Legendary rocker Eric Clapton announced he’s tested positive for COVID-19 after he got vaccinated against it, and now has to postpone his shows in Zurich and Milan.
A lengthy message on the 77-year-old’s Facebook page Monday explained that Clapton was “unfortunately suffering from COVID having tested positive shortly after” one of his concerts at the “Royal Albert Hall.” He had previously taken the vaccine, though he claimed to have had severe complications, and later became a strong advocate against forcing people to get the shot.
“He [Clapton] has been told by his medical advisors that if he were to resume traveling and performing too soon, it could substantially delay his full recovery,” the message read. “Eric is also anxious to avoid passing on any infection to any of his band, crew, promoters, their staff and of course the fans.”
Eric Clapton, 77, who has railed against lockdowns and vaccines, tests positive for COVID, cancels showshttps://t.co/1AuyfgdcNk
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) May 17, 2022
“So, after intensive internal discussion, it has been decided with great regret and apologies to all those concerned to postpone the performances in Zurich on 17th May and Milan on 18th May, the present hope being to be able to resume the tour starting with the concerts in Bologna on 20th and 21st May,” the message added.
“It is very frustrating that having avoided COVID throughout lockdown and throughout the period when travel restrictions have been in place Eric should have succumbed to COVID at this point in time, but we very much hope he will be sufficiently recovered by the end of the week to be able to perform the remainder of the planned performances,” the message continued. “A further announcement will be made concerning the rescheduling of the postposed shows once suitable dates can be identified.”
The message concluded by sharing that more details would be coming soon and that the “shows are due to be rescheduled within the next 6 months.”
In 2021, Clapton said he suffered “severe reactions that lasted 10 days” following his AstraZeneca shots and made headlines in December 2020 when he came out with an anti-lockdown song with Van Morrison.
“Do you wanna’ be a free man or do you wanna be a slave?” Clapton sings in the song titled “Stand and Deliver.” “Do you wanna’ wear these chains until you’re lying in the grave?”
Other lyrics include: “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?/ You better look out, people/ Before it gets too late.”
The full song can be heard here.