Legendary guitarist said he won’t play venues that require attendees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
This after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced early this week that vaccine passes will be required to enter nightclubs and venues.
Eric Clapton (Facebook)
The “Change The World” singer issued his statement via the Telegram account of Robin Monotti, film producer and architect and known critic of the UK government’s efforts and response to COVID-19.
The 76-year-old rock and roll Hall of Famer said, “Following the PM’s announcement of Monday the 19th of July 2021 I feel honor-bound to make an announcement of my own. 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.”
Clapton has lent his voice to the anti-lockdown sentiments in the U.K. and even recorded the Van Morrisson-written protest song “Stand And Deliver,” a link of which accompanied his statement, Rolling Stone reported.
Back in May, Clapton shared his “disastrous health experience” after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca.
But the MHRA, the U.K. governmental body overseeing the vaccine, have stood by their policy and advice that “the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca outweigh the risks in the majority of people. It is still vitally important that people come forward for their vaccination when invited to do so.”
In a statement to Rolling Stone in May, a spokesperson for the MHRA, the UK governmental body overseeing the vaccine, reiterated that “over 56 million doses of vaccines against Covid-19 have now been administered in the UK."
Eric Clapton’s next U.K. show won’t happen until May 2022, where he is slated for his usual Royal Albert Hall shows.