Music

Eric Clapton might be retiring from music

by Richard Howard

With his new album I Still Do set to be released on Friday, Eric Clapton sat down with Billboard to talk about host of topics. These include his three daughters’ Bieber fandom (“I was, I suppose, a little bit disappointed that they were talking about him, until I heard the music. It’s got some substance now.”) and his current relationship with music. Sadly, the latter may not be what diehard fans want to hear.

There’s no doubt the legendary guitarist still loves playing – in fact, on his new single “Spiral” he sings: “You don’t know how much this means/to have this music in me… I gotta have it.” Still, he notes that things are markedly different now.

“I can’t go to that place [his prolific younger years] anymore. I have to work hard now to get to the place where it’s absolutely free. The days you’re referring to I was doing it non-stop all day long and it was all I ever thought about. I was a young man with a passion. I don’t know that guy anymore at all. But I know where the music came from and I can tap into a point where I think it’s OK.”

Clapton has hinted at hanging up the guitar a few times before, and some now equate any such allusions with Michael Jordan’s numerous retirements. Still, the fact that Clapton’s performances have slowed to a trickle is giving credence to the idea he’s serious. In the eyes of many, his selection of “I’ll Be Seeing You” (made famous by Billie Holiday) as I Still Do’s closing track is another hint Slowhand is in the midst of a last hurrah. Addressing the song choice, he somehow managed to stay non-committal while giving the closest thing to a confirmation yet:

[h/t Billboard]