[Slowhand] ZZ Top and EC

[Simon George]

I believe the only time they appeared on the same bill was a one-off benefit 
gig for drugs charities in Birmingham,UK on 1st October 1993, ZZ Top opened 
and Clapton did a set with Joe Cocker joining him for the second half. As 
far as I remember ZZ Top and Clapton weren't on stage together (except maybe 
a brief encore, possibly). Clapton had recently given up smoking so appeared 
to be in a foul mood for most of the night so it wasn't his best 
performance.
The thing that sticks in my mind from that night was that from my vantage 
point I could clearly see Lee Dickson, (EC's guitar tech), and at one point 
he was furiously working on Billy Gibbons' guitar, apparently I later found 
out, fixing a dodgy fret, which he had recently learned to do at the Fender 
factory. Also, Clapton opening his mouth and furiously gesturing for more 
chewing gum half-way through a solo.
A highlight of the concert was his versions of two Hendrix songs, 'Stone 
Free' and ' Burning  the Midnight Lamp' .
That night changed my view of ZZ Top which I'd always thought of as a 
pop/rock band, only knowing the hits. They were extremely bluesy and did 
several Robert Johnson songs, (in their own way of course!)
I have a bootleg of the EC/JC set from the gig on CD called 'Feelin' 
Alright'  so no doubt it is available as a torrent somewhere.
regards,
Simon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "daniel shearon" <dshearon at gmail.com>
To: <slowhand at planet-torque.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 5:36 AM
Subject: [Slowhand] ZZ Top and EC



> Did ZZ Top ever open for Clapton? I think I remember reading an interview

> with Billy Gibons YEARS ago talking about jamming with EC. I want to say

> that it was a European tour but the memory ain't what she used to be. I 

> can

> only imagine a guitar sling between Slowhand and Gibons would be insane. 

> Can

> anyone shed light on the subject (or even better) point to a good boot of

> said event?

>

> ds

>

>

> Daniel Shearon

> GPS Specialist

> Hayes Instrument Co.

> daniel at hayesinstrument.com

> dshearon at gmail.com

>

>