Eric Clapton (with a signature Strat in Ferrari grigio silverstone) and Jeff Beck (playing a blackguard Tele he promptly—and haphazardly—tossed offstage after the song) have a blast during
their “Shake Your Money Maker” duet.
Lang brought his own Fender Deluxe Reverb, while Clark was hooked up with a
Fender Vibro-King—an amp he had been craving for years. In fact, Fender amps were
the standard for the day, with Beck (he used two Pro Juniors in addition to a Marshall
JCM 2000 powering two Marshall 4x12s), Clapton (’ 57 Twin-Amp reissue), Wood
(Vibro-King), and Winwood (Super-Sonic 60) using them as their amps of choice.
CROSSROADS BY
THE NUMBERS
John Mayer ran a two-amp setup consisting of his Dumble Steel String Singer and
Two-Rock John Mayer signature head. His pedals included an Ibanez TS9 Tube
Screamer, a Klon Centaur, an MXR Carbon Copy, and a Keeley Katana. Sonny
Landreth also used a Dumble—a brown Overdrive Special—during his high-energy
opening set on the main stage and during his Ernie Ball Stage clinic.
30,000
tickets sold
11
minutes it took to sell out
Buddy Guy, who played through a Chicago Blues Box Roadhouse head, was calm
and collected when he broke a string on his cream Strat. He playfully inserted improvised lyrics about it into the song and Wood pretended to take off his guitar for the
elder statesman while they waited for a tech to bring Guy his iconic polka-dot Strat.
98
degrees—the hottest heat index
recorded at Toyota Park
For the finale, 22 guitarists piled onstage to play “Sweet Home Chicago” through a
wall of amps. “It was this huge array of 2x12 combos,” said Haynes, “and everyone
just picked one and plugged in.”
5
dollars—the hefty price tag
for bottled water
A Little Rehab for Everyone
Toward the end of Clapton’s set, the bluesman confided, “This was supposed to be
the last one, but somehow I don’t think it will be.” It may have been the sweetest
thing everyone there heard all day. And with so much amazing music permeating
the air, it was easy to forget that it was all for a nobler cause. A raffle for guitars and
other goods in the Guitar Center Village area outside the stage raised more than
$15,000 for the Crossroads Centre charity, and merchandise and DVD profits will
also be donated to the treatment facility.
4/4
songs/guitars played by John Mayer
12/2
songs/guitars played by Eric Clapton
22
guitarists onstage simultaneously
for the finale
But it’s probably safe to say that the concert was therapeutic for many, many
more people than those who will be treated at the world-class center on Antigua.
Because, at the end of the day, the vibe and experience was what it was all about—
for the performers and the audience. Together, 30,000 fans and 20-something guitarists endured blazing heat—which sent more than a few attendees to the medical
tent—to bask in the healing glow of great music, to establish and nurture meaningful relationships, and to witness once-in-a-lifetime performances.
150
approximate number of
production staff members
