Eric Clapton to turn 70 with New York shows

Eric Clapton to turn 70 with New York shows

Guitar legend Eric Clapton is planning to celebrate turning 70 by playing two concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden. Clapton on Thursday announced the shows for May 1-2, which would come two weeks ahead of a previously announced residency of six sold-out concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall, also timed for his birthday. Clapton and his former band Cream in 1968 inaugurated the modern version of Madison Square Garden, built after developers knocked down parts of historic Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan. With the shows, Clapton joins the growing club of still-active septuagenarian rockers who include the Rolling Stones, surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and Paul Simon.