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Eric Clapton’s Heartbreaking Journey: How ‘Tears In Heaven’ Helped Him Heal After Son’s Tragic Death

BBG News

Eric Clapton discussed in a recently discovered interview for a TV special how his song “Tears in Heaven” helped him cope with the loss of his son, Conor, at the age of four, by providing an outlet for his grief.

In a tragic and unforeseen mishap that took place on March 20, 1991, five months before his fifth birthday, Conor Clapton, son of Eric Clapton, aged 79 at the time, and Lory Del Santo, then 66 years old, fell from a New York skyscraper’s 53rd floor.

The child tumbled through an unattended, open window in the apartment building in Manhattan where his mother was temporarily residing.

In December 1991, Eric Clapton debuted the song “Tears In Heaven.” This track served as a means for him to express his sorrow following the loss of his son, as he discussed in an interview for his MTV special in 1992. An extended version of this special, titled “Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later,” will be available for streaming next month.

He mentioned that the track, featured on the Rush soundtrack, served a crucial purpose in depicting grief due to the movie’s plot. It provided him with a platform to express his feelings about losing his son, and it offered an outlet for those emotions as well.

Additionally, I felt compelled to share a thought regarding my experience, and the chance the movie presented was ideal since it allowed me to pen a song specifically for the movie, thus giving me a platform to articulate my personal emotions.

He expressed a desire to involve his fans in his sorrow by sharing some of his personal experiences. He plans to reveal these matters, perform them during concerts, and record them. For him, this is a therapeutic process, and he believes it’s meaningful for his fans who appreciate his music to be part of this journey as well.

In a private aspect of my life, I’ve never had the chance to meet my father. This realization struck me particularly when I was with my own son. The most intimate encounter I’ve had that resembles looking into my father’s eyes was when I gazed into my son’s eyes instead.

I composed a tune based on that experience. It’s somewhat unusual, as it seemed to follow this odd, recurring pattern that resonated with me, and I thought it was worth expressing.

He found solace in fatherhood towards Ruth, a woman now aged 40, who was two years senior to Conor and shares the same mother, Yvonne Kelly. This experience assisted him in dealing with his sorrow.

He mentioned that being near Ruth provided assistance, and indeed it did. It allowed him to cradle a child once more, and to be embraced by one as well.

‘Ruth has been incredibly helpful. I never realized just how impactful a child’s influence can be on someone’s life, or how empowering it can feel to be valued, recognized, and strengthened by them.’

Eric Clapton Unplugged… Over 30 Years Later is streaming February 12 on Paramount+ 

In the year 2002, Eric Clapton wed Melia McEnery, and together they have three daughters: Julie (age 23), Ella (age 22), and Sophie (age 19).

2018 saw Eric Clapton disclose his decision to retreat from society for a year, flying off to Antigua following the passing of Conor.

(Here, I’ve changed “revealed” to “disclose,” “how” to “his decision to,” and “living as a recluse” to “retreating from society.”)

The renowned musician retreated to a Caribbean island, immersing himself deeply in composing music as a fervent effort to find solace.

Reflecting on the heartrending times following Conor’s passing, Eric shared: ‘Upon returning from New York, I took him home surrounded by his mother’s Italian relatives. Together, we navigated the steps leading up to his funeral.’

After the funeral, he chose to retreat to a secluded cottage in Antigua for nearly a year, dedicating most of his time to playing his guitar while minimizing interactions with the wider world.

Speaking about his experiences, he mentioned that after they departed, I found myself possessing a small Spanish-style guitar. This instrument grew on me, so I decided to travel to Antigua and rented a quaint little cottage in a community. There, I spent my days battling mosquitoes while playing the guitar, staying for nearly an entire year with minimal interaction with the outside world. My aim was to find solace and recovery, he explained.

I kept playing and writing these songs, continually revising and rehearsing them until I felt as if I had touched something deep within myself. Then, I found the strength to emerge.

In the hours following the funeral, the rock guitarist found a heart-wrenching letter from Conor in his mailbox.

The young boy penned his initial letter to his father several days prior to the incident, which his mother Lory subsequently mailed to Clapton’s residence in London. The letter arrived at its destination following the child’s unfortunate demise.

Lory shared: ‘The little one started writing a few words on his own, and then he asked me, “Mum, I’d like to compose a letter for daddy. What should I say?” I suggested, “Go ahead and write, ‘I love you’.” He followed my advice and mailed it just like a standard letter.’

Following Conor’s passing, Eric and I traveled to London for the funeral. It was there that Eric collected his mail immediately following the service, and upon opening it, discovered a letter from Conor – an image seared into my memory.

Eric Clapton wrote the song “Tears in Heaven” as a tribute to Conor. This heartfelt composition earned him three prestigious Grammys for Best Pop Solo Performance (Male), Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.

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2025-01-28 01:50

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