Eric Clapton has revealed that he is suffering from nerve damage that is affecting his ability to play the guitar like he used to.
In 2013, Clapton was forced to cancel concerts because of back pain which was apparently the start of dealing with his condition, peripheral neuropathy, which impairs sensation and movement.
“It turned into what they call peripheral neuropathy – which is where you feel like you have electric shocks going down your leg,” Clapton told Classic Rock Magazine, speaking about the back pain.
“[It’s] hard work to play the guitar and I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that it will not improve.”
Clapton has had an incredibly lengthy career. He’s been releasing music since 1964 and has played in bands like Cream, Blind Faith, The Yardbirds. He also has 23 solo albums to his name, the last being I Still Do which was released just a few weeks ago.
He has no upcoming tour dates and told Uncut in 2014 that he was “looking at retirement”.
Despite this, he sounds upbeat about getting old lamenting that he “should have kicked the bucket a long time ago.”
“Because I’m in recovery from alcoholism and addiction to substances, I consider it a great thing to be alive at all,” he said.
“For some reason I was plucked from the jaws of hell and given another chance.”
Listen: Eric Clapton – Can’t Let You Do It
