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."
What does Jack Bruce have in common with reheated coffee?
Both really suck without Cream.
SWLABR
saw EC at Sunrise in June and the show was heavy into
Cream. So I am not suprised that he is revisiting this era;
Nobody brings it like EC - just a strat and a crybaby with no pretense; Am seeing Jorma and Jack (Hot Tuna) at the Riverwalk Blues Festival this coming Friday in Fort Lauderdale. Jack Bruce is part of the Government Mule compilation - Deep End; he and Phil Lesh are my favorites. Took my fourteen year old son to see the Dead and he was blown away by the musicianhip. It just gets better, but I wish we still had Jerry....
The 1993 induction ceremony mentioned in the article caused me to buy a Warwick Bass.......The most rewarding $2,000 I've ever spent.
he asked me to sit in, but I had to say, like, Eric, man, I'm sorry, but, like, you know, I'm just too busy right now...
I think this will be great fun. Individually the three have matured quite a bit musically. As a drummer I’ve followed Baker’s career as he was an inspiration early on. For the last decade he has put out some excellent jazz CD’s. His work with Ginger Baker Trio is top-notch and the latest with the Denver Jazz Quintet (To Octet) is exceptionally good; and his playing is still very spirited. Clapton going back to his Blues roots was a wise move. He last few albums have been excellent, especially compared to the mainstream crap he put out in the late eighties and early nineties. I have not followed Bruce as closely, but the last I heard of him, his bass work is still quite amazing and his voice has actually improved with time.
I’d entertain going to see the show – they were one of the best jam bands of the time and still one of my favorites. The last time I saw them was at Madison Square Garden in 1968.
LOL!
The amazing thing about the best bands of that period, and Cream surely among the very best, is that the music still appeals to new ears. My 8 year old son and his 8 year old cousin have chosen Cream, completely independent of parental meddling, as their favorite band, and Sunshine of Your Love as their favorite song.
One troubling aspect of course is the prominence of drugs and sex as themes in a lot of this music, but at least its handled a little more tastefully than Snoop Dogg's work with the same themes!
"Old Aid" song:
We are the old, we've got arthritis
Our gums are weak (so weak), from gingivitis
We are the old, we've got arthritis
We are the ones who wear bifocals, and have bursitis
There are people younger, but we heed another call
We really need the money, our accountants took it all
We sing to you, those who have money
Once we was cool, but now we just dress funny
We need your help, so please please dig deep
Don't call after ten, 'cause we'll be asleep
We have medicare, and anti-gas pills
But without your help, we can't pay our alimony bills
We are the old, [they are the old]v
We have arthritis [they have arthritis] Once we were gods, now golf excites us [golf excites 'em]
So write a check (a really big one), for our decemberv There's one more verse, but we can't remember...
(Music and lyrics by Jonathan Wolff)
"I understand there is a movie making the rounds about Joplin's last series of concerts in Canada..."
There is, it's called FESTIVAL EXPRESS and it's a blast. Not only Janis (three months before her death), but the Grateful Dead, The Band, Buddy Guy, etc. are captured in live performance and hanging out on the train. The promoter was a character in his own right and lots of interesting things occurred along the way.
If you like music see it.
??
Worst song on Disraeli Gears...
LOL!
Levon Helm, by the way, did a great job as Sissy Spacek's father in 'Coal Miner's Daughter'. He was perfect! Is he still around?
'The Last Waltz' was so fine.
Clapton needs to pick up his old SG or 335 for this. Cream just won't sound right on a Strat.
;-)
"Is he still around?"
Apparently so, according to his website.
The amazing thing about this story is that all 3 are actually still alive. The original power trio :^)
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