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."
Fair enough. I saw him at Royal Albert Hall about 4 years ago, and while his musical tastes have softened somewhat, the man could still play!
Indeed, I had the great privilege of seeing Hendrix (twice); Cream; Led Zep (once, and they were bad); Vanilla Fudge; Santana (twice); and even Iron Butterfly. Ah, those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end.
I could never choose between him and Tim Bogert as the best bassist of all, because they were so different.
Played a wicked harmonica, too.
I thought that thing was in Cleveland.
Eric Clapton is the my favorite guitarist of all time. Jack Bruce is the greatest bass player I ever heard. Ginger Baker was so good is was scarey--like he is.
I'm So Glad.
That's why I continue to predict that sooner or later rap is due to collapse . . . because as people get older, the beat becomes less important and the melody more important, and rap doesn't have it. But even with Hendrix, you can actually SING "Crosstown Traffic," or, with Cream, "Sunshine of Your Love."
I can't wait for the Andrew Sisters reunion tour...
Our band found out where EC was recording (this was in about '74) and drove up to a studio on the Pac. Coast Highway. We got there just after EC had left, but they let us in the studio, and his guitar was still in the stand, with his pick ("EC") still stuck in the strings.
Especially so since GB was the original speed freak. No wonder I thought his drumming was so impressive!
Take a Spoonful of cough medicine. It will help you sleep.
B. B. comes to Tucson every year because of his love for one of our restaurants. He doesn't look that bad considering the abuse he has put his body through.
LOL!!!
Over here!
You've got that pure feel
such good responses...
For my money, Jeff Beck stands all alone in the strat-ospheres as the best guitarist of all. I also place David Gilmour up there near him.
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