http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/collection/bootlegs/1990-01-24-royalquartet.shtml
http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/interviewsandarticles/hisfatherseyes.htm
Clapton's father, Edward Fryer at the top of his form as a drifter, in Aruba, 1959.
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."
http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/collection/bootlegs/1990-01-24-royalquartet.shtml
http://www.eric-clapton.co.uk/interviewsandarticles/hisfatherseyes.htm
Clapton's father, Edward Fryer at the top of his form as a drifter, in Aruba, 1959.
Yes I think so. It was that time in the morning, and if you've ever been there.........it's easy to understand.
I really liked their song 'An Hour in The Shower' and We Can Make It Happen'.
And I liked the way they introduced themselves to the world in their first song:
1) Introduction (6:35)
Hey there everybody
Please don't romp or roam
We're a little nervous
'Cause we're so far from home
So this is what we do
Sit back and let us groove
And let us work on you
We've all spent years preparing
before this band was born
With heaven's help it blended
And we do thank the lord.
Now we put you through the changes
And turned around the mood
We hope it's struck you different
And hope you feel moved
So forget about your troubles
As we search for something new
And we play for you
********
I think the very early Chicago stuff was great.
The live version of "Crossroads" by Cream off their double album. The best! Eric Clapton's solo was blistering. The whole tune was. This solo made Clapton's reputation for years
Eric does have one great face, doesn't he? Gotta love those eyes.
Agreed!
true if the aging rocker is a has been,
clapton can still turn it up, and i'm sure jack bruce can hold his own, i'm interested in bakers ability to keep pounding away for a few hours with out "racing equipment" to get him along. it'll be fun.
nothin like a little pressed rat and warthog.
boy you are seeing some great stuff.
hot tuna is way good.
i've seen the dead 3 times through the years. the last at tinsley park chicago about 15 years ago. i have a picture i took at the fox theatre here in st louis about 1968. my belly against the stage and jerry and bob wier 5' in front of me, really getting it on. hangs in my music room.
how can you tell if a dead head was at your house over the week end?
he's still there :)
Thanks !
I don't think he'll be up for any half hour thrashing pounding sweat flying drum solos at his age.
I own a mini-warehouse here in Nashville and Jim Tweedale rents space from me....we've chatted a bit over the years.
He toured with them in the horn section for almost 30 years.
Clapton has held up well physically it seems.
Good genes....or maybe that 5 year heroin nap....lol
That's what he was like when I when I saw them. Ginger Baker was sweating like a hog and drinking water from a big ol' liquor bottle. Probably water spiked with something- your guess as good as mine.
All joking aside he might be the healthiest today of all of them. He has an olive grove and business in Tuscany.
Ginger Baker was born Peter Edward Baker in Lewisham, South London on 19 August 1939. As a teen, he trained and competed as a racing cyclist, developing strong leg muscles which later contributed to his skill on the double bass drums. Ginger had always planned on becoming a professional cyclist, until he bought his first drum kit at the age of 15. Baker was keenly interested in modern art and jazz, a rebellious beatnik with an eccentric appearance and artistic flair. Later, he would become interested in sculpture, painting, rally diving and polo. It was his wide range of interests which led Ginger to take up the trumpet in the local Air Training Corp band. Watching the drummer gave Ginger the idea of playing drums himself.
LOL indeed.
Cream
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