This month is the 60th anniversary of what is believed to be Eric Clapton’s only ever appearance in Harrogate and an appeal has been issued for memories of anyone who saw the show with the legendary guitarist.

It was March 4, 1966, just a few months before he formed Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, that the British rock music icon came to Harrogate.

At that point, Clapton, aged just 20, was lead guitarist in John Mayall"s Blues Breakers, along with founding vocalist John Mayall, drummer Hughie Flint and bassist John McVie, who would himself go to leave the band and join Peter Green in the original version of Fleetwood Mac in 1967.

According to music fan and Harrogate Advertiser reader Peter Lister, Clapton, Mayall, McVie and Flint appeared in Harrogate at the Beechwood Court Hotel, a venue which, like many locally, is now long-gone.

The 60th anniversary of only Harrogate gig - Eric Clapton, second from left, on the famous cover of the classic debut album by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers from 1966 known colloquially as 'The Beano Album'. (Picture contributed)

placeholder image — The 60th anniversary of only Harrogate gig - Eric Clapton, second from left, on the famous cover of the classic debut album by John Mayall's Bluesbreakers from 1966 known colloquially as 'The Beano Album'. (Picture contributed)

The band’s setlst would have featured material from the band's blistering debut album of blues rock, known colloquially as ‘The Beano Album’, which made a huge impact on the music scene when it was released in July, 1966.

The Beechwood Court Hotel was situated on Cold Bath Road and became a staple of live music from the early 1960s when two local residents, Francis Firth and Bob Simpson, opened Harrogate Jazz Club, bringing the best bands up from London and Birmingham.

In the days before arena tours, stadium gigs and outdoors rock music festivals, even major bands would play what would now be regarded as a small venue.

Though he lost Eric Clapton to Cream not long after that appearance at Beechwood Court Hotel, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers did return to Harrogate, playing at the Harrogate International Centre in 2002, as part of a tour that included the Peter Green Splinter Group.

As for Clapton, himself, he did return to Yorkshire many times with Cream and, much later as a multi-million selling solo act to Harewood House in 2008 and Leeds Arena in 2014.

In terms of Harrogate, Clapton was part-owner in Cordings of Piccadilly, an exclusive country clothing store which flourished on Parliament Street between 2015 and 2021.

And in 2020, footage of Clapton did feature in a joint event between the Harrogate Advertiser’s Graham Chalmers and Harrogate Film Society featuring BAFTA-winning filmmaker Tony Palmer.