Cream Reunion

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 2:19 pm

FOR ALL YOU OLD FARTS OUT THERE LIKE ME:

This looks like it's going to happen: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/10/music.cream.reut/

Is there anybody in the London area that would be willing to help me secure a couple of tickets when they go on sale?

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:47 pm

"... The group -- guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce ..."

Shouldn't that be "bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce"? As I recall, Bruce was the main vocalist on the early stuff with Clapton as back-up. Later, Clapton gained enough confidence in his singing ability to share the main vocals.

I'm hoping they will do a follow-on world tour. It would be great to see them.

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 5:21 am

Yes. Early on Jack Bruce did all/most of the singing.

My guess is that there won't be a world tour because of the liver transplant Jack Bruce got a while back. This could also be the reason the trio is getting back together. What have Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker really done since Cream to generate any real cash? However, I really don't know. I would prefer it so that I wouldn't have to travel so far for a concert.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 8:50 am

What has Clapton done since Cream ...

Clapton has written some terrible pop songs ...

Wonderful tonight ... lay down Sally ... etc ...

What the hell was he thinking ...

most of Clapton's solo career after Cream has been a waste of time and talent ...

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 9:55 am

Jack Bruce did an album in the late 80's maybe early 90's along with a tour that Ginger Baker was in. I remember an interview with Jack, he stated he would prefer the best drummer in the world with a few problems along the way than anyone else. At the time Ginger did not have much money and needed the cash for medical treatment. I think Jack was playing a 5 string fretless of some sort.

signed_dc · Post by **signed_dc** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:16 am

Jack And Ginger did a album with Gary Moore around 92' calling them selves BBM. Some very strong vocals shared by Jack and Gary on some updated sounding CREAM tunes. Gary played with the fire Clapton used to have back in those days.

I think Clapton was just to eclectic in his tastes and didn't want to box himself in. Personally I learned a great deal from those old CREAM albums and then there was JIMI...

I look forward to the DVD's and hearing what they sound like. I saw Jack back with the RINGO tour a while ago and he was amazing! Anyway hope they can revive the old magic and wish them the best...

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:20 am

I believe Bruce plays a Warwick. Has for years, in fact. His first solo album was quite good but didn't generate much notice or sales. "Theme From An Imaginary Western" came out of that, and the band, Mountain, did a phenominal, inspiring and memorable job on that. I still listen to it and it gives me goose-bumps.

Jeff, I agree that Clapton's solo career, ESPECIALLY in the 1970s was short, for all the talent he had shown up to that point. I mean, after all those great solos with Cream and playing all those great guitars with BALLS: 335, Firebird, Les Pauls, and then he settles with a Strat(?)

Maybe we'll get the chance to see him do some of those memorable solos again. God knows -- he's got it in him! We all know that....

bails · Post by **bails** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 12:46 pm

I regards to Clapton gaining "enough confidence in his singing abilities", I believe he was actually made to sing to increase his profile - to the detriment of the band. Clapton was groomed as the star front-man by Cream's management, despite Bruce being the main song writer, a far better(classically trained) singer and overall better musician. Pity he chose bass instead of a more marketable instrument...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:02 pm

If you remember, when Clapton was in Cream, there was all of this "Clapton is God" stuff going around, spray painted on walls, everyone expecting him to go further and further with his solos, I think his solo career was a way for him to step back from that. It was a lot of pressure on him.
I loved him in Cream, but I agree with Jeff, his solo career is a lot of ********.

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Fri Nov 12, 2004 1:08 pm

Bruce was certainly the most interesting rock bassist at that time. He made quite a difference and quite an impression, especially to younger players like me. Actually 'I'm so glad' he picked bass(it just came out that way).

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Nov 20, 2004 6:49 am

Jack Bruce started on upright and cello playing jazz, he was a bass player by choice as are many of us who play different instruments. There is a story I read in bass player mag that he had met Jaco Pastorius in some club playing and jammed with him, Jaco tried to stump him with old jazz tunes and to Jaco's surprise he knew them all. (Jaco credited him with being an influence BTW) I agree he was the real talent in Cream, he played a lot of acoustic guitar and cello in Cream, and wrote and sang the majority of the songs in Cream. He is one of the all time great bassists IMHO, was a huge influence on me. I too have "Songs for a Tailor" and it is a great album and his bass playing while down in the mix is phenominal as is his sound. I think it's a shame what happened to him and Ginger Baker. To me Clapton was just the guitar player in the band. (although a great one, especially on Fresh Cream where he had a great guitar sound), most of the songs he sang were old blues covers in Cream. The were obviously some kind of politics going on in that band as Bruce's originals were very new, quirky and strikingly unique, as opposed to the stuff Clapton did which really stands in contrast to Bruce's originals.
I think Clapton started out as an unbelievable guitar player who like a lot of people in his position cashed in on his early success and traded what could have been a career of integrity (and maybe fringe fame and little money) for a career of money and fame. I think Bruce and Baker got shoved to the wayside in the process ruining one of the all time great bands.
If they get to the States I'll crawl to NY to see them. If there is anyone in the London area who can secure plane tickets and concert tickets and pay for them for me please let me know, hahah!

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 10:25 am

Well it looks like it's going to happen this May with tickets becoming available soon, according to Clapton in this latest interview:http://entertainment.tv.yahoo.com/entnews/eo/20041223/110384250019.html

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:21 am

Sure wish they would come to the states.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:32 am

Bob ... nobody ever played crossroads as good as Jack Bruce ...

teeder · Post by **teeder** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:49 am

I wasn't aware Clapton was in a band other than the Blues Breakers and Cream!!! You've gotta love PAF's through a Marshall cranked!

I'd be all for them coming to the states!