VIDEO: Keith Richards, Eric Clapton perform together at Hubert Sumlin tribute

Richards, harmonica player James Cotton and Clapton on stage last Friday
Richards, harmonica player James Cotton and Clapton on stage last Friday

Keith Richards joined Eric Clapton on stage at New York's Apollo Theatre during a memorial concert for blues guitar legend Hubert Sumlin last Friday (24 February).

The two British guitar gods performed the Howlin' Wolf classic Spoonful (which Clapton covered while a member of Cream in 1966) as a tribute to the Sumlin, who had played with Wolf for decades and passed away last December.

The show marked Richards' first major musical appearance since The Rolling Stones last toured five years ago. "It's good to be back," he told the crowd. "Goddamn, it's good to be back."

In addition to Richards and Clapton, the show featured more in the line of star power: Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Jimmie Vaughan, Derek Trucks, Doyle Bramhall II and Elvis Costello. In addition, Wolf and Sumlin's former bandmates, harmonica player James Cotton (seen above), guitarist Jody Williams and saxophonist Eddie Shaw, also sat in.

Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar WorldGuitar PlayerMusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.