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Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton are to unite for a series of shows next month. The guitar legends, who are both former members of The Yardbirds, will begin their short tour at the London O2 Arena on February 13. They will play separately, before taking to the stage to perform together.

In addition to the gigs with Clapton, Jeff Beck has announced details of a worldwide tour beginning in Seoul, South Korea on March 20 and ending in New Orleans, USA on May 1. Beck will be showcasing songs from his latest studio album, Emotion & Commotion. Beck recorded Emotion & Commotion late last year at Sarm Studios in London with award-winning producers Steve Lipson and Trevor Horn. It is due for release in April.

New touring band

A brand new touring band will join Jeff Beck on stage for all these engagements. The band comprises:

• Michael Walden on drums - Walden featured on Beck’s 1976 album, Wired, and has also collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones
• Rhonda Smith on bass - Smith has played bass for Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Prince
• Jason Rebello on keyboards - Rebello has performed with Sting and Chaka Khan, and also previously with Jeff Beck.

Tour dates

Here’s the full tour details:

Jeff Beck Tour Dates (with Eric Clapton)

February

13 London O2 Arena
14 London O2 Arena
18 New York City Madison Square Garden
19 New York City Madison Square Garden
21 Toronto Air Canada Center
22 Montreal Bell Centre

Jeff Beck’s Emotion & Commotion Tour (First Leg of U.S. Tour)

April

16 San Francisco Nob Hill Masonic Centre
17 Los Angeles Nokia Theatre LA Live
18 Temecula Pechanga Resort & Casino
19 San Diego 4th & B
24 Houston Verizon Wireless Theatre
25 Dallas Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
27 Tulsa Brady Theatre
28 Kansas City Starlight Theatre
29 St. Louis Fox Theatre
30 Memphis Beale Street Music Festival

May

1 New Orleans Jazz Festival (Gentilly Stage)

More US dates are expected to be added.

Click here for Jeff Beck ticket information

2009 recap

The 2010 World tour follows a successful 2009 for Jeff Beck, during which he played a sold out World tour, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the second time, and released the platinum-selling “Performing This Week… Live At Ronnie Scott’s.” Preview the tracks below, including “Day in the Life” for which Beck received a Grammy nomination.

Another highlight of 2009 for Jeff Beck was his appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert at Madison Square Garden. Here’s his excellent performance of The Beatles’ “Day in the Life” from that show.

The Hollies are among those who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

The British rockers will be honoured at the 25th annual induction ceremony in New York on March 15, along with ABBA, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff and The Stooges.

Graham Nash, who left The Hollies in 1968, has welcomed the news. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Nash said:

“My absolute first reaction was that I was so pleased for my friend Allan Clarke. He’s my oldest friend. We met when we were five years, I’ve known him for 62 years. I’m already in the Hall of Fame with Crosby, Still and Nash, of course, of which I’m grateful, but this is really an honor for my first band.”

The Hollies formed in Manchester in the early 1960s and chose their name in tribute to Buddy Holly. They joined Parlophone in 1963 as label-mates of The Beatles. Famed for their distinctive vocal harmonies, the group scored twenty UK Top 40 hits in the 1960s - only behind The Shadows with 24 and The Beatles with 21. Among their big hits were “Bus Stop,” “Jennifer Eccles,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” and “I’m Alive”, which was their only number one.

The Hollies still tour with two original members, Tony Hicks and Bobby Elliott. Original lead singer, Allan Clarke, retired in 1999 and was replaced by Carl Wayne, former lead singer of The Move.

Enjoy The Hollies classic “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

A number of superb songwriters are also to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, as recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award. A quick look at some of their writing credits reveals some truly classic pop and rock songs:

Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil - “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” (with Phil Spector), “On Broadway” (with Leiber and Stoller), “We Gotta Get Out of this Place” and “Walking in the Rain

Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich - “Da Doo Ron Ron,” “Then He Kissed Me,” “Be My Baby” and “River Deep, Mountain High”

Mort Shuman (alongside Doc Pomus who was inducted in 2002) - “This Magic Moment,” “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “Viva Las Vegas”

Otis Blackwell - “Great Balls of Fire,” “All Shook Up,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Fever”

Jesse Stone - “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Flip, Flop and Fly” and “Money Honey.”

The Induction Ceremony will be televised live on Fuse on March 15th.

Congratulations to all inductees.