Best part is is he messed up around 8:38, knew it, and laughed it off. Even the greats throw in a clunker, but he owns it and they all have a good laugh. Dude is a world-class maestro.

@ishoulduserumble

3 ай бұрын

no, the best part is the bass player calling him out on it lol

@harrisdupree3323

3 ай бұрын

The tragic thing is his fuck-ups still sound better than everybody else's best licks.

@jasonware7249

2 ай бұрын

It's how you recover is what counts

@Cabeza492

2 ай бұрын

Beautifull reminder of no matter how godlike a professional musician appears to be, they still are humans; and the fact he missed some notes in concert and take it with humor is just heartwarming ♥

@closetjimi

2 ай бұрын

@@Cabeza492 Truly! Too bad he didn't follow the rule of repeating twice when mistake occurs LOL

Every cliffs is different. I will never get tired of listening to each and every one! Pure joyous improv. I love the fact he just goes for it every time. Thanks for sharing this.

Hard to believe he's almost 70, he's still got it though. Much love!!!;

@johndrake2729

Ай бұрын

I know, he doesn't look it.

blessed to anyone listening to him live in 2023

@bigelile07

6 күн бұрын

You posted 2 months ago in 2023? That would have been 04/2024.

I think he is incredibly underrated. He deserves so much acknowledgment than he’s received. One of histories greatest musicians.

@danroberts9050

Ай бұрын

What shall we do to get him more ratings? How about change one of the days of the week to Ericday? Maybe Wednesday. Never was my favorite name. Or maybe we write his name in gigantic letters on the moon so we can see it from earth! Oh I know, how about we put his name on some popular product, like Coke. No longer is it named Coke, it's now named Eric! "Are you thirsty? Would you like an Eric?" "Why, yes I would!"

@sillysausage4549

17 күн бұрын

Everyone who knows anything about guitar will say he is a great player. I think you probably mean he is underappreciated by the masses. Which is par for the course for instrumental music.

@syn707

17 күн бұрын

@@sillysausage4549 I guess you saw something in my comment saying “guitar players underrate him!” Or, you’re ’one of those internet kind of people!’

@drtimoshea4087

13 күн бұрын

NOPE -- NOT EVEN CLOSE -- GUESS THE BAR WAS TOO HIGH TO EXPECT HE COULD STILL HIT HIS ORIGINAL LEVEL OF PERFECTION -- VERY RAGGED -- SOUNDED LIKE A KARAOKE VERSION PLAYED BY NEIL YOUNG OR SOMEBODY -- THANK GOD WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THE ORIGINAL

@syn707

13 күн бұрын

Well at least we have your version to measure up to.

This song never gets old. What a prodigy Eric J is

Wow! The improvised intro would have been worth the price of admission. EJ is fearless when it comes to taking risks. Spectacular!

@anynhi

2 ай бұрын

Yeah. He seems to explore new things even in a life performance situation.

@morganchatsworthiii9178

Ай бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/Z4KYmaeTY86ZadY.html This one still blows me away. Maybe it's because it was the first time I heard him (on PBS/ACL)

@nekad2000

8 күн бұрын

You mean the self-indulgent showboating?

Fisrt heard of him and his music in 1990. 34 years later, still love his music...

The master at work

Man, All my guitar heroes are aging as well.. but still are "immortal" in their own right.

@gotd4m

3 ай бұрын

Nuno seems to have started the transition into plastic man. He can do what he wants, but it was startling when I watched the Rick beato interview.

He plays beautifully and I love his guitar sound. He makes the instrument sing.

As far as I know, he's never let any kind of substance abuse affect his playing, or performance. Carlos Santana said of him many years ago 'He is pure, you can see it in his eyes.' Or something like that. Amazing artist.

@hoilst265

13 сағат бұрын

Carlos was high AF when he said that.

Eric is not only a one of a kind guitar player,one of the greatest ever. He's also a nice man. Met him a bunch of times. Guitar superman. Go see him , you will never forget it.

Most underrated guitar player ever. The man is a genius and to play a song with no words 😅

Excellent sound quality. Thanks for the upload.

People criticizing his playing here is comical. There isn't a single person here who could come within lightyears of touching this, but want to nit-pick at things. Good grief. Just enjoy it. It's ethereal.

@thepowerofaquietmind

Ай бұрын

Thank you.

@DIATUX

Ай бұрын

Tengo 22 y tocó esta canción después de un año, realmente no es difícil.

@aydenburris8631

Ай бұрын

​@@DIATUX Post video then

@requiem156

Ай бұрын

I think you can be a fan of Eric Johnson and acknowledge that there are a few timing and execution issues in this performance. It’s not saying he isn’t an amazing player, or even that there aren’t some great moments in this performance- it’s just not his cleanest. No one has to post video of themselves doing it better to say that.

@user-wf5sh9ih3x

Ай бұрын

@@aydenburris8631 I have no idea what that means.

Met him a few times. Was a customer. Rail thin. Soft spoken. Man of few words.

@failadin1

Ай бұрын

Man speaks with his fingers not words.

@MarkTurner-vs7uc

2 сағат бұрын

I met him a few times as well. Over the last 34 years! Very nice guy that would talk to you. I have about a dozen autographs. He once dropped a pick, I was from row as always, I pointed it out to my wife,he saw me,and while still playing went over,picked it up and put it in my hand . It's been on my livingroom wall for decades. Superman to me. Superhero deluxe. Did I mention he's one of the best guitar player that ever lived?

I can’t believe he isn’t bald. Watch his early videos. Dudes hair been through some thangs. Still amazing. Seems so humble and nice in interviews.

@tobydavis6770

4 ай бұрын

Lol he needs to take some of the money he spends on hair plugs and take some guitar lessons.... Hahaha just a joke

@hudsondonnell444

3 ай бұрын

Some men don't get Joe Satriani's Silver Surfer head.

@leowang2866

3 ай бұрын

@@hudsondonnell444😂hahaha

@myworms

3 ай бұрын

Some bad haircuts in the mid 80’s for sure, but I never noticed any receding, and he doesn’t strike me as vain, so even if he fell out, I don’t think he’d try to cover it up like Al di Meola.

@Kgio-2112

3 ай бұрын

​@@mywormsand even worse hairstyles today

Such a beautiful intro. He is like rediscovering his own song

When I first heard him play this, I was mesmerized...same feeling now❤❤❤❤❤

I could be anywhere in the world and hear a couple notes and know it was this guy immediately. He's truly unique.

Been my inspiration since I was 12 , I’m 38 now making my own improv music, thank you Eric 🙏🏾🔥

The Bass player is just amazed by EJs guitar skills, and so he should be.

This is beautiful.

mistake is the recipe of success one of the greatest guitar player ever

The Strat is the best guitar ever made and Eric is one of the best who ever played it.

@cwoodside907

Ай бұрын

😂 There are millions of people who would disagree with this statement about Strats. Myself being among them.

@richietownsend6737

14 күн бұрын

@@cwoodside907There are millions of people have nothing better to do with their lives than disagree with a KZread comment. I’m sure your non-Stratocaster guitars are quite lovely.

@solvingstewpidwwoddlesmetr631

7 күн бұрын

Jeff Beck

thanks for the vid...this is far the most awesome intro of cliffs I watched.

Our master of tone.......

@Vendubak

3 ай бұрын

master even when out of tone apparently :)

Loved every single notes of this.

Such a towering talent. Thank you EJ.

Thanks for sharing ☮️

Awsome so much luv❤thankyou 💖

Seen him in Chattanooga he was amazing me and Dad are big fans it was epic perfect on spot to the finish

Thank you for recording and sharing it with us, the intro is so soothing ☺

Excellent!!

We are privileged to get to see him playing live at 70 and still rocking. Managed to listen to G3 pre performance talk and loved their stories and tips for the young guitarists asking. They showed great empathy for the young guitarists in the theater (Fox Oakland..I was working in the balcony). Thanks guys!

Ridiculously underrated player. Insane.

A true master craftsman ! 💞🎶💯

sent from the heavens

Guitar magic!! Top shelf all the way!!

Great song.

I am...Speechless...

Not many guitar legends left, music will never be the same without them.

Eric messed up, he had fun! And just blazed around it. This is pure old rock n roll. This is what guitar playing should be. Not perfect, not boxy, just fun! Eric is cooool!!

So COOL 😎🎸🙃

GOLD

Amazing

Amazing player! ❤❤❤❤

Damn he was on Fire! Great improvising!

Even his tuning up and prep sounds like poetry :).

The way he gets that Japanese koto type sound is incredible

I love this guy!!😃🥰

Wow he is awesome! # 1 guitar player among humans!!!! I saw him in concert I think in 2005/06 in Royal Oak Michigan and he keeps getting better and is humble!!

Awesome!

1:53 That Koto sound 😮

que lindo que es la musica, como se disfruta tocar instrumento y esas sonrisas complices de disfrutarlo por completo

Not everyday can be perfect, hes still one of the best in the world.

Thank you Ken for posting. Thank you Eric for existing.

@kenchiarito2112

3 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

Sounds great! There was a time in 1990-1991 when I could play this flawlessly. I’ve aged, and I still play, not like him/I could, it’s beautiful that he can still play, not note for note, but with the same intensity, freedom and mastery. I am I the only one feeling bad the drummer is stuck inside the acrylic walls of shame?

Brilliant, and imperfect at the same time. His approach is very unique, and not easy to pull off. And he improvises, instead of playing the exact same thing every time, which always includes risk. But also produces the best things.

tremendous

great !!

One of the hardest song to play ever! For him too :)

@michaelbarnard8529

27 күн бұрын

Sure seems like a song written to show off the player’s capabilities.

A great muscician...humble all the way.. Genius....human kind!

In Future, when I travel through time on and on, I can say to every etherealness : yes, I was at the same Planet at the same time as Eric Johnson ! he plays Cosmic Messages through Space ! to listen him it`s like an inauguration, all right, i go on with practise, thanks Eric

I always feel like the first part before he gets to the intro in live spots reminds me of the guitar battle in the movie Crossroads. The feel and emotion and interesting movements. Love this.

LEGEND

Absolutamente fantástico!

@Jose-FernandX

Ай бұрын

Increíble que a sus 70 años aún tiene el toque

❤

Respect.

You are not a fan of this godlike musician or guitar-playing in general if you can't tell what's going to happen when EJ strikes up and loops that G chord no matter what variation of it he decides to play. He always does the same but totally different. It's never the same but you can tell that the greatest melody and instrumental piece of music is about to be played. Years before Cliffs was recorded he knew exactly what it should sound like live and these beautiful and stunning introes are always improvised and the only person on planet earth able to do them like that is Eric Johnson. Every single night he manages to be perfect!

@DG-bb1jz

Ай бұрын

Chill bro. Clapton is GOD. This wasn’t even that impressive.

@charlesartim3296

23 күн бұрын

You don't know what your talking about.Im tired of the Clapton crap.After cream something happen to Clapton.

Almost 69. Still amazing!

Very nice Sitar sound in the intro, blow my mind!

I love the new intro!

legend

Wholly crap! He always blows me away!

@grahamcairns4874

2 ай бұрын

Nah, it wasn't wholy crap! Most of it was brilliant.😅

My guitar hero, too!!

El mejor siempre

Gênio!

great

He is 68 years old that time. Still got skill

The all time undisputed champeen guitar anthem.

We must protect him at all cost

He has NOT lost his chops! I would love to know what his lifestyle is like. He's obviously in great shape and doesn't have arthritis in his fingers. That is a diet thing. GO ERIC!

yes,he´s good!

Eric is a risk-taker when he performs. His approach is unpredictable-sometimes it leads to success, while other times it falls short. In contrast, most of his peers opt for a safer route, consistently playing the same solo night after night.

@user-um3mt4gk2z

Ай бұрын

Compared to other performances, this one seemed to be not his best. He definitely is a risk taker and goes for it

I never understood why Johnson never got into soundtrack work,........his clean melodies just carries you away in the clouds.

ほんとにスゲー 心を打つよな

Good god!

Every 15-year-old kid does this in his bedroom. If he doesn’t have a video game set, times of changed, I didn’t have KZread to learn with when I was 15.

@Binze86

3 ай бұрын

They rarely play his amazing intros to cliffs of dover, where he improvises. Those are just magical and needs a whole other dimension than copying the actual song. I always look for the long versions on youtube because of those ❤️ But I agree. We "only" had our ears back then.

@laytonturpin864

3 ай бұрын

My question is, can you play it yourself?

@30ANews

3 ай бұрын

Yeah sure, Eric didn’t have KZread either. No excuses bro

@ReignDropsStudio

3 ай бұрын

I’ve yet to hear anyone capture the essence of the original. I’ve never heard anyone play it to the standards of the EJ in his prime. JMO ever.

@dougbloom3672

3 ай бұрын

​@ReignDropsStudio Mateo mancusso can hit it . Shawn Lane , when he was alive.

The master....

What’s the effect he’s using underneath in the intro?

Who is Eric Johnson & why is he on KZread? He is still killing it!

Кайфовый!

Is he playing "Both Sides Now" at the start?

He's definitely one of the best guitarists in the world, and he plays much harder stuff than Joe and Steve Vai!

@Comet-hn3gm

Ай бұрын

I prefer to listen to EJ first, the Joe. Steve V is undoubtedly good, just doesn't appeal to me.

I wouldn't mind hearing John Paul Jones sitting in on bass. That would be such a complement to this guy's playing!!

Is that Roscoe Beck in the bass?

It wasn’t until 7:40 that he got to something I recognized.

I'll start by saying this is NOT intended as nit-picking criticism. Eric has been the true greatest guitarist in the entire world for decades and still is. NO ONE EVEN COMES CLOSE. I have been a lead guitarist for 52 years and made my living at it for several of those years yet I still couldn't even come remotely close to his skills. After watching this performance I'm not even thinking about his playing. I'm deeply concerned about him on a personal level. I've never seen him like this. I just cant help but believe there's something wrong. I sincerily pray I'm wrong. The world of music needs Eric.