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You Told Me You Was High Class

It’s Greek to Me

Ah, to be in your early twenties with the world at your feet. Eric Clapton had provided lead guitar for two well-known British bands and elevated himself to the position of one of the better up-and-coming guitarists in rock music. What does one do with that type of reputation at such a young age? The answer was a road trip.

He did not so much leave John Mayall’s band as disappear from the group. He and a group of friends piled into an old vehicle and decided to play their way around Europe. This initiated the birth of one of the more obscure Eric Clapton bands.

The Glands consisted of guitarist Eric Clapton, pianist Ben Palmer, drummer Jack Milton, sax player Bernie Greenwood, bassist Bob Ray, and vocalist John Bailey. Every once in a while, they would call themselves the Greek Loon Band.

They traveled to Germany and Yugoslavia but finally settled in Athens, Greece. They auditioned at a local nightclub to be the opening act for the Juniors. No one had heard of the Yardbirds, John Mayall, or Eric Clapton. They were hired for their ability to play material by the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, and the Everly Brothers. Their pay was room and board, which was quite a comedown for Mr. Clapton. Their drummer had the good sense to depart and was replaced by a local musician named Makis Saliaris.

The Juniors were involved in a car accident on October 18, 1965. Group leader and manager Thanos Sogioul was killed and guitarist Kara Kadas injured, so he could not play. Clapton stepped in as the guitarist so they would not lose their job at the Igloo Club.

He began playing Yardbird material, and as word circulated that the famous Eric Clapton was playing locally, attendance increased dramatically at the club. The owner quickly realized he had a goldmine under contract.

The band was penniless and so in October 1965 resorted to selling their equipment to buy tickets back to England. Clapton managed to save his guitar but left his amplifier behind. No doubt the band members kissed the ground of their native country when they arrived home.

Eric Clapton now had to decide what to do next as he was unemployed and bandless for the first time in a number of years.