Was This Steve Wiley’s Last Eric Clapton Concert?

Saturday night I attended an Eric Clapton concert at the New Orleans Arena. It will probably be my last one. Was I disappointed? Have I gotten bored with his music? NO! I've been a fan since junior high, and he remains my all-time favorite.

This was my 9th Eric Clapton concert. I've seen him perform in New York, Denver, Buffalo, twice in Houston, and 4 times in New Orleans. These were spread out over a span of 39 years, and each show was very different from the others. The first was actually a disappointment. He was very late coming onstage, and (in his own words) "F%@king drunk." My friends & I had driven 5 hours to get there.

I next saw Eric perform on his 25th anniversary tour in a beautiful amphitheater outside Denver. He'd been to rehab and was on his game! The opening act was Buckwheat Zydeco! The 2nd of 4 New Orleans shows was just a couple weeks after my father passed away. "My Father's Eyes" took on a new meaning. Dad had left some money to my siblings and me. My brother Jim & I used a portion of our shares to meet up in New York on my birthday a few weeks later and see Eric at Madison Square Garden. The day after the show, we were watching a Yankee game in a bar near the hotel. The owner’s wife was from New Orleans. We told them I was visiting from Lafayette, La. A lengthy conversation about Yankee legend Ron Guidry ensued.

I took my daughter Stephanie to see Eric in N.O. for her 18^th birthday. My son Mike accompanied me 3 years ago. I attended this latest concert alone. Somehow that now seems fitting.

Eric will be 68 on Saturday (March 30^th) He’s announced he intends to stop touring when he’s 70.  If this was to be my last opportunity to see him perform, I’m left with some very fond memories.