Legendary guitarist Eric Clapton recently announced that he is not going to perform at venues where the attendees are required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.
The Details
The 76-year-old music icon said that he has “the right to cancel the show” after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his order on large indoor gatherings, such as concerts. The latest order administered by Johnson states that all concert venues and nightclubs will need to obtain proof of all patrons’ positive vaccination status.
“Following the PM’s announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021 I feel honor-bound to make an announcement of my own,” Clapton wrote in response to Johnson’s order via Telegram. “I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show.”
The Rolling Stone reported that Clapton’s message was accompanied by a link to his latest anti-lockdown song, “Stand and Deliver” , which was a collaboration with Van Morrison.
What Else?
Clapton recorded his “Stand and Deliver” single in November and released it last December.
A portion of the lyrics of Clapton’s new song read, “Stand and deliver/ You let them put the fear on you” and “Do you wanna be a free man/ Or do you wanna be a slave?”
In another portion of the song, Clapton sang, “Magna Carta, Bill of Rights/ The Constitution, what’s it worth?/ You know they’re gonna grind us down, ah/ Until it really hurts/ Is this a sovereign nation/ Or just a police state?”
Last May, the guitarist recounted his experience with the Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine, saying that he actually had experienced a “disastrous” reaction.
“I took the first jab of AZ and straight away had severe reactions which lasted ten days,” Clapton told the interviewer. “I recovered eventually and was told it would be twelve weeks before the second one.”
He continued, “About six weeks later I was offered and took the second AZ shot, but with a little more knowledge of the dangers. Needless to say the reactions were disastrous, my hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks, I feared I would never play again.”
Clapton also admitted that he was one of the millions who bought into the propaganda that the vaccine was “safe for everyone.”
“I continue to tread the path of passive rebellion and try to tow [sic] the line in order to be able to actively love my family, but it’s hard to bite my tongue with what I now know,” the guitarist added.
There is no question that Clapton is one of many who now wishes they had went ahead and passed on the COVID-19 vaccine.