In the Fall of 1996, Eric began work on what was to be his first album of all new material since 1989’s “Journeyman”. He laid down some tracks at a Los Angeles recording studio with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, but was unhappy with their sound. Only two of the tracks would make it onto the finished product.
Eric started over at London’s Olympic Studios with singer / songwriter / producer Simon Climie. The project would take the men more than 18 months to complete. In March 1997, they released “Retail Therapy” under the band name TDF (short for Totally Dysfunctional Family). A quasi-anonymous effort by Eric (he called himself X-Sample), the CD featured jungle, techno, R&B and ambient music. Despite the processed sound, the guitar work could be no one BUT Eric Clapton. The album arose out of the music the men had created for a Giorgio Armani fashion show. They rounded out their “band” by adding Paul Waller on drum programming and Tony Rich on vocals. It has never been confirmed that Sheryl Crow is the woman’s voice on the album. B.B. King is sampled in one track. According to Climie, this project served as “research and development” for “Pilgrim”. Clapton interrupted work on that album for two short tours.
In July 1997, Eric embarked on a 11 date tour of the major European Jazz Festivals. He was not the headliner, but simply a guy in the band. The idea came from bassist Marcus Miller. Miller assembled a band consisting of himself, Eric, Steve Gadd on drums, Joe Sample on piano and David Sanborn on saxophone.
It is interesting to note how these musicians had worked in interlocking circles over the years. Since the mid-80s, Sanborn and Clapton have been soundtrack collaborators and Gadd played on one of their sessions. Gadd and Miller worked New York recording sessions together since the ’70s. Gadd joined Clapton’s band in 1994 and has toured / recorded with him since that point. Clapton met Miller when Sanborn used them both at a recording session.
Eric and Simon Climie continued work on “Pilgrim” for the remainder of the year. On 14 September, Eric took part in “Music For Montserrat” at the Royal Albert Hall. The concert was a benefit to aid the people of Montserrat whose island had been ravaged by a volcanic eruption. In the late fall of 1997 he embarked on short Far East Tour in Korea and Japan.
When “Pilgrim” was finally released in March 1998, Eric had again reinvented himself musically. It wasn’t what most people expected from him. Some have commented it should be subtitled “Eric Clapton Sings”. He had finally evolved into a triple-threat: singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
Between March and December 1998 Eric toured the U.S. and Europe in support of “Pilgrim”. In June 1999, he auctioned 100 of his guitars to raise funds for Crossroads Centre Antigua, a drugs / alcohol rehabilitation clinic he founded. Additionally, an all-star benefit concert was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden. There was a short tour of Japan in November and December 1999.
The band lineups and the dates of Eric’s participation are as follows:
TDF (1996)
X-sample (Eric Clapton-guitar), Simon Climie (keyboards / synthesizer), Paul Waller (drum programming), and Tony Rich (vocals)
PILGRIM STUDIO BAND (1996 – 1998):
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Andy Fairweather Low (guitar), Nathan East (bass), Dave Bronze (bass), Pino Paladino (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Chris Stainton (Hammond Organ), Joe Sample (piano), Paul Carrack (Hammond Organ), Greg Phillinganes (keyboards), Simon Climie (keyboards / synthesizer bass / backing vocals / drum programming), Chyna (backing vocals), Luis Jardim (bass / percussion), Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds (backing vocals), Tony Rich (backing vocals), Paul Brady (tin whistle / backing vocals), Ruth Kelly-Clapton (spoken verse), Paul Waller (drum programming)
LEGENDS (July 1997)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Marcus Miller (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), David Sanborn (saxophone), Joe Sample (piano)
FAR EAST TOUR (October 1997)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Dave Bronze (bass), Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar), Steve Gadd (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Katie Kissoon (vocals), and Tessa Niles (vocals)
PILGRIM TOUR (March 1998 - December 1998)
US TOUR: Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar), Alan Darby (guitar), Ricky Lawson (drums), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Kenneth Crouch (keyboards), Chyna (vocals), Katie Kissoon (vocals), and Charlean Hines (vocals)
CANADIAN AND EUROPEAN TOURS: Steve Gadd replaced Ricky Lawson on drums
CROSSROADS CENTRE BENEFIT CONCERT (30 June 1999)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar), Steve Gadd (drums), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Dave Delholme (keyboards), Katie Kissoon (vocals) and Tessa Niles (vocals). Special guests were David Sanborn, Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow and Bob Dylan.
JAPAN TOUR (November 1999)
Eric Clapton (guitar / vocals), Nathan East (bass), Andy Fairweather-Low (guitar), Steve Gadd (drums), Dave Delholme (keyboards), Katie Kissoon (vocals) and Tessa Niles (vocals)
