anyone knew about. People change.

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

Hate it!

Did you like Pattie LaBelle's BET tribute?

Eric did a better job way better. Pattie's mistake was trying to copy(duplicate) and that is where most people go wrong.

OldFriends4Sale said:

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

Hate it!

Did you like Pattie LaBelle's BET tribute?

Eric did a better job way better. Pattie's mistake was trying to copy(duplicate) and that is where most people go wrong.

Don't even mention THAT version!

In all honesty & saltiness aside [!] it's beautiful that many artists choose to cover this live. No doubts that it always sincerely meant....but often IMHO the execution is not too great. There have been some stellar covers though. I think his more intricate songs are just so unique to him & his style & therefore damn near impossible to cover.

nosajd said:

Yea, saw this the other day, thought it was a solid performance, thanks for sharing

Love CLapton, love that a great gave tribute to the greatest.

However, that was a so so performance reminds you again how cool Prince looked with a guitar ...he had all the cool moves...andd...that only Prince could play like Prince. He was totally unique.

JoeyCococo said:

nosajd said:

Yea, saw this the other day, thought it was a solid performance, thanks for sharing

Love CLapton, love that a great gave tribute to the greatest.

However, that was a so so performance reminds you again how cool Prince looked with a guitar ...he had all the cool moves...andd...that only Prince could play like Prince. He was totally unique.

that was a solid tribute,
but even the great clapton's interpretation of the solo, sounds mediocre next to any random prince live performance of PR.
He was just amazing

[Edited 5/16/19 14:40pm]

ISaidLifeIsJustAGame said:

That was beautiful.

His racist rant was 40 years ago when he was heavy into drugs, and alcohol, and he has profusely apologized since then.

Yeah, cos drugs and alcohol makes people say racist things...or some shit like that.

Have you read the transcript of what he said that night?

Eric doesn't get a pass from me for that shit.

Let's keep the topic onto the topic please

The significance of Clapton playing that mini solo is lost. Not that only Prince solo-ed on While My Guitar Gently weeps but the classist issue of the once Clapton Is God reputation and legend took to doing a Prince solo himself. Almost like a circle being complete. Its like of Eddie Hazel or Jimi , or Beck took it on.

in 1986 Clapton jammed with Prince and the Revolution.one of the songs

was I Cant Get Next To You The Temptqations.word is that

Prince was jumping

from one instrument to another .

rdhull said:

The significance of Clapton playing that mini solo is lost. Not that only Prince solo-ed on While My Guitar Gently weeps but the classist issue of the once Clapton Is God reputation and legend took to doing a Prince solo himself. Almost like a circle being complete. Its like of Eddie Hazel or Jimi , or Beck took it on.

Would this "significance" at all be diminished if, say, Clapton had chosen literally any other song in the Prince catalogue?

BlackCandle said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

He did a good job, he stayed true to his vibe while respecting Prince & the Revolutions Purple Rain

...which seemed to be more respect than Prince showed him, as per his Glam Slam Miami '95 sermon on how "...anybody can play the blues..." & "...God? It can't be Eric Clapton".

If Clapton had a problem with it he probably wouldn't have covered Purple Rain in the first place. He said the movie inspired him to write Holy Mother in the OP.

npr.com

Flirt1 said:

I thought Eric Clapton's tribute was very moving. I'm sure you recall that when Clapton was asked in an interview what it was like to be the world's greatest guitar player he said 'I don't know. Ask Prince'. Sorry if my paraphrasing is not the perfect quote but you get the idea. Eric Clapton also suffered the tragedy of losing his young son in a terrible accident. Yes, he has a totally different style but I thought his effort was very genuine, humble and meaningful.

Eric Clapton never said that. It is an urban legend. The I don't know, ask ... was started by Jimi Hendrix on the tonight Show with Johhny Carson and has had different names used.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/eric-clapton-quote-about-prince/

poppys said:

Flirt1 said:

poppys said:

Eric Clapton never said that. It is an urban legend. The I don't know, ask ... was started by Jimi Hendrix on the tonight Show with Johhny Carson and has had different names used.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/eric-clapton-quote-about-prince/

Thank you very much for your correction!

You're welcome. Someone I know that isn't a Prince fan kept repeating it after he passed, so I finally looked it up to see if it was true.