Eric Clapton — who’s been a vocal opponent of the COVID-19 vaccine, lockdown measures and other topics related to the ongoing pandemic — has tested positive for COVID.
This news comes on the same day the guitar icon announced select Fall U.S. tour dates with Jimmie Vaughan and was confirmed in a statement to Clapton’s Where’s Eric website, which reads as follows:
“Eric Clapton is unfortunately suffering from Covid having tested (and still testing) positive shortly after the second concert at the Royal Albert Hall. He has been told by his medical advisors that if he were to resume travelling and performing too soon, it could substantially delay his full recovery. Eric is also anxious to avoid passing on any infection to any of his band, crew, promoters, their staff and of course, the fans.
So, after intensive internal discussion, it has been decided with great regret and apologies to all those concerned to postpone the performances in Zurich on 17th May and Milan on 18th May, the present hope being to be able to resume the tour starting with the concerts in Bologna on 20th and 21st May.
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, but we very much hope he will be sufficiently recovered by the end of the week to be able to perform the remainder of the planned performances.
The shows are due to be rescheduled within the next six months and tickets purchased will remain valid for the new rescheduled date.”
Clapton has made a number of headlines during the pandemic including releasing multiple protest songs against lockdown measures, saying he’d refuse to play shows at venues requiring vaccinations (even though he ended up doing so) and supporting a controversial anti-vax concept that claims people have been brainwashed/hypnotized into getting the COVID vaccine.
