Classic Clapton

Classic Clapton

Classic Clapton is an Eric Clapton tribute band formed in 1985 in Newcastle upon Tyne. The group first performs under the name After Midnight, taking that name from Clapton’s first solo hit, before later adopting the Classic Clapton title for its tribute show.

Line-up and front man

The band features guitar and vocal front man Mike Hall. The group presents him as both a visual and musical match for Eric Clapton, with a performance style built around recreating Clapton’s stage presence. Classic Clapton is a four-piece band.

Career highlights

Mike Hall wins a national look-alike competition at Madam Tussauds in London in 1999. He also meets Eric Clapton twice and receives a message of encouragement written on a Concorde menu. Tyne Tees Television makes a programme about the band, Cover Their Tracks, filmed at Newcastle Opera House in front of 600 fans and shown in 2000, which leads to wider recognition.

In 2001 the band tours UK theatres, then continues to perform across the UK and Europe. Appearances include the Royal Festival Hall in London and Glastonbury Festival in 2002. The group also plays in Spain, Estonia, Holland and France. It performs in Mumbai in 2009, returns to India for three concerts in January 2016, including an outdoor show in Mumbai in front of 3,500 people, and appears in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2017.

Repertoire and recordings

Classic Clapton’s concerts cover material from across Clapton’s career, including his work with Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds and Derek & The Dominos, as well as his solo years. The set also includes an unplugged section and songs such as Wonderful Tonight, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, Lay Down Sally, I Shot the Sheriff, Sunshine of Your Love, Cocaine and Layla. The band has released three albums.