Eric Clapton: "An Odd Trip During 1965" Part 2

“Juniors” had a serious car accident at New Philadelphia, Athens on 18 October 1965. Thanos Sogioul, leader of the group, his girlfriend and the manager of the group lost their lifes, while the guitarist Alex Karakadas injured. (For those who dig in proggresive rock history, Karakadas later in early 70's formed the band "Axis" in France. After the success of "Aphrodite's Child" formed by Demis Roussos and Vagelis Papathanasiou in Paris, "Axis" followed and their album is a must between the fans of progressive rock.)  

Igloo club was ready to close its doors after that, when Clapton offered to join the “Juniors”  in Karakantas place, to keep the job. This meant that he had to  perform every day, from 7 o’clock in the afternoon until the next morning, which exhausted him. But he could not abandon them, because “Juniors” were nice guys and also their friend had been killed ...

Things worsened when the owner of a competitive club accused them to the police because they did not have work permits, as well as the hotel manager came and asked the money supposed the club had to pay. At some point of time, Clapton started playing the “Yardbirds” songs. The owner of the club realized that he had to take very seriously the guitarist and should not allow him to be lost. Things had started to warm! “Juniors” realized who exactly was that guitarist and convinced the club owner that they must not let him go for any reason.

After that, the club owner treated realy fine Eric, but the others were into serious troubles. They decided to leave. But first they have somehow to get their equipment. The club owner was determined to keep it, because the equipment was the same, used by the "Beatles". Then Eric suggested to stay himself and perform with the “Juniors”, with the condition the others to take their equipment and leave.

According to John Baily, they managed to get everything back except Clapton’s Gibson guitar and his Marshall amp. Ben and Eric went by taxi to the club pretending that they wanted to change strings on the guitar, they took it and left.

Bernie remembers that finaly they took all their equipment, except the Marshall amp.

A triumphant appearance followed. The place was “Terpsithea” movie theatre. The date  25/10/65.  7 : 30  in the morning and people had begun to accumulate outside the cinema. 10:00 the doors were closed, leaving hundreds of people outside and the show began. Clapton was dressed in black, “Juniors” wearing black brassards as a mourning sign. It is said that they opened the show by performing the song "I'm Crying" (Animals), during the performance the two Sogioul’s sisters who were among the crowd, left the hall crying.

Eric Clapton on the right in black with Juniors wearing black brassards.

“Faces” appearance went great, fever “transmitted” to the crowds. That fact disturbed the police. At some point the situation set beyond any control and Clapton was forced to stay until everyone calm down. After that, they gathered their equipment and lost in the narrow roads of Athens. Destination was the railway station, where Bob, Eric and Ben boarded on train. Bernie and John continued to complete their long journey to Australia and returned home via America, where Bailey joined the ranks of “McGuinness Flint” as a singer. He is the only one who had kept a detailed diary of the adventure. Ben Palmer became Cream’s roadie, while Ted Milton in the early 80s led “Blurt”. Bernie says: [We relaxed for a few weeks, sold our equipment and went even more eastern.]

The ferry was approaching to the pier of Dover and just before catching the train to London, Eric wanted to make a call. According to Ben:  [I gave him a few coins. Eric went directly to the phone booth. He called John Mayall to get him back in the band. It seemed very natural to him after his return to England to join Mayall’s band again. He never imagined that Mayall would say no”....]

The Greek drummer Makis Saliaris involved in “Faces”, remembers Clapton as a shy, sober and serious guy even if he was the leader of the band. The only contact he had later with the musicians was a letter, sent by Bernie Greenwood asking them to sell Clapton’s amp and sent the money to England.

Searching on the Internet, i realized that after 44 years, many people in the world try to detect the fate of the amp, making different assumptions about the exact model and other details, according to some evidence ( "In April 1965 Eric joins John Mayall.  He soon adopts a new sound using a 1959 Gibson Les Paul and a JTM45 Amplifier and a 4x12 "cabinet. In August Eric departs for his tour of Europe with the Glands. He has to abandon his JTM45 and cabinet in Greece." and “They left the famous beano JTM here, but even more the rare “coffin” amp head logo that was custom made by Marshall”). I can not add anything new in their research except this letter. Probably this is the first time published on the Internet.