Eric Clapton Launches 2001 Worldwide Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ERIC CLAPTON LAUNCHES 2001 WORLDWIDE TOUR
IN SUPPORT OF NEW CD REPTILE"

Claptons First Year-Long Worldwide Tour in a Decade
Part I of North American Concert Itinerary Announced

Eric Clapton is spending all of 2001 on a worldwide concert tour in support of his new CD, Reptile" (Reprise), to be released in the U.S. on March 13. The itinerary includes performances in Europe, Russia, the United States, Canada, South America, and the Far East. Claptons worldwide tour launched in Europe in February, 2001 and concludes in Moscow in April. Part I of the North American tour runs for the months of May and June. Part II will be announced later this year.

The band line up for Part I of Claptons North American tour includes Eric Clapton, Andy Fairweather Low (guitar and vocals), Steve Gadd (drums), Nathan East (bass guitar and vocals), David Sancious (keyboard and vocals), and Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). Opening act is RCA recording artist Doyle Bramhall, II and Smokestack.

The itinerary follows:
   May 10         Dallas, TX      Reunion Arena
   May 12         San Antonio, TX   Alamodome
   May 14         Houston, TX      Compact Center
   May 15         New Orleans, LA   N.O. Arena
   May 18         Ft. Lauderdale, FL   National Car Rental Center
   May 19         Tampa, FL      Ice Palace
   May 21         Atlanta, GA      Philips Arena
   May 22         Memphis, TN      The Pyramid
   May 24         Nashville, TN      Nashville Arena
   May 25         Charlotte, NC      Charlotte Coliseum
   May 27         Washington, DC   MCI Center
   May 30         State College, PA   Bryce Jordan Center
   June 1         Columbus, OH      Nationwide Arena
   June 2         Indianapolis, IN      Conseco Fieldhouse
   June 4         Cleveland, OH      Gund Arena
   June 6         Detroit, MI      Palace of Auburn Hills
   June 9         Toronto, ONT      Air Canada Centre
   June 11 and 12      Boston, MA      Fleet Center
   June 15         Buffalo, NY      HSBC Arena
   June 16         Albany, NY      Pepsi Arena
   June 17         Philadelphia, PA   First Union Center
   June 21 and 22      New York, NY      Madison Square Garden
   

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Ticket and on-sale information will be announced by the promoter(s) in each market. Check local listings.

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For Concert Information Contact:
Ronnie Lippin, Erin Kane, Jean Sievers         Patrick Paris
The Lippin Group/L.A.               The Lippin Group/N.Y.
ronnie@lippingroup.com            patrick@lippingroup.com
ekane@lippingroup.com
jsievers@lippingroup.com

NOTE: At this time, no interview schedule is being planned for Eric Clapton. For those who want a request on file, please fax information (one page) to 323-965-1993 or e-mail: clapton@lippingroup.com. (no attachments, please).