Music legend Eric Clapton, the 76-year-old guitarist, singer and songwriter from England, has released a new single, “This Has Gotta Stop”, in protest of COVID-19 restrictions, lockdowns, and pushes for mandatory vaccination.
“This has gotta stop / Enough is enough / I can’t take this BS any longer,” sings Clapton in the protest song. “It’s gone far enough / If you wanna claim my soul / You’ll have to come and break down this door”. Later in the song, Clapton sings, “I know who I am / Try to do what’s right / So lock me up and throw away the key”.
According to the YouTube description for the song, “The song was written by Clapton, produced by his longtime producing partner Simon Climie and is performed by Clapton, Sonny Emery on drums, Nathan East on bass, Sharon White on background vocals along with Nick Ingman as the strings arranger and conductor and Perry Montague-Mason as strings leader.” The song and music video are available for streaming and purchase.
Clapton has become one of the most recognized celebrities in the fight against COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, and more recently, against mandatory vaccinations. In 2020, he appeared alongside Van Morrison in a new song titled “Stand and Deliver” that lambasted the United Kingdom’s stringent COVID-19 lockdowns and their impact on live music. “We must stand up and be counted because we need to find a way out of this mess. The alternative is not worth thinking about. Live music might never recover,” Clapton stated at the time.
More recently, as music venues have reopened to only vaccinated crowds in the United Kingdom, Clapton has pledged not to perform at any venue requiring medical procedures for audiences. “Following the PM’s announcement on Monday the 19th of July 2021 I feel honour bound to make an announcement of my own: I wish to say that I will not perform on any stage where there is a discriminated audience present. Unless there is provision made for all people to attend, I reserve the right to cancel the show,” said Clapton in July of this year.
