Eric Clapton Crossroads Festivals Book Coming

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Slowhand and friend from Sunshine of Your Love: The Crossroads Festivals 1999-2013

In 1999 Eric Clapton invited a handful of musicians to join him on stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden to raise money for his Crossroads Centre, an addiction rehabilitation centre in Antigua. Over the course of nearly 15 years, the festival grew into a celebration of guitar playing that drew musicians and fans from around the world.

And now, music book publisher Genesis Publications, known for their lavish rock photo books, have announced Sunshine of Your Love: The Crossroads Festivals 1999-2013. As the announcement notes, the official book, features “a wealth of stunning photographs and original commentary from world-renowned musicians,” in a limited edition book and record set documenting the festivals.

The collection, coming June 2018, features more than 350 archival photos and exclusive interviews with Clapton and the performers who took part. Featured artists include Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, James Taylor, Joe Walsh, Buddy Guy and B.B. King.

A portion of the book’s manuscript

Each numbered copy is signed by at least three Crossroads classic rock musicians including Clapton, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Cray, Steve Cropper, Crow, Nathan East, Andy Fairweather Low, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Taj Mahal, John McLaughlin, Robert Randolph, Robbie Robertson, David Sanborn, Carlos Santana, Neal Schon, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Steve Vai, Jimmie Vaughan and Walsh.

The book also includes vintage photos of Clapton’s musical influences and collaborations as well as Clapton’s work in the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and Cream. The original manuscript draws on previously unpublished interviews, extending to over 200 pages, with new text from Clapton and from friends such as J.J. Cale, Robert Cray, Vince Gill, John Mayer, Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and many more.

The Collector edition, limited to 1650 copies, is quarter-bound in leather with silver page edging. It includes a 7-inch vinyl picture disc of Clapton’s performances of “Wonderful Tonight” at the 1999 festival b/w “Got to Get Better in a Little While” from the 2013 event. It’s available here for purchase for £325. (A deluxe edition is no longer available.)