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.