A recent bout with extreme COVID vaccine side effects has inspired another searing rebuke of government pandemic mandates from the guitar legend Eric Clapton.
In a lengthy missive reposted by multiple users across social media, the 76 year-old “Layla” singer spoke of dealing with western governments’ handling of coronavirus as the “greatest dilemma of his life,” one which he claimed has been worse than him overcoming “addiction and alcoholism.”
At the outset of his letter, the musician detailed his entire perspective on the pandemic in order to contextualize his feelings on the vaccine. While he explained that he took the jab because he is 76 and has emphysema, he acknowledged that he has always been suspicious of the controls which have been put in place to save us from the China virus.
Clapton wrote, “I have inwardly stood against our ‘elected leaders’ since brexit, intuitively doubting their integrity and character...With the arrival of C-19 I hoped that C Henegan, S Gupta and Jay B would lead the way, but when imperial college stepped up with their jailers key, I knew we were in deep trouble…”
Here Clapton appeared to be referencing his hope for leadership from COVID researchers who have studied the virus, and have been skeptical of media, big tech and the government’s response to it. It appears the Carl Heneghan that Clapton referenced is the Director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine in Oxford, who believes that institutions have become emboldened to censor free speech due to COVID.
However, when western governments started taking cues from the Imperial College and their infamously bad report that millions of people would die if drastic measures weren’t adopted, Clapton – like many of us – knew we were doomed to watch a needlessly panicky and botched reaction to the disease. The guitarist added, “I am a man of faith, albeit abstract, and what I felt and saw unfold in March ‘20 began to lead me away from govt rhetoric and the devotion of the general public to the PM and his cronies…”
He then moved on to his ordeal with the vaccines, “In February this year, before I learned about the nature of the vaccines, (and being 76 with emphezyma[sic]) I was in the avant garde. I took the first jab of AZ and straight away had severe reactions which lasted ten days.” He then described taking the second shot and having an even worse reaction: “Needless to say the reactions were disastrous, my hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks, I feared I would never play again.”
Clapton then blasted the government claim that the vaccine “would be safe for all” as “propaganda.”
Clapton has been quite vocal against COVID lockdown measures taken in the UK. Just last year, the artist helped produce and perform on Van Morrison’s anti-lockdown song “Stand and Deliver.” In his letter he also teased another upcoming lockdown song he’s been producing with the artist, called “The Rebels.” “I’ve been a rebel all my life, against tyranny and arrogant authority, which is what we have now, but I also crave fellowship, compassion and love, and that I find here…,” the artist concluded, speaking fondly of the camaraderie he’s found in the anti-lockdown community.
After all these years, it’s clear that Clapton hasn’t sold out. The same can’t be said for most famous musicians relevant today.
