Eric Clapton announces plans to quit 'unbearable' life on the road

Eric Clapton has announced that he plans to quit touring, because life on the road has become "unbearable" and "unapproachable".

Speaking to Uncut, Clapton said that instead of being on the road he would focus on working and recording in the studio. He expressed both a dissatisfaction with touring, but also lamented the ailments that are beginning to affect his guitar playing. 

"There are tons of things I'd like to do, but I'm looking at retirement too," Clapton said. "What I'll allow myself to do, within reason, is carry on recording in the studio. I don't want to go off the boil to the point where I'm embarrassing myself."  

He also chose to take a dig at the continuing westernisation of the world at large, saying that every country he visits is now "a different version of America". "The road has become unbearable. It's become unapproachable, because it takes so long to get anywhere. It's hostile – everywhere: getting in and out of airports, travelling on planes and in cars."

He also touched upon whether he may give up playing guitar, answering: "Maybe. It might be that I can't, if it hurts too much. I have odd ailments." 

Recently Clapton had to cut short a show in Glasgow on Saturday 21 June, citing technical difficulties for the reason in his apology. He reffered also reffered to the issues as "unbearable", which points towards Clapton's dissatisfaction with touring.