Eric Clapton and his band – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – The Robert Cray Band feaut. The Memphis Horns – August 25-26, 1990 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI Concert Poster

Signed by Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan ’90, Reese Wymans, Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon and Robert Cray

The two Eric Clapton concerts at Alpine Valley Music Theatre were supported by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and The Robert Cray Band featuring The Memphis Horns.

After the second show had ended, the plan was for Stevie to take a two-hour drive back to his Chicago hotel with his brother Jimmie and sister-in-law, Connie, but at the last minute he chose to board a Bell 206B Jet Ranger, one of four helicopters waiting nearby. According to his New York City publicist, Charles Comer, Vaughan had learned from Clapton’s manager that there were seats enough to accommodate all three in his party. When he found only one place was actually available, Vaughan said to Connie and Jimmie, “Do you mind if I take the seat? I really need to get back.”

The helicopter, owned by Omni Flight Helicopters Inc., took off in dense fog enroute to Chicago’s Midway Airport around 12.40am with Stevie, pilot Jeffrey Brown, Bobby Brooks, Clapton’s Hollywood agent; Clapton’s assistant tour manager, Colin Smythe; and Clapton’s bodyguard, Nigel Browne onboard. They crashed into a hill shortly before 1am, killing all instantly.

Clapton and Robert Cray, were in another helicopter, which landed safely in Chicago.

After the helicopter was reported missing, the Civil Air Patrol discovered the wreckage in a field the next morning. A search for the lost copter wasn’t begun until 5am, more than four hours later, after an orbiting search-and-rescue satellite picked up the craft’s emergency-locator transmitter signal. At 7am searchers found the five bodies.

Later that morning Clapton and Jimmie Vaughan were summoned by the Walworth County coroner to identify the bodies.

Eric issued a statement through his spokesman, Ronnie Lippin, saying that the victims “were my companions, my associates and my friends”, and adding, “This is a tragic loss of some very special people”.

Eric Clapton Setlist (25th):

Pretending

No Alibis

Running On Faith

I Shot The Sheriff

White Room

Can’t Find My Way Home

Bad Love

Before You Accuse Me

Old Love

Badge

Wonderful Tonight

Cocaine

Layla

Crossroads (with Jeff Healey on guitar)

Sunshine Of Your Love (with Jeff Healey on guitar)

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble Setlist (26th):

Collins’ Shuffle (Albert Collins cover)

The House Is Rockin’

Tightrope

The Things (That) I Used to Do (Guitar Slim cover)

Let Me Love You Baby (Willie Dixon cover)

Leave My Girl Alone (Buddy Guy cover)

Pride And Joy

Wall Of Denial

Riviera Paradise

Superstition (Stevie Wonder cover)

Couldn’t Stand the Weather

Goin’ Down (Freddie King cover, with Jimmie Vaughan)

Crossfire

Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix cover)

Eric Clapton Setlist (26th):

Pretending

No Alibis

Running On Faith

I Shot The Sheriff

White Room

Can’t Find My Way Home

Bad Love

Before You Accuse Me

Old Love

Badge

Wonderful Tonight

Cocaine

Layla

Sunshine Of Your Love

Sweet Home Chicago (a 20 minute encore jam featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Buddy Guy & Robert Cray)