[Slowhand] is this true? Was this the lineup this year?

[Garret74 at aol.com]

The Best New Year's Eve in England with Eric Clapton, Pete  Townsend, Ringo 
Starr and Joe Walsh 
 
 
NEW YEARS EVE IN ENGLAND


Article written by  George "Santana" Fender Stratocaster Gibson Les Paul : 
As a  professional rock musician for the last thirty years, I have had many  
opportunities to experience the New Year's Eve in many countries around the  
world. This particular New Year, however, I was in England and spent probably  
the best time ever. No, it wasn't with the thousands crowded along the River  
Thames to watch the firework display and queue up for hours to see London from 
 the London Eye and it wasn't at some 'posh do' that would set me back a 
month's  wages. It took place in a small leisure centre just outside a small 
Surrey  village, cost me less than £50 and not a drop of alcohol was available to 
drink.  
'The best?' I hear you say but this sounds really boring... Oh no, my  
friend, this is the third time I have attended this event and each time is a  
magical experience and I can't imagine that it could get better but each year it  
does, and this year was the New Year of all New Years! So what was it that has  
caused me so much excitement? Maybe you are thinking I have experienced some  
kind of religious revelation, perhaps I saw a star hovering over this small  
venue in this small obscure English village?

Well, in one way you would  be right! But not one star - there were many. And 
these stars were not celestial  bodies but real human ones! One was called 
Eric, another Gary, there was Pete  and Joe, Andy and Richard. Let me share my 
story with you.
Every year I am  lucky enough to get hold of tickets to this private function 
that is organised  by some of these above named to raise money for a 
particular charity close to  their heart. Because the venue is small, the tickets are 
limited to as many  people you can comfortably get into a large sports hall 
without contravening  Health and Safety Regulations. The hall is laid out with 
decorated tables around  the edge of a large dance floor and towards one end , 
a large stage is  constructed at one end which professional sound and stage 
technicians have set  up to give an impressive Wembley Arena output with the 
intimacy of a village  hall. 

On this stage, every year a special band plays live for more than  three 
hours and it is this band that makes the celebration so magical. As a  band, it is 
completely unknown and you will never find reference to it wherever  you 
search in the musical media. Each year the band takes a different name and  this 
year it was called the 'Totally Abandoned' Band. Its leader, for one night  
only, is probably one of the best rock and blues guitarist England has had and  
is known worldwide. Some songs that you will all know from this guy are Layla, 
I  Shot the Sheriff, Lay Down Sally....now perhaps you can see why I am so  
excited....yes, it's Eric Clapton!

Now Eric Clapton by himself would be  pretty mind-blowing. But put him 
together with Gary Brooker from Procol Harum,  Andy Fairweather Low originally from 
the 1960s British band Amen Corner and  still going strong touring with some 
of the best musicians of the 60s and 70s,  and to this mix Joe Walsh from the 
US band, The Eagles, stir in Pete Townshend  from the Who and sprinkle 
liberally with Ringo Starr from The Beatles and  ........be blown away!!!! A jamming 
session pare excellence!

As a  professional musician myself, having spent 30 years of my adult life 
earning my  living in this precarious profession, to see 'The Big Boys' like 
this and to be  able to get so close to them was beyond any dream I could have 
had. Top this  though! My wife's friend and her family are the warm up band and 
this friend's  husband kindly took me backstage where I could have a clear and 
private view of  Ringo drumming whilst singing 'Boys'. 

Later I sidled in there again and  this time was met by an extremely friendly 
Pete Townshend who shook my hand and  wished me a Happy New Year.
So that was it....my New Year  celebration....breathing the same oxygen as my 
heroes. A big thanks to everyone  who made this event something I will take 
to my grave. Not just to the Boys but  to all the staff who made the night such 
a resounding success. Can't wait for  New Year 2009!!
Happy New Year everyone. 


And, in Ringo's words:  'Peace, Man'

Here are some of my favourite songs from those Great  Guys.

Ringo Star(Beatles) with a little help from friends...(too many on  the stage)






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