While I was in Tasmania I received an e-mail from Eric Clapton asking if I’d like to perform at his Crossroads Guitar Festival.

It had been over forty years since I had seen Eric. I first met him when we were both playing on a Murray The K rock’n’roll show that was held at the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre for ten days. Four shows a day and each group got to play one number. The Who were also on the bill and to watch them destroy their instruments four times a day was hilarious! When I arrived in London two months later, the only two people I knew there were Eric and Ginger Baker. We hung out together playing guitar and talking shop. So to get together again sounded like fun, though I did feel somewhat intimidated being on a show which featured so many top electric guitarists.

I was asked to play a few solos and two duets with Keb’ Mo’ plus a 40 minute workshop at the Ernie Ball Stage in the Guitar Village. Keb’ I knew from a NAMM Show and loved his voice and musical feel.

Also on the bill was Bert Jansch who I hadn’t seen for at least ten years.

Pino Daniele from Italy was another artist I wanted to meet. I had listened to his music while living in Italy and loved his voice, songs and guitar playing.

Also there was Earl Klugh whose music I have followed over the years.

Robert Randolph and his band was another group I wanted to hear. Then of course there were the electric blues icons, i.e. Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Jonny Lang, Joe Bonamassa, James Burton, Derek Trucks and even ZZ Top. And of course Eric and Steve Winwood. Plus the pop stars John Mayer and Sheryl Crow.

It was hot, hot, hot at the Toyota Park Stadium in Chicago. Friday was the best day. It was rehearsals from 10 am until 11 pm. Jo came with me and we also had two of our children and my grandson Noah. Plus friends with their children. It was a great weekend for fathers and sons to bond. We all watched the groups rehearse and do their sound checks. A very relaxed atmosphere for the artists while the stage, video and sound crew worked hard to put all the pieces together.

Keb’ and I rehearsed “Mississippi Blues” and “Roll and Tumble Blues” in our dressing room area. We tried a few different approaches and after an hour or so we had worked out our duet parts. Thank goodness for the AC in the artists’ dressing room and canteen areas. We also had the refuge of the Fender Tent which featured a 12’ x 20’ screen that projected the World Cup games. Eric, David (my son), Noah (my grandson) and I watched the USA as they struggled to win but even with all our yelling they ended up loosing.

The ‘acoustic’ musicians, Bert, Keb’ Mo’ and myself had our sound check after all the bands had completed there. It was well after 10 pm and we could only check the monitor levels and not the complete system. In fact on Saturday the sound for my solo tunes was very bad with feedback and cutting off. Fortunately things went better for my two duets with Keb’ Mo’.

Friday and Saturday were intense yet so very enjoyable. What can beat hanging with old friends, your children and musicians whom you always wanted to hear?

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