All hail Cream!
Posted on 11/14/2004 1:12:28 AM PST by beyond the sea
Eric Clapton has astounded the music world by finally agreeing to reform Cream, rock's first supergroup, 36 years after they split up at the height of their worldwide fame.
Back then Clapton was declared a "guitar God", Ginger Baker was the epitome of the wild-eyed rock drummer and Jack Bruce was the pioneer of a raw, biting tone for the electric bass.
Over two years they sold more than 35 million records, producing a new form of "heavy" music that fused hard rock, blues and jazz. But they were unable to survive their ego-powered celebrity.
There was such venom at the end that, years later, Clapton said the thought of a reunion "scares the living daylights out of me".
John Mayall, the veteran leader of the Bluesbreakers, the British band from which Clapton defected to create Cream in 1966, said yesterday: "I'm amazed. But Eric is always doing something unexpected. He moves in so many directions, always out front with his music."
Sources close to the musicians said that reunion plans were under way, with Clapton, 59, Bruce, 61, and Baker, 65, talking of "probably two gigs, or maybe more" at the Royal Albert Hall in May, although that venue, where Clapton staged his traditional blues stint this spring, has yet to be booked.
The hall was where Cream last performed in Britain in November 1968 after shows in America that were earning the trio $60,000 a night.
Cream have played together only once since, with searing versions of White Room, Crossroads and Sunshine of Your Love, at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Los Angeles in 1993.
Rehearsals for the reunion, with new material, are expected to begin early in the new year.
Mayall, visiting London from his home in Los Angeles, said: "I can't imagine Cream's reappearance will be a marathon again, as Eric is now very much a family man.
"It's probably Eric on one of his nostalgia trips, as Jack and Ginger are not exactly headline names of this generation. It's likely to be for a charity, or the music, not the money."
it's called festival express. it is out on dvd.
Jack Bruce Forever!!!
I'm stil pissed at Clapton for giving up rock & roll in favor of sappy top-40 tripe--he was the best rock guitarist of his day. Don't even get me started on Eric's (lack of) singing ability.
p.s. Too bad Felix is no longer with us, RIP.
You're a very lucky man/woman!
thrilled
Yep.........
No, the 16 minute version of "Toad" was good enough for me.
This may just be a farewell to Jack and Ginger. Jack's in rough shape and Ginger has looked worse than Kieth Richard for 40 years.
It will be worth a listen in any case. Clapton has been playing elevator music for way too long. That Robert Johnson retrospective was atrocious.
"SWLABR She Was Like A Bearded Rainbow..."
Wasn't that SWABLR... Speed with acid brings large rushes?
Wow, LS, I guess great minds think alike. I also absolutely love Bogert's bass work. I saw him recently with Vanilla Fudge. Bogert's mellowed out in his showmanship, but his playing and singing are still top notch.
Man. By the way, Hendrix was so drugged out the second time I saw him that he couldn't even tune his guitar. First time I saw him, at Sun Devil Gym in Tempe, he was just coming off the Monkees tour with a group called "Soft Machine" as the warm up. SM was a trio of bass, key, and drums. With the Experience, these were the first two power trios I had ever heard. They kept blowing out the circuits at SDG and the drummer for SM kept doing impromtu solos while they fixed the circuits.
Interesting fact: Carmine Appice wrote what is the best selling drum book of all time: an intro to rock and roll drumming, and occasionally you'll see him doing "color" commentary at Drum and Bugle competitions on ESPN. Also, Bogert apparently started his own music school in LA for rockers.
Clapton looks great for his age. This is nice to see because Bruce and Baker can probably use the money. Clapton appears to be a pretty good chap. He was best friedns with George Harrison who was a gentle soul.
I saw Jeff Beck in Phx. with the "Jeff Beck Group." GREAT bass player and drummer (Cozy Powell). But Beck was always just a little weird, preferring to go for the oddball sound or rhythm rather than just playing the damn song.
People always compared me to Corky Laing, and I think it's fair. Laing was a poor man's Carmine Appice, but very solid. Our guitar player, on the other hand, both looked and SANG like Leslie West, though he was a much busier (and faster) guitar player than West.
you deserve to be zotted, tarred and feathered, and listen to rap and britney spears music for the rest of your natural life for even doubting his worshipfulness, eric clapton.
I'm so Glad!
IMHO the finest "single shot" album of all time is, without any real competition, "Blind Faith". I listen to it constantly and never tire of it. If this reunion produces something only 10% as good as Blind Faith, I will be thrilled none-the-less...
All hail Cream!
RealMedia File:
http://www.jackbruce.com/sounds/crossroads.rm
Crossroads (Robert Johnson) King of Spades Music (BMI)
I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
Down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above for mercy, save me if you please
I went down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
Down to the crossroads, tried to flag a ride
Nobody seemed to know me, everybody passed me by
Well I'm going down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side
Going down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side
You can still barrelhouse, baby, on the riverside
Going down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side
Going down to Rosedale, take my rider by my side
You can still barrelhouse, baby, on the riverside
You can run, you can run, tell my friend-boy, Willie Brown
Run, you can run, tell my friend-boy, Willie Brown
And I'm staying at the crossroads, believe I'm sinking down
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