Cream reunion Royal Albert Hall, London

The Guardian ^ | 5/3/05 | Alexis Petridis

[Valin]

The first live show for 36 years by Eric Clapton's blues/rock "power trio" may have attracted the attentions of the media, but it has had difficulty snaring anyone under 40; young people are conspicuous by their absence from the bars and foyers of the Royal Albert Hall. The atmosphere is less like a rock concert than a corporate hospitality tent at Wimbledon. Paunchy men in sports jackets clink ice in gin and tonics, and mumsy ladies fan themselves with pricey souvenir programmes. Presumably some of them were here the last time Cream played the Royal Albert Hall, squinting at the band's November 1968 farewell concert through a fug of aromatic smoke. Tonight, however, the air is thick with something else, not as pungent, but no less heady: nostalgia for a lost era, when a 15-minute drum solo called Toad could have your average audience roaring their approval, rather than clambering over each other to reach the exits.

You can see why anyone who wasn't there at the time might approach Cream's surprise reformation with trepidation. History frequently gives the impression Cream were formed for the specific purpose of giving the Jimi Hendrix Experience something to upstage. Hendrix, rather unsportingly, fetched up in London two weeks after their first gig, and immediately set about making them look a bit stodgy. He has continued to do so after his death; one of the few benefits attached to choking on your own vomit at 27 being that it prevents you from reaching middle age, donning an Armani suit and crooning deadly soft rock ballads about how your wife looks wonderful tonight. In addition, as Clapton notes between songs, Cream "didn't go on for very long - the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune cut us off in our prime" - but their 2 year career was responsible for generating a lot of concepts that leave you wondering whether listening to rock music is such an edifying way to spend your time.

Their star-heavy line up of Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce gave birth to the notion of the supergroup, in which already-famous rock musicians struggle to squeeze their collective egos into a confined space, usually with artistically disastrous results. Their massive-grossing US tours gave rise to the concept of stadium rock as we know it today. And their deathless penchant for extended soloing gave rise to improvisatory jazz-rock, perhaps the most noisome genre in musical history. After the band's split, Clapton dismissed its "maestro bullshit", but tonight, he seems worryingly reconciled to it. "We're going to play for as long as we can," he announces happily, a remark greeted with deafening cheers, rather than the deeply apprehensive gulp it warrants. A computer generated approximation of a psychedelic slideshow bathes the back of the stage, but what is startling about Cream's oeuvre is how decidedly un-cosmic it sounds in the cold light of 2005. Spoonful and Sleepy Time Time offer a curiously straightforward take on the blues: the solos may be lengthy, and accompanied by much pursing of the lips, frowning etc, but they're oddly prosaic and polished. You get a brief glimpse of what the fuss was about during Rollin' and Tumblin', when Bruce abandons his bass guitar in favour of a harmonica, and Clapton and Baker churn out a frantic, clattering riff. Baker turns out to be the evening's surprise star. A noticeable resemblance to Wilfred Bramble in Steptoe and Son bodes ill, but his drumming is fantastic, adding a snapping, raw edge. In fact, it is Cream's theoretically less substantial material that stands up best four decades on. Full of snaking melodic turns and false endings, Badge is simply a fantastic pop song. Deserted Cities of the Heart strikes an admirable balance between lush vocal harmonies and hulking, muscular power, and even the whimsical psych-pop oddity Pressed Rat and Warthog has the sort of character you are hard-pressed to find in less arcane areas of Cream's catalogue.

Whether their reformation is enough to firm up Cream's shaky place in the pantheon of rock legends is a moot point. But as the crowd rises mid-song to cheer another Clapton solo, and coloured lights bounce off balding pates in the stalls, you suspect that contemporary reappraisal is the last thing their fans are interested in.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Ouch !

[scott says]

I'm just throwing this out here, I have TONS of bootleg stuff from all kinds of groups, at least 70 Clapton alone.If anyone is interested in trading or is just looking for something, if its out there I can get it.I just got 5 A+ Clapton soundboard cds and am expecting 20 more from a trading partner.Send me a "private " response and I'll get back to you. I'm dead serious,if its out there I can find it,I've been collecting for years!

[pageonetoo]

HOW is Ginger Baker still alive?

[blu]

I think the Guardian's editor should have assigned this to another reporter, say, oh, someone who LIKES Cream!!

OK, trivia (or senior moment) time: What band was Ginger Baker in? And, who (really) did the original "Layla"? No fair Googling for the answers!

[Guvmint_Cheese]

Baker had his Air Force (briefly with Steve Winwood), was part of Blind Faith, and was originally from the Graham Bond group with Baker (No Googling - just a Cream junkie).

[Guvmint_Cheese]

Baker had his Air Force (briefly with Steve Winwood), was part of Blind Faith, and was originally from the Graham Bond group with Baker (No Googling - just a Cream junkie).

[nickcarraway]

What about the Sonics?

[null and void]

Dunno. Derek and the Dominoes.

[Skooz]

I never cared much for Cream or Jimi Hendrix. Both had a handful of decent songs, but I never understood the adulation that went their way.

Take up the guitar and you will. :0)

[MarkL]

It seems that Alexis here is too impressed with her (?) own writing, and musical superiority, to allow anyone to enjoy the music... I'm sure that she'd rather be listening to Greenday or Blink 182.

What would really have been cool is for this reunion concert to have the same opening act that their goodbye concert had... YES!

Mark

[blu]

Good, but Eric was Derek.

[blu]

Thanks! I vaguely recall having an Air Force album.

[Clemenza]

Ginger Baker looked like an 80 year old when I saw him 15 years ago at Toads Place in New Haven. Probably looks like a corpse by now.

[MarkL]

I saw one last year on PBS that was at Royal Albert Hall which was a tribute to the late George Harrison. Ringo and Paul were there as was John Lennons son and a bunch of folks from that rock era.

Awsome concert DVD. I've got it, and really love it... Actually, it's a double DVD. One is the PBS special, the other is just the concert.

Mark

[miloklancy]

Cream was not "Eric Clapton's power trio". It was a group that also included two argubly more talented chaps. Bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker.

[Guvmint_Cheese]

And, who (really) did the original "Layla"?

It depends how you define "did." I'd have to say George Harrison (if "Layla" is referring to Harrison's wife, Patty Boyd). If you're referring to singing the song, I'd say Derek and the Dominos.

[MarkL]

Ouch! But "Badge" and "Crossroads" justified their entire career, regardless of anything else they did.

Didn't George Harrison also play on Badge?

Mark

[Clemenza]

DUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHIFEELFREEDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHIFEELFREEDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHIFEELFREEDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHIFEELFREE(uuuuuuummmm uummmmmm ummmm) DUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHIFEELFREE(uuuuuuummmm uummmmmm ummmm)DUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHIFEELFREE

[Mr. Mojo]

who (really) did the original "Layla"?

Since the "original Layla" is the one played 99%+ of the time, that's a pretty easy question.

I saw a great version of "Layla" live at the L.A. Forum in 1983. It was at the "ARMS concert" (a benefit for multiple sclerosis), and it featured Clapton, Page, and Beck trading of solos for about 15 minutes. (Each of those guys played their own sets with their own bands as well).

I was in the 2nd row, and in guitar heaven.

[Mr. Mojo]

It depends how you define "did."

lol.....excellent point.