Richard Clapton has a back catalogue of hits that remain popular today and continue to draw crowds at live shows - it's finding the time to write more of them that's posing a problem.

"The music industry has changed a lot and now that royalties are a thing of the past, I've found myself having to work pretty hard to keep the rent money coming in," he told LIVE.

"Back in the day I was able to tour six months of the year, then write songs for two to three months, record an album then spending a bit of time promoting it.

"I really have to say that modern music life is getting to the point that it takes up all your oxygen. It's nothing like it used to be. There are too many distractions."

Clapton has been in the game for more than 30 years and is considered one of Australia's best songwriters. Songs like Girls on the Avenue, Capricorn Dancer, Deep Water and Lucky Country contributed to the soundtrack of a generation.

He also famously produced an album for INXS - Underneath The Colours - and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 1999.

Eighteen months ago, while recovering from a hip replacement and "gorging on '60s music on YouTube", he decided to plan a new body of work based on hippie albums. It's been slow going, given his touring commitments, but Clapton is determined to see it through.

"I lived in London in the late '60s and I saw the Stones play at Hyde Park when Mick Jagger did the eulogy for Brian Jones - I could go on and on about those times - but I was watching Bob Dylan and early Jackson Browne clips and I honestly relived my youth," he said.

"The band I'm bringing with me on tour continues to amaze me.

"They are half my age but they are so in touch with the history of music and respect it. Your should hear them play early Neil Young and The Byrds."

Clapton will bring all his hits to Belmont 16s on Saturday, March 14, and there is a strong possibility he will treat the crowd to some much-loved '60s songs too.

Tickets are on sale now.

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