Eric Claptoon.

Byline: By Gordon Barr

Rock legend Eric Clapton is to play his first North East show in 15 years.

The guitarist will perform at Newcastle's Telewest Arena on April 27 next year, with tickets on sale from tomorrow.

It will be Clapton's first performance in the city since 1989 when he appeared, with Phil Collins on drums, at the City Hall.

The gig is the latest in a string of top rock acts destined for the Arena, including Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden and Meat Loaf.

"For years, Clapton seldom played any UK gigs outside of London. He was famed for his Royal Albert Hall shows and once played there 24 nights in a row," said Arena executive director Colin Revel.

"We're over the moon a living legend like Clapton is coming to the Arena."

Clapton, an illegitimate child, was born Eric Patrick Clapp, in 1945 and was given his first guitar by his grandparents, Rose and Jack, who raised him.

The pounds 14 acoustic guitar was for his 14th birthday and he was soon copying the great blues guitarists note for note.

His first band was the Roosters, then Casey Jones And The Engineers, before being sought out in 1963 by the Yardbirds.

The reputation swiftly established by the Yardbirds was largely centred on Clapton, who had already been nicknamed "Slowhand".

Clapton wanted to play the blues, while the Yardbirds went down the pop route, and 18 months later he joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.

The guitarist was elevated to superstar status with the formation of Cream in 1966 and together with ex-Graham Bond Organisation members Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, he created one of the most influential rock bands of our time.

Due to his close friendship with George Harrison, he was asked to play the lead solo on Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps on The Beatles' White Album.

More bands came and went before the founding of Derek And The Dominos and one of the rock world's most famous numbers, Layla. The clandestine love song was directed at George Harrison's wife Pattie, with whom Clapton had become besotted.

Harrison, unaware of this, invited him to play at his historic Concert For Bangladesh in August 1971.

Clapton then struggled to overcome a heroin habit that had grown out of control, since being introduced to the drug during the recording of Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.

During the worst moments of his addiction he began to pawn some of his precious guitars and spent up to pounds 1,500 a week to feed his habit. Clapton then endeavoured to clean up his act but soon found alcohol replacing the drugs.

In the 1990s, Clapton's career went from strength to strength, although the death of his son Conor from the 53rd floor of a New York apartment in 1991 halted his career for some months.

Clapton's 1992 Unplugged album became one of his most successful ever, and the poignant Tears In Heaven, about the death of his son, was a major hit worldwide.

In 1998, he parted company with his long-time manager Roger Forrester and aimed to spend more time working with Crossroads, the drug rehabilitation centre he founded.

N Eric Clapton is at the Telewest Arena on April 27. Tickets, at pounds 40 and pounds 50, go on sale at 9am tomorrow, on 0870 707 8000, www.telewestarena.co.uk or at the usual outlets.