Revealed: Tantalising info on Eric Clapton and rock supergroup Cream playing in Harrogate in 1960s
A reader has responded to a recent Harrogate Advertiser article about the 60th anniversary of Eric Clapton’s only Harrogate appearance with some tantalising information that 1960s rock supergroup Cream may have played in the town as well.
The original Harrogate Advertiser article from early March focused on the date of Clapton’s visit to Harrogate as the guitarist in John Mayall"s Blues Breakers on March 4, 1966 at the Beechwood Court Hotel Hotel on Cold Bath Road.
It was just a few months before Clapton formed Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker and was a significant moment for the town.
Now a reader had got in touch with additional information on the rock legend’s links to Harrogate.
Peter Syson, father of guitarist Tom Syson, who played in the remarkable late 1990s psychedlelic Harrogate band The Purple Mushrooms, says he was at the show by John Mayall"s Blues Breakers in Harrogate in 1966.
And there is more…
"My love of music is the blues and I’m a passionate Pink Floyd fan,” said Mr Syson.
"I have vague memories of going to the Beechwood on Friday nights and saw many blues groups like The Groundhogs, Geno Washington, John Mayall and The Artwoods.
"I cannot find any evidence that Cream officially played there but I am sure I saw them and my brother believes that they jammed with The Artwoods.”
If you have any information on the subject, email Graham Chalmers at: [email protected]