Yep, Im a fan, have been since the first album. I love the fact that you can obviously tell who his influences are but hes got his own voice all at the same time..
I heard that rumor too bro. Actually I heard when he was touring with Kenny Wayne Shepard that not only was Eric upstaging him but they managed to boot him off the tour due to his drug use because Kenny's dad wasnt a fan of having that stuff around his kid at that time. Nevertheless, IMO he is one of the most gifted living Blues/Rock guitarist alive and obviously didn't get the acclaim he deserved.