Eric Clapton Releases Video For New Song, ‘Pompous Fool’
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Eric Clapton at London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 8, 2022
Eric Clapton has released the video for his new song, “Pompous Fool.” The upbeat track was originally uploaded to YouTube on July 7, with little fanfare other than a brief post on his social media pages. “Live your life by the golden rule,” he sings. “Pay no mind to the pompous fool.” Watch the video, that premiered on July 29, below.
Clapton’s busy 2022 continues. He played a European tour during the spring and has a U.S. tour in September. (Several of the European shows were moved to autumn, when the classic rock legend tested positive for Covid in May.)
Clapton’s band for these concerts will include Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, Nathan East, Sonny Emory and Chris Stainton with Sharon White and Katie Kissoon on backing vocals.
The shows will feature Jimmie Vaughan as special guest.
As part of the U.S. tour, Clapton, who turned 77 on March 30, will be making his 49th and 50th appearances at New York’s Madison Square Garden which date back to his first concert there as a member of Cream on Nov. 2, 1968. He has also performed at Madison Square Garden as a member of Blind Faith (July 12, 1969), as a solo artist 43 times, including special engagements alongside Steve Winwood and Jeff Beck, and as part of his Crossroads Music Festival.
Watch the “Pompous Fool” video, released on July 29
The song was written by Clapton and Robin Monotti, produced by Clapton and his longtime producing partner Simon Climie, and is performed by Clapton on lead vocals and guitar, Emory on drums, East on bass, Carrack on hammond organ, Walt Richmond on piano and keyboards, and White on background vocals.
The album artwork comes from a set of Tarot cards made by Martin Sharp in 1967, altered to create the cover art. Sharp was a roommate of Clapton’s and created the cover art for Cream’s Disraeli Gears and co-wrote “Tale of Brave Ulysses.”
On June 24, Clapton released a film and soundtrack, Nothing But the Blues, featuring more than an hour of previously unreleased concert recordings recorded at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1994.
Watch him perform a favorite on May 8, 2022, at Royal Albert Hall
Eric Clapton 2022 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here and here)
Sep 08 – Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center
Sep 10 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Sep 12 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sep 13 – Chicago, IL – United Center
Sep 16 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
Sep 18 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Sep 19 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Oct 09 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena (Postponed from May 20)
Oct 10 – Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena (Postponed from May 21)
Oct 12 – Milan, Italy – Mediolanum Forum (Postponed from May 18)
Oct 14 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion (Postponed from May 17)
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
16 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationI’m done with Clapton. I used to enjoy his music, but now I have no use for that whacked-out old anti-vaxxer. I’ve lost friends to COVID. I’ve got no time for someone who apparently doesn’t care about the public’s health and spouts anti-vaccine nonsense. To hell with him.
Clearly you’re making up the narrative for some point you want to make. Perhaps check the facts before making derogatory comments and assumptions.
Clapton DID get vaccinated. Was given the Astra-Zeneca that was never approved in the US and nearly lost his ability to play guitar because of a side-effect particularly impacting those with peripheral neuropathy.
However, just because he had an adverse reaction to that particular vaccine is no reason for him to go on the warpath against all vaccines, masks, social distancing and other pandemic prevention actions.
It’s ironic that after decades of heroin addiction, alcoholism and consumption of gawd knows what kind of chemical substances he’s suddenly concerned about what he put into his body. Please. LOL.
Maybe he learned something from putting all that stuff into his body
I have had the 2 vaccine shots but on medical advice I am not getting the boosters. It has caused me a lot of difficulty going to some public places. For many of us because of our medical history the vaccine does represent serious issues. We need governments to understand the vaccine is not for everyone.
Do you have any idea what happened to him because of the vaccine?
Not everyone has the same belief or opinion.
Not even the medical professionals agree on all things covid!
…. and as a result has been on an anti-vax rant ever since. It’s not a made-up narrative.
It’s not my fault Clapton is an idiot and got a shot that was never approved. Who in their right mind would do that anyway?
It was approved in the UK but not the U.S. Clapton was in the very high risk group. It’s a risk-benefit analysis decision.
And even though he had an unpleasant reaction to the vaccine it’s very likely that it saved his life.
Breaking News: Eric Clapton has had to cancel some of his upcoming concerts due to………wait for it……..Testing positive for covid 19.
Actually the fact that he’s actually had the first two AstraZeneca covid vaccines means he will probably recover. Considering how much of the high risk category he’s in, they’ve probably saved his life.
Peripheral neuropathy isn’t fun but it beats dying from covid.
Just think:
Lay Down Sally
Some 3-chord blues songs
if we’re really lucky the classic “Layla” played as an acoustic shuffle
And, then, to top off the whole evening
“Cocaine!”
And don’t forget that classic clever encore number: “High Time We Went,” which has nothing to do with Clapton’s catalogue.
All in all probably about 12 songs, if you’re lucky. And all that for the measly price of a Large area concert ticket.
I simply can’t wait!
Clearly your not much of a fan if you would deny him his right to free speech and questioning the vaccine. I have great respect for the man and his artistry.
I love Eric Clapton and the fact that he has committed his life to helping addicts says a lot about the man. Also the fact that he still wants to make music for the fans that have supported him through thick and thin. I’m sure he’s not doing it because he needs the money
Himmm, Eric seems to be putting it out there on a tee for his critics with this song title. Nuff said…..
Clapton continues to attain notoriety for everything he does because of what he did back in the 60s and early 70s. But the truth is everything he’s done since (including this new release) is pretty much either vapid noodling, or tired, old, rechurned blues, which is in itself an endless regurgitation. Once upon a time this man, in addition to being one of the most originally articulate guitar players, was a skillful songwriter of fresh blues-hued rock and pop songs, for what now seems like a short period in retrospect. As one who grew up weaned on his vital period, I would have preferred that he packed it in long ago to maintain the respect he once deserved, than continue with the dribble he’s continually put out over the years while resting on his laurels.
“Pompous Fool: nice upbeat tune. He’s a happily married man and very satisfied with his life. LOVE CLAPTON, he’s still GOD!