"I find that the higher you go up the ladder sometimes, the more humble and nice people are. That's truly the case of Eric Clapton; he's my hero and the reason I play the way I play, just basically one of those guys who plus the guitar straight into an amp and it sounds like him." When asked about the fact that Clapton agreed to join Bonamassa at The Royal Albert Hall show, Joe said, "I was really surprised he agreed; he's got his own run of shows (starting May 11 in Dublin) and was busy in rehearsals. A lot of time when you're rehearsing and everything, the last thing you want to do is go sing some more and play some more, but it was really nice of him to come and do [it]. It meant the world to me."

"He is still the best in the world, for my money. I think a musician's ability to reinvent their playing is the most important quality they could have. Eric’s playing has a depth of life in it now that wasn't there in 1966. Just listen to Groaning the Blues from the album From the Cradle (1994) and tell me if it is not one of greatest recorded blues solos of time? Or River of Tears from One More Car, One More Rider (2002). He’s just on fire, like he is saying to all kids – beat that! He’s still the man. If he turns up with a new amp or guitar, we all want the same piece of kit."

A young burgeoning guitarist named Joe Bonamassa became enthralled with the music of the British Blues Explosion – especially that of Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. As he grew into a prodigy in his own right, the British Blues always remained his most important influence. To pay homage to this music that moved and inspired him so much since he was a kid, Joe Bonamassa is launching a special tribute tour dedicated to the music of Clapton, Beck, and Page.

Bonamassa’s Salute to the British Blues Explosion is coordinated with his charitable organization Keeping the Blues Alive, whose mission is to do just that by providing resources and funding to music students and school music programs in need. Keeping the Blues Alive received the benefits of Joe’s Muddy Wolf tribute.

Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page changed guitar playing, the blues, and rock music forever. Don’t miss your chance to hear contemporary blues-rock superstar Joe Bonamassa pay homage to these three musical giants by playing deep cuts that represent them throughout their entire careers, from The Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin and beyond!

A Salute to the British Blues Explosion” returns Joe Bonamassa to both Europe and to the gorgeous Red Rocks Amphitheatre where he recorded another famous tribute concert, that time to Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.