Eric Clapton Opens U.S. Tour in Detroit, Revives ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ Deep Cut for First Time Since 1975
Eric Clapton launched his U.S. tour on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and used the opening show to dust off a song absent from his live sets for roughly five decades. Midway through his set, the 81-year-old guitarist swapped out longtime concert fixture “I Shot the Sheriff” for “Give Me Strength,” a track from his 1974 album “461 Ocean Boulevard” that, per Setlist.FM, he had not performed live since 1975.
- The only other documented live performance of “Give Me Strength” took place on July 10, 1975, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, on a tour where Clapton shared the bill with Santana.
- “Give Me Strength” originally served as the B-side to the “I Shot the Sheriff” single, with both songs appearing on “461 Ocean Boulevard.”
- “461 Ocean Boulevard” reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
- Clapton, who turned 81 in March, is the only artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times.
What Eric Clapton Played in Detroit
Clapton’s Detroit performance ran 18 songs across an hour and fifty minutes, backed by guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, pianist Chris Stainton, keyboardist Tim Carmon and drummer Sonny Emory. The acoustic portion of the show, typically around five songs on this tour, grew to eight and included “Running on Faith” from 1989’s “Journeyman” as well as a version of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” featuring bassist Nathan East on lead vocals.
The second electric segment closing the main set was also expanded to six songs, adding “Wonderful Tonight,” played for just the second time in 2026, and “Tearing Us Apart,” which had last appeared in a Clapton set in early May. That stretch of the show wrapped with a three-song run of “Cross Road Blues,” “Little Queen of Spades” and “Cocaine.”
Eric Clapton 2026 Tour: What’s Left
Five shows remain on Clapton’s current U.S. run, all featuring blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan as support. The tour picks back up September 8 in Cincinnati before stops in Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, wrapping September 17 in Kansas City.
Once the tour concludes, Clapton is set to host his annual Crossroads Guitar Festival in Austin over two nights, September 26 and 27. Announced guests for this year’s festival include Billy Gibbons, Buddy Guy, Trey Anastasio of Phish and Tedeschi Trucks Band.
More Info
- Eric Clapton Breaks Out ‘461 Ocean Boulevard’ Gem For 1st Time Since 1975 At U.S. Tour Opener | JamBase
- Eric Clapton Performs Song Live for First Time in Over 50 Years | Ultimate Classic Rock
- Eric Clapton Kicks Off US Tour by Reviving a Song He Hadn’t Played Live Since 1975 | americansongwriter.com
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