Eric Clapton cancels Pittsburgh concert date

The forever man is forgoing his Pittsburgh concert date.

Legendary rock and blues guitarist Eric Clapton has removed a performance scheduled for Sept. 16 at PPG Paints Arena from his current tour and replaced it with a gig at Boston’s TD Garden for the same date.

Clapton gave no reason for the sudden change and did not say when or if the show would be rescheduled, according to PPG Paints Arena spokesperson Alyssa Blumling. She confirmed the venue had no say in Clapton’s decision.

Clapton has been an outspoken critic of proof of vaccine requirements issued by concert halls and said he refuses to play at any that require them. But according to the PPG Paints Arena website, the arena currently does not require vaccination cards or proof of negative tests for entry “unless specifically required by show organizers.”

Clapton, 77, tested positive for covid-19 after his May 8 concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. He subsequently postponed European shows in Zurich and Milan.

Clapton announced May 16 that he would play PPG Paints Arena on Sept. 16, the same night as a scheduled Elton John concert at PNC Park. Though the timing seemed odd, there was no official word that it factored into Clapton’s abrupt decision to cancel his show just over two weeks since announcing he was coming to Pittsburgh.

Tickets were set to go on sale June 10.

Clapton, a three-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has not played the Steel City since performing at PPG Paints Arena in 2013 as part of his 50th anniversary tour.