From time to time, Eric Clapton appears at fundraising benefit concerts for charitable organizations.
Eric took part in the first large-scale rock benefit on 3 August 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event was organized by his good friend, George Harrison, to raise funds for the suffering people of Bangladesh. The concert was filmed / recorded and released as The Concert For Bangladesh.
On 30 June 1999, Clapton hosted Eric Clapton & Friends at Madison Square Garden to raise funds for the drugs / alcohol rehabilitation center he founded, Crossroads Centre. In addition to funds raised by the ticket sales, the concert was released on video and DVD. He organized a second benefit for the Centre in 2004. It took place over three days in Dallas, Texas. A two DVD set, entitled “Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival” has been released to raise further monies. His second Crossroads Guitar Festival and third benefit concert for Crossroads Centre, took place on 28 July 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. A DVD of the one-day event is expected on 6 November 2007.
A sampling of some of the charity concerts at which Eric has appeared at over the years include:
28 July 2007: Crossroads Guitar Festival (Chicago, IL)
3 September 2005: “How You Can Help” Hurricane Katrina Benefit (TV)
11 June 2005: Wintershall - HASTE (Heart and Stroke Trust Endeavour)
22 January 2005: Tsunami Relief Concert (Cardiff, Wales)
15 January 2005: Tsunami Aid: A Concert For Hope (US)
4, 5, 6 June 2004: Crossroads Guitar Festival (Dallas, TX)
15 March 2004: One Generation 4 Another
17 July 2003: UNICEF (with John Mayall at King?s Dock, Liverpool)
27 May 2003: Pavarotti & Friends S.O.S. Iraq War Child Benefit
2 June 2003: Lincoln Center Jazz Foundation
25 March 2003: Teenage Cancer Trust
29 November 2002: Concert For George (Material World Foundation)
10 October 2002: Carl Wilson Foundation
20 October 2001: The Concert For New York City
7 July 2001: Wintershall - HASTE (Heart and Stroke Trust Endeavour)
19 January 2001: The Wyclef Jean Foundation
17 December 1998: A Very Special Christmas at the White House (Special Olympics)
15 September 1997: Music For Montserrat
20 June 1996: Pavarotti & Friends War Child Benefit
2 May 1994: T.J. Martell Foundation
1, 2, 3 October 1993: Chemical Dependency Centre
30 June 1990: Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy (Knebworth ‘90)
1 July 1989: King Edward VII Hospital
18 November 1989: Parents For Safe Food
1986, 1987, 1988, 1996: Prince?s Trust Concerts
13 July 1985: Live Aid (JFK Stadium, Philadelphia)
1983: ARMS Tour (Multiple Sclerosis)
16 November 1981: John Wile Testimonial
9, 10, 11, 12 September 1981: Amnesty International
1 August 1971: Concert For Bangladesh
15 December 1969: UNICEF Peace For Christmas
