Las Vegas Weekly

July 1, 2009 · 7:51 AM

Photo Gallery: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at MGM; Gin Blossoms at HRH

By Robin Leach

Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton perform live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

The magic of their music was the same as it was when they first played together 40 years ago. In fact, maybe even better! Call Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood guitar gods or guitar greats because, in their 60s, they’re still doing better than a slew of wannabes less than half their age.

Back in 1969, Eric and Steve played together in the supergroup Blind Faith. It wasn’t until last year at a New York concert that they reunited and decided on a mini-tour that brought them here to Las Vegas. It was the 12th stop on a 14-city trek.

Some 18,000 fans including our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue were at the MGM Grand when 64-year-old Eric and 61-year-old Steve joined forces and voices to “Keep the Faith.” Tom, who shot this collection of photos, summed it up simply: “It cannot get any better on the guitar than these two guys.”

Meantime, over at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Live Poolside concert series, an enthusiastic crowd of some 1,500 fans packed the pool area for Gin Blossoms. When the band ended with their hit “Hey Jealousy,” the entire crowd sang along.

Also at the pool, comedian Artie Lange, and in Body English, UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson not only “made it rain” with $1,000 in $1 bills, but also held a mock staredown with DJ Clinton Sparks. Both men removed their shirts, and with the crowd chanting, they had no alternative but to playfully grapple and toss each other around!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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