FROM HEAVEN, "SLOWHAND" IN MEXICO CITY
By Carlos Zaldívar
Finally the date was on. The legend arrived to the biggest city of the world: Mexico City. It has been a long run since the first time I heard the guitar of an english man from Ripley, England: Eric Clapton.
A man who has suffered some circumstances not so well, from life; even though he would not change it. Clapton, 56, is an important part of the whole music history, in blues and rock & roll. His fans, us, have converted him in an almighty human being. Is this possible? Well, for many of us, he is a God, a kind of supreme man. How can a person play the guitar as he does? You have to see him to believe.
October 19TH, 2001. The "Reptile Tour". His last tour? The clock was on twenty-one hour when the sacred precinct called "Foro Sol" turned the lights off, and the God of Chords appeared. Recognized by his humbleness and dressed in blue & white colors, played his first songs. Then "Tears in Heaven" started to fall. All our feelings were with the Daddy who lost the most precious gift form life: his son. Almost fifty thousands of fans were there, praying, singing and feeling the blues guitar of Clapton.
In the big screens, as usual, appeared the slogan that marked Clapton forever: "Clapton Is God". We all know that "Layla" and "Cocaine" were coming. Suddenly, Eric started with the first notes of the song dedicated to Patti Boyd: "Layla". We all, standing up, supported him with the lyrics. "Slowhand" was playing incredibly and with so much excitement his guitar that seemed to be his girlfriend. Both on stage, loving each other.
"Change the World", "Hoochie, Cuchie Man", "I Wanna Little Girl", "Badge", "My Fathers Eyes", "Over the Rainbow" and "Cocaine" were songs that completed this evangelical tour in blues & rock.
Clapton was grateful to the audience. In Spanish he said: "Gracias", while a big smile was printed in his face. This expressions were at the moment while playing "Sunshine Of Your Love", one of the best rock hits of him. ¡Yes! Clapton is God.
All of us, The Sultans of Swing, were thankful to him, for giving us an excellent night and no penitence forever.
It was the first time on Aztec soil, and Clapton proved the comments about the Mexican fans. He was touched.
"Forever Man" and "I Shot the Sheriff" never appeared, but still in our memories all the sacred lyrics of the Bible named E.C.
One of the best moments came to my mind and remembered a very special fact of my life: My wedding. Because that day was incredible and magnificent, and that night was a "Wonderful Night". ¡Yes! "Wonderful Tonight" was the song when Clapton, while playing, looked at Heaven, through the dark night and prayed to the Lord for energy. He made Love to his guitar and became the hidden moon in a Romantic & "Wonderful Tonight".
Applauding and acclaiming to the Ex Yardbird and Ex Cream, Mr. Slowhand, wasn’t enough. The lighters and screams of all the fans were fantastic and the "partner in crime" of Clapton, Nathan East, was impressed too.
In this year the best concerts till these moments are Mark Knopfler, Mark Farner and Eric Clapton. ¿And then? Well, now We´ll wait for Roger Waters and hope that sometime to wait for Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, Rush or any others who are missing this extraordinary public.
This text is dedicated to my wife for making me all Nights a "Wonderful Nights".
October 22nd, 2001.
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