The tables have turned for the worst. Legendary guitarist and staunch vaccine skeptic Eric Clapton has contracted COVID-19. The Cream guitarist is 77-years-old, which is a definite cause for concern.
He contracted the virus after performing at London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 8. It was the first venue and the second day of his tour. An online statement posted on his official website apologized to fans after having to postpone concert dates in Zurich and Milan.
“It is very frustrating that having avoided COVID throughout lockdown and throughout the period when travel restrictions have been in place Eric should have succumbed to COVID at this point in time,” the statement reads.
Originally, NPR reported that Clapton hoped to return to touring on May 20, when he is set to perform in Bologna. However, the online statement states that their team is working on rescheduling the next six months of touring. That includes the rest of his Spring tour across Europe and the seven September dates that were set to take place in America.
In the past, Clapton has expressed his frustration with UK’s lockdown and vaccine mandates. In 2020, he and Van Morrison released a song titled “Stand and Deliver,” where they protested the lockdown policy. A year later, they reunited for “This Has Gotta Stop,” which repeats much of the same. A month after the song’s release, Clapton announced that he will not be performing at venues that require proof of vaccination.
“I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present,” said Clapton.
Last year, Clapton detailed the “disastrous” side effects he suffered after his second shot. He also mentioned that “propaganda” downplayed the safety of vaccines. He had been administered both doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not authorized for use in the US but is approved by the World Health Organization to be used in other countries.
