after many years, rocker finally comes to his senses

Wednesday, October 4th, 2006
ST. PAUL, Minn. —  In his 40-year-plus career, Eric Clapton has rolled up plenty of honors: He’s had numerous hits, 18 Grammys and is the first musician inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He still sells out arenas across the globe as fans make the pilgrimage to hear one of the greats in action.

Yet when asked to give an assessment of his own play, Clapton offers a blunt review that might seem unkind coming from someone else’s mouth.

“I think I’m definitely on the decline,” the 61-year-old said a few hours before kicking off the North American leg of his world tour. He recently watched video of his 1997 blues tour and says he was “shocked by how much more proficient I was then than I am now.”