When Eric Clapton and Peter Frampton Played Guitar Together For 1st Time
by Best Classic Bands Staff
(Photos of Eric Clapton and Peter Frampton are not from their September 20, 2019 performance)
At the first of two nights of the 2019 edition of the Crossroads Guitar Festival, held at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tex., a famous first occurred. Among the countless musicians that Eric Clapton has performed with over the years, he had never played with fellow guitar great Peter Frampton. That all changed on a Friday night, September 20, when the classic rock legends shared the stage to perform “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
Clapton famously played on the studio recording of the Beatles’ song from 1968’s White Album. Frampton had been including it as the closing number of his 2019 farewell tour.
Before the show, the 69-year-old Frampton said: “I’m just honored that he contacted me and asked me to play. We’ve known each other for years but this is a big moment for me.”
After the first two songs of Frampton’s three-song set, “Georgia (On My Mind)” and “Do You Feel Like We Do,” he said: “This is something that’s been a dream of mine for many, many years… decades. I can’t believe it’s going to happen right now but I’m going to invite out a friend I’ve known a long time but never played together… Mister Eric Clapton…” And with that, the crowd roared as Clapton joined his friend on stage.
After the pair hugged, Frampton said to the audience, “You may know this one.”
Watch Frampton and Clapton perform “Where My Guitar Gently Weeps”
Related: 10 great Clapton collaborations
On the second night of the 2019 Crossroads Guitar Festival, Clapton was joined on the finale by most of the evening’s guests. Watch them perform a favorite here.
Clapton is presenting the 2023 edition of his Crossroads Guitar Festival on Sept. 23-24 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Viewers can purchase it for $24.99 for either day or as a two-day special for $39.99 via Nugs.net and PPV.com. He also has dates planned in 2024. (Tickets are available here and here.)
Frampton’s memoir, Do You Feel Like I Do?, was published in 2020. He has a handful of concerts scheduled. Tickets are available here and here.
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6 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationGreat live performance of this Beatles classic with Clapton & Frampton. If Eric does one more Crossroads concert he has to invite Eddie Van Halen.
Wow. Both fighting debilitating illness and both still touring. They are the troopers of my generation. I count myself fortunate for having seen them both on stage.
They should be giving away the albums.
I was there both nights and it was epic
I was there both nights as well. It was an incredible experience I’ll never forget.
Not the same but saw both at Fillmore East on the same show. Humble Pie with Frampton and Derek Dominoes Clapton. Late show with a third opening band lasted a long time but the most energetic that night was Steve Marriott, what a voice.