Eric Clapton Bookends 2019 Royal Albert Hall Show With Surprises
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Eric Clapton performing “Purple Rain” at London’s Royal Albert Hall, May 13, 2019
Eric Clapton began his three-night residency at London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 13, 2019, with a pair of surprising covers that bookended his 17-song set. For the opener? No one could have seen this coming: he performed “Que Sera Sera,” in tribute to Doris Day. The actress-singer died earlier in the day at 97. And for an encore: a seven-minute tour-de-force of Prince’s “Purple Rain.” (Watch it below.)
Also back on the setlist was “Motherless Children” from his 461 Ocean Boulevard album.
Watch the evening’s opening number, “Que Sera Sera”
Clapton included many of his classic rock favorites like “Pretending” and “Tears in Heaven.” Missing, however, were such career staples as “White Room,” “Cocaine” and “Lay Down Sally.”
The London dates featured Clapton’s regular seven-piece band: Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Paul Carrack (keyboards), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Nathan East (bass), Sonny Emory (drums), and vocalists Sharon White and Katie Kissoon.
Watch “I Shot the Sheriff,” which East started with a bass solo
Slowhand had two more shows at the RAH (aka his home away from home), plus June dates in Germany and Austria.
Watch “Tearing Us Apart” from this same May 13 concert
Clapton ended the set with “Layla,” and as he did at his first night at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan on April 13, it was the (increasingly rare) electric version.
Clapton has moved his 2020 tour to 2022. Tickets are available here and here.
Watch Clapton close the concert with “Purple Rain”
Related: 10 great Clapton collaborations
Eric Clapton, Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, May 13, 2019, Setlist
Que Sera Sera
Motherless Children
Key to the Highway
Pretending
I’m Your Hootchie Coochie Man
I Shot the Sheriff
Driftin’ Blues
Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out
Tears in Heaven
Change the World
Running on Faith
Tearing Us Apart
Holy Mother
Crossroads
Five Long Years
Layla
Encore
Purple Rain
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