February 13th, 2009

On Heels of Three Exclusive Shows at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, Duo Announce A Special 14-City U.S. Tour This Spring

(New York, NY) - After their historic three-nights at Madison Square Garden, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood announced today an exclusive 14-city U.S. tour beginning June 10, 2009.

After a stunning collaboration at the Chicago Crossroads Guitar Festival in July of 2007 and much speculation, Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton announced three eagerly anticipated concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden. Those shows featured the artists performing together in a varied set list with Blind Faith classics and solo hits from each artist. Critics acclaimed the shows as historic and some of the best Clapton Winwood work ever. The tour promises more of the same collaborative musicianship that made these men legendary award-winning artists.

Both Winwood and Clapton have long and prestigious musical careers with countless honors and awards to their names. Their musical paths connected in 1969 with the formation of Blind Faith, a group that pioneered the fusion of rock and blues into tremendous studio and stage success. Despite critical and popular acclaim, the band was short-lived with only one album and a brief 1969 tour that debuted July 12 at Madison Square Garden and ended August 24th in Hawaii. Since that final show, Winwood and Clapton have remained friends, but have only performed together a few times over the years for an occasional song at a charity event. The 2008 Madison Square Garden shows were the first full Winwood-Clapton concerts in 40 years. Additionally, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Blind Faith and 40 years since they performed to over 100,000 people in Hyde Park, London.

Steve Winwood is currently signed to Columbia Records and released an album of new music, NINE LIVES in 2008. Eric Clapton's compilation album Complete Clapton was released in 2008 on Reprise Records. The duo's captivating performance at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago can be seen as part of a 2-disc DVD available now from Rhino Entertainment.

Ticket On-Sale Information
Check your local listings for tickets. Tickets can be purchased via ticketmaster.com.

2009 TOUR SCHEDULE:
June 10 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
June 12 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
June 13 Washington, DC Verizon Center
June 15 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
June 17 Chicago, IL United Center
June 18 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
June 20 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
June 21 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
June 23 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
June 24 Houston, TX Toyota Center
June 26 Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena
June 27 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Arena
June 29 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
June 30 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl