Eric Clapton has revealed that he's going deaf, in addition to suffering from other health problems that have affected his playing.
Speaking in a new interview with BBC Radio 2 to promote new documentary Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars, the guitar icon broke the news of his hearing loss, stating that the plans to continue performing live, however.
"The only thing I'm concerned with now is being in my 70s and being able to be proficient," he explained. "I mean, I'm going deaf, I've got tinnitus, my hands just about work."
Clapton added, "I'm hoping that people will come along and see me just because, or maybe more than because I'm a curiosity. I know that is part of it, because it's amazing to myself I'm still here."
As how his health is affecting his playing, Clapton explained that he has to "get on the bottom of the ladder every time I play guitar, just to tune it...Then I have to go through the whole threshold of getting calluses [on the fingers] back, coordination."
Elsewhere in the interview, Clapton speaks about his drinking habits and how Life in 12 Bars shows that "there's a light at the end of the tunnel."
You can listen to the conversation here.
Speaking in a new interview with BBC Radio 2 to promote new documentary Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars, the guitar icon broke the news of his hearing loss, stating that the plans to continue performing live, however.
"The only thing I'm concerned with now is being in my 70s and being able to be proficient," he explained. "I mean, I'm going deaf, I've got tinnitus, my hands just about work."
Clapton added, "I'm hoping that people will come along and see me just because, or maybe more than because I'm a curiosity. I know that is part of it, because it's amazing to myself I'm still here."
As how his health is affecting his playing, Clapton explained that he has to "get on the bottom of the ladder every time I play guitar, just to tune it...Then I have to go through the whole threshold of getting calluses [on the fingers] back, coordination."
Elsewhere in the interview, Clapton speaks about his drinking habits and how Life in 12 Bars shows that "there's a light at the end of the tunnel."
You can listen to the conversation here.
