Eric Clapton has revealed the extent of health issues that have made playing guitar, among other things, a challenge for the 71-year-old.
“I’ve had quite a lot of pain over the last year,” Clapton tells Classic Rock. “It started with lower back pain and turned into what they call peripheral neuropathy, which is where you feel like you have electric shocks going down your leg.
"[It's] hard work to play the guitar and I've had to come to terms with the fact that it will not improve.
“And I’ve had to figure out how to deal with some other things from getting old.”
As the guitar icon faces these new challenges, he’s appreciative to have survived a history of addiction one day at a time.
“Because I’m in recovery from alcoholism and addiction to substances, I consider it a great thing to be alive at all,” he explains. “By rights I should have kicked the bucket a long time ago. For some reason I was plucked from the jaws of hell and given another chance.”
Clapton recently released his 23rd album, “I Still Do.”
The project sees Clapton reunite with “Slowhand” producer Glyn Johns on the 40th anniversary of the 1976 project that remains one of the guitarist’s biggest-selling studio efforts.
See also:
Eric Clapton addresses rumored George Harrison appearance on new album
Eric Clapton previews tracks from new album I Still Do
Eric Clapton announces new album I Still Do
Eric Clapton to release 9-LP vinyl box set
Search Eric Clapton at hennemusic
