News

1981 Irish Tour: A Look Back

1 Feb 21

Forty years ago on 31 January 1981, Eric Clapton & His Band kicked off a short four-date tour of Ireland. It started in Dublin, then stopped in Galway, Cork and Carlow. The dates also served as a warm-up for a massive U.S. Tour that was due to kick off in March to promote Another Ticket.

After the gig in Carlow, EC and the band went back to London for a benefit concert at the Rainbow Theatre for a drug and alcohol recovery charity administered by Dr. Meg Patterson on 5 February.

Not many details are known about the shows themselves and the only complete set list is from Galway (below). If you were lucky enough to attend a show on the 1981 Irish Tour or the Rainbow benefit, consider sharing your memories for the Eric Clapton Tourography on whereseric.com. Click here to send Where’s Eric! an email with your memories. Photos you may have snapped are welcome, too.

Eric Clapton & His Band / Ireland 1981
31 January – RDS Simmonscourt / Dublin
1 February – Leisureland / Galway
2 February – City Hall / Cork
3 February – Youth Centre / Carlow

1981 Eric Clapton Band Lineup
Eric Clapton – guitar / vocals
Albert Lee – guitar / vocals
Chris Stainton – keyboards
Gary Brooker – keyboards / vocals
Dave Markee – bass
Henry Spinetti – drums

Galway 1981 Set List:
Tulsa Time
Worried Life Blues
Laydown Sally
Wonderful Tonight
Blow Wind Blow
Rambling On My Mind / Have You Ever Loved A Woman
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Country Boy
Double Trouble
Blues Power
Cocaine
Layla
Further On Up The Road