There’s just 25 months left to see Eric Clapton on tour. The legendary guitarist says that he’s going to quit the road life when he turns 70 years old because getting from show to show is too much of a pain. “The bit on stage, that’s easy,” he says before insisting he’ll stay active playing around his hometown.
Clapton, who turns 70 on March 30, 2015, says security and immigration officials are two groups of people he’ll be glad to be rid of. “I never get it right. I forget to take off my belt, or I have change in my pocket,” he tells Rolling Stone. “Next thing I know, ‘Can you come over here please?’ I just don’t want to do that anymore.”
This spring Clapton will begin a 17-date tour of the U.S. in Phoenix, Ariz. The trek will end on April 12-13 at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in New York City. On March 12 he’ll release ‘Old Sock,’ his 21st studio album.
Full-on retirement doesn’t seem to be in Clapton’s plans as he said he’ll keep playing one-off shows when he’s up for it. He still loves the live show. “If I could do that around my neighborhood, that would be great. You have guys in Texas that play their circuit,” he adds.
“So the idea is I’m taking a leaf out of JJ [Cale]‘s book: When I’m 70, I’ll stop. I won’t stop playing or doing one-offs, but I’ll stop touring, I think.”
source: ultimateclassicrock.com