Eric Clapton's half-brother lives in poverty in Vancouver, but bears rock star no ill will

Toronto Sun ^ | May 21, 2015 | Postmedia Network

[rickmichaels]

Despite a sensational Daily Mail report that multi-millionaire rock star Eric Clapton lets his Canadian brother live in "sub-Dickensian squalor," Fast Eddie Fryer says he's doing all right and bears no ill-will towards his famous sibling.

"This writer came in and did a character assassination on the place where I live," Fryer told Vancouver's The Province, referring to the Downtown Eastside rooming house he calls home.

It may be Canada's poorest neighbourhood, but Fryer -- who has late-stage cirrhosis of the liver -- says it's a good place for him to be.

"Granted it is not the Hilton," Fryer said. "It is a shelter that has a medical team and they do a good job of looking after me."

Fryer, who learned in 1998 that he and Clapton have the same biological father, shares some striking similarities with his brother. Both are musicians and both have struggled with heroin addiction.

But while Clapton got clean and became world famous, Fryer's career never took off, and he's been on and off the wagon for years.

He says he and his brother write letters sometimes, and Clapton once praised a demo tape Fryer mailed him.

While he'd love to jam with Clapton one day, he told The Province he expects nothing from his half-brother.

"I have never asked him for money," he said. "A person is not entitled to another person's achievements.

"It is important for me to be successful on my own. I got a chance to be on stage. It was not necessary for me to be a superstar."

[wardaddy]

Clapton is something of a Tory as is Bowie and Bryan Ferry

All have had to walk back England first statements

[SunkenCiv]

Fryer, who learned in 1998 that he and Clapton have the same biological father, shares some striking similarities with his brother.

This is worth reading, imho. Sounds like a decent guy.

[Texicanus]

I have never asked him for money. A person is not entitled to another person's achievements. It is important for me to be successful on my own.

Before you think poorly of a successful half-brother, put yourself in Eric Clapner's (sic) shoes for a moment. Who knows, maybe Eric has offered to assist his half-brother and his half-brother has declined. Maybe Eric has done the right thing too by not insisting his half-brother needs his charity.

Either way, his half-brother can say with some regrets, but with dignity, he did it his way, not Eric's. A moral characteristic we see too little of today.