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 Embed the trailer Copy-paste the code into an HTML page to embed the trailer video. GREAT PERFORMANCES – Longtime Friends and Former Band Mates Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood Team Up for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Reunion Concert – Longtime friends and former band mates Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood team up for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion concert in “Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood: Live From Madison Square Garden,” airing Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at 9 p.m. on Eight. The Great Performances special telecast captures Clapton and Winwood at New York’s Madison Square Garden performing songs from their short-lived Blind Faith collaboration, including “Presence of the Lord,” “Can’t Find My Way Home,” “Well All Right,” along with hits from their respective solo careers. “I was 15 or 16 and he was 18 or 19, and he definitely looked after me,” Winwood recounts of his blossoming friendship with Clapton. “[We] played records and talked about music. From very early on, he took on a brotherly [role].” As their friendship solidified, Clapton and Winwood — with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Ric Grech — formed Blind Faith. They disbanded in 1969 after releasing only one chart-topping, self-titled album. The spotlight, however, hasn’t dimmed on either Clapton or Winwood’s careers — Clapton has won 18 Grammy Awards and been honored with three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Winwood won Grammy Awards for record of the year and best male vocal performance for his work on Higher Love. As for the decision to play a reunion concert, Clapton wanted to re-create “the romance and beauty of [the music] played in the past” The two take viewers back to rock’s glory days as they perform songs by Jimi Hendrix (“Little Wing”), Clapton’s catalogue (“Forever Man”) and tracks from Winwood’s band Traffic (“Pearly Queen”), rounding off the performance with hits from their Blind Faith album — which, for fans old and new, is an evening not to be forgotten. PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. About Eight/KAET-TV Eight, Arizona PBS specializes in the education of children, in-depth news and public affairs, lifelong learning, and the celebration of arts and culture — utilizing the power of noncommercial television, the Internet, educational outreach services, and community-based initiatives. The PBS station began broadcasting from the campus of Arizona State University on January 30, 1961. Now more than 80 percent of Arizonans receive the signal through a network of translators, cable and satellite systems. With more than 1.3 million viewers each week, Eight consistently ranks among the most-viewed public television stations per capita in the country. Arizonans provide more than 60 percent of the station’s annual budget. For more information, visit www.azpbs.org. Eight is a member-supported service of Arizona State University. |
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