Eric Clapton in Mexico: An Inexplicably Sweet and Heavy Guitar

BY ALFREDO AZCÁRATE VARELA
THE BAJA POST/STAFF
PHOTOS: AAV

Eric Clapton concert in Mexico City was a musical journey, perhaps the last performance in Aztec land of a master who has been around since the time of the Beatles, the Stones, and even before bands like The Doors or Led Zeppelin.

Clapton recorded with The Yardbirds in 1963-64 but left because he felt they were drifting away from classic blues towards a commercial sound, in 1965, he recorded «John Mayall Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton,» an album that achieved some success, but Eric left to form The Cream in 1966 with two virtuosos: Jack Bruce (bass) and Ginger Baker (drums). They enjoyed worldwide success selling albums and concerts until 1968.

He will turn 80 in 2025 and has been recording since 1964, nearly 60 years of playing his guitar with a special and distinctive style, creating a universe apart from all other «rock stars,» perhaps only surpassed by Jimi Hendrix.

The GNP Stadium in CdMx vibrated with Clapton’s chords and solos, with exceptional back up musicians, his performance ranging from the softest, most melancholic tunes to the heavy blues sound of an extraordinary guitarist, who at times allowed his fellow musicians to shine without losing control of the concert, giving them space to show their talent.

«Tears in Heaven,» «Badge,» «Sunshine of Your Love,» «Cocaine,» «Hootchie Cootchie Man,» and «Before You Accuse Me» were some of the songs that echoed all over the GNP Seguros Stadium on a cloudy night when even the rain seemed to respect the musical magic of Clapton, creating a sonic home where we all felt at ease for about an hour and a half.

The master’s gaze seems to encapsulate decades of musical symbolism, stories of love and tragedy, disciplined and virtuous guitar playing, he also lived periods of addiction to heroin and alcohol, a bizarre friendship (to say the least) with George Harrison, and the surreal chance of being called to replace him in The Beatles, by Lennon´s suggestion, as well as having been the lead guitarist on one of the most famous songs of the Liverpool quartet: “While my guitar gently weeps”.