Well, I wouldn't say Clapton sucks without Cream, though he does periodically disinterest me - likely my problem, not his. However, I know lots of people who feel the same way - overexposure, maybe? I once had a CD with Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, & Gary Moore (I think!) called BBM - that was actually kinda cool, for no other reason than to hear Baker & Bruce play blues rock in a trio again.

I wrote something on my music site a couple of months ago: insert shameless plug here: www.maybeiamwrong.blogspot.com

I wrote that "all of your favorite bands will get back together". My premise was that all great bands who are still alive will get back together eventually. To illustrate my point, I used the most extreme example I could think of; Roger Waters and Gilmour touring as Pink Floyd.

As many of you music fans know, rumor is around that they ARE going to tour together next summer. Even if they don't, they will. To answer the next question, the Beatles absolutely would have made subsequent music together if Lennon hadn't been shot. So who else is left that would NEVER get back together... my prediction is Guns and Roses. It may only be when they are inducted into the R&R hall of fame in about 6 years. Print this one out, it will happen. For details, read my piece on the Phantom blog.

Clapton's people aren't denying the rumor. The money quote from the site is:

At this time, THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT or acknowldegement by any of the participants or other official source. When and if an official announcement is made, the news will be posted here

The Telegraph carried the story today.
I hope it's better than the HOF reunion..they looked like they'd rather have been fried in hot oil..
I would think that there would be a huge rush for tickets, but I doubt that anyone would hear what they wanted. Talk about three wasted careers since..

Baker and Bruce have certainly underachieved, but Clapton's greatest work, Derek and the Dominos, was post-Cream. I'm not sure how much improvisational fire Clapton has left in him, which was really the glory of Cream, but it would be interesting to see. I like Bruce's and Clapton's voices together as well.

You people need to get your head out of your ass.
Eric sold out, he doesnt even write his own songs anymore.
He takes all the credit for Cream's songs which were pretty much all written by Jack. You always hear Sunshine and White Room and everyone thinks those are Clapton songs!
Who sings those songs? Who is credited?
Jack is.
If there is a reunion then maybe Jack will get the credit he deserves. As far as the 1993 reunion. They had to squeeze 3 songs in the 10-15 min they had. No time for 1/2 hour jams there.
And there were some inspiring jam moments there...
I'm sure you will hear many long jams next year when they have the time in a real concert setting.
On anothe note....Jack has released many albums post cream, which are awesome. Many are breathtaking. Ginger has released many jazz records post Cream. They didn't sell out like Clapton.
They made their money with Cream then did what THEY WANTED TO DO.
Get out from under your rock and look around a bit. Check out jackbruce.com

I don't think 35 years is long enough to nurse resentments, do you?

why aren't the comments showing up here?

there were several miracles in music in the 60s and Cream was one of them. when I heard Fresh Cream my consciousness changed my interest in guitar changed, my life changed. I became so deeply intrenched in Cream's music that their material was the main staple in my own Rock group in the late 60s. For me, it really doesn't matter whether or not Cream 'lives up' to their past live performances (of which I was blessed enough to experience) because I feel the chemistry (not the LSD) will still be there between the 3 that made the original explosion of Cream happen. This is the chemistry that brought Clapton to tears at the Hall of Fame induction. For me it will be another version or chapter of Cream so that even if it sucks by any other standard I know I'm still gonna love it!

Ryan's ending comment was that "they made their money". Actually, I heard an interview of Jack Bruce on Howard Stern's show several years ago, and Jack mentioned that he had, in a moment of weakness, sold his rights to his Cream compositions to Robert Stigwood (the music/movie production mogul) for..get this...$5000.
That's all, just $5000. They all earned big while Cream was going on, but they all lived pretty large as well, and so spent most of the money they had earned. Same with Ginger Baker. In a George Harrison bio I was reading, there was a blurb in the book about Eric turning Ginger down flat in the 70's when Ginger asked Eric if he would consider a reunion because he was on the balls of his ass. Clapton said at the time that it was a crummy reason for a reunion, ...just because someone is broke. Whatever... There aren't too many bands I would bother to see anymore in large venues, but I'd go to Madison Square Garden for the Cream,even though I hate that place.. I only hope that, if it does happen, Clapton uses Gibsons. He HAS played Gibsons occasionally through the years, so I hope he realizes how important they were to the Cream sound. As for the guy that said all bands will eventually reunite, even Pink Floyd,..I don't think the Young Rascals ever will. Okay, Okay, they weren't in the same league as virtuosity goes, but they were a good band, had a LOT of hits and were around at pretty much the same time. Speaking of the Rascals, I remember and interview with Felix Cavaliere where he said he KNEW the Rascals were finished when he was in Atlantic's own recording studios and he overheard this incredible music coming from one of the rooms. He said "who's THAT!!??" and the response was, "Oh, a new group called Led Zeppelin.." He said he knew right then and there that music was changing and that the Rascals would never be able to compete.

Well.....I really don't know what to think about this Reunion. I once spoke to Jack about it and I told him if they were ever going to reunite I think the first song they should open the concert with should be "Doing that Scrapyard Thing". You know start up where they left off in the Studio. He thought the "Coffee Song" would be the one....Regardless I hope that they would all get together and make some great fresh music together. There was much more to Cream than Born Under a Bad Sign and Politician. I would hope to hear Badge, Strange Brew, What a Bringdown....stuff like that. They might also think about.......God forbid....adding a Guest so they can do some of the Cream Songs that weren't just 10 mintue Jams. Is Bobby Whitlock still alive? I would love to hear them sing the intro to White Room like they did on Live Cream Volume 2. I really hope they don't fuck this Reunion up. We've all we waited 36 some odd years and if it's going to be a disaster like the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Gig.......maybe they ought to rethink this. I also hope Jack is fully recovered. It would be a bummer if he was not able to sing.

For anyone who actually believes that Clapton is nothing without Cream is sadly mistaken. For crying out loud, the man only spent a few years of his life in that band and has gone on to do more things of importance in the world of music than we can count. I agree that Bruce and Baker have had solid solo careers, but don't you think that they might need Cream more than anyone else? Clapton has done some things in his career that I could do without, including albums and live performances that were sub-par. However, what creative artist hasnt done something that didnt quite work? It is all part of the growing process.

I don't think any of them need it more or less than any of the others: that's why it's finally ahppening

No matter what anyone sez - Cream WAS a trio of fantastic musicians. It WAS NOT Eric Clapton's band, although some revisionists might like to C it that way. Jack Bruce was the man who brought the bass into a starring role in a band - not left in the usual background spot where it had been 4 years. I hope the reunion comes off, if for no other reason than to see Jack and Ginger perform again...

I would love to see a cream concert. You can always gain something from seeing performers in a live setting, regardless if they are no longer in their prime. For instance, it was great to see Peter Green a few years ago with his Splinter Group. If you folks are looking to see these players as they were during the 60s, buy a DVD. They have all evolved. If they choose to reunite, I say, praise be, and...pass the bottle!!!!!

I personally dislike to see re-unions of
so called "Classic" bands. It isn't that
the bands perform badly in fact it's
usually just the opposite.After years of
not playing together they will usually
attack the old material with new vigor &
vengeance.For example, the recent Dolls
and Stooges re-unions.

It's the fans who kind of screw up these
re-unions IMO. They are looking for some
magical musical moments to happen. When
they (the band involved)fail to live up
to expectations or dare to deviate from an essentially greatest hits type show,
the fans will start moaning and bitching
unfairly about groups not living up to
their own personal standards which are
based on recordings that were done some
35 years prior.To make that magic happen
once is an incredible thing.To expect it
to happen again is to set expectations
way too high.To be dissapointed when it
does not happen is just self delusion.

It seems to me that yes, 35 years should
be more than long enough to settle those
personal resentments which may have led
to the bands demise.Unfortunately it is
apparently not.The Velvet's are a good
case in point.

Wow, nice to see some positive comments for a change.
Why is everyone so negative?
Cream is going to re-unite....
YAY!
We've all been waiting for this! They are finally doing it before it's too late.
Let's show some support! And praise them for doing so, and let's stop the silly predictions.
I recently just saw the 93' reunion. I'm surprised that everyone says that was such a disaster...you people are ridiculious. What talent do you have?
I love people with no musical talent rating those who have plenty of talent.
The jam at the end of Sunshine is quite good on the 93' reunion. Yeah the other songs were just the songs and little jamming, and they maybe seemed a little nervous. They had not played a gig together in 25 years...they are human beings. Give them a break.
They exist... and I am so glad they we all were fortunate enough to have Cream in the first place. And better yet, they are back! Raise a glass!

Ryan, I agree with all you say other than the old saw about non-doers can't be commenters. Whether or not someone can play guitar like Eric Clapton or drums like Ginger Baker has zero bearing on the truth, relevance or importance of what they have to say.

That may be true Eric. I just have no respect for critics that have nothing to offer the world but their comments on other people's efforts, and I don't see any "importance" of what any of us have to say really, and I sure Cream could care less.
Unfortunately there are alot of people just aren't happy unless they have something to complain about.

The only reason I commented in the first place was to respond to your comment. "Baker and Bruce have certainly underachieved". What an un-true statement that is. It's sad actually.
Ginger Baker has played on many, many great albums post Cream. Yeah he played alot of jazz, so if it's not mainsream rock then I guess it just sucks...?

And Jack Bruce has been in many different bands post-Cream. Most of which were his own band, and he has made alot more musical statements to date than Clapton.
He plays piano (recorded an entire piano/vocal album), he changed the way people play bass guitar forever, he plays cello, guitar, harmonica, sings, writes all his own songs.
Jack has recorded every type of music imagineable.. Clapton is a great blues guitar player, I'll give him that. Check out www.jackbruce.com and see what you all have been missing. Sometimes you have to break away from the mainstream, there's alot of great music out there that isn't on the radio.

Ryan, I don't question your enthusiasm for Baker and Bruce at all, and I agree mainstream acceptance has little bearing on quality. All I meant is compared to Clapton's level of impact upon the culture, they have underachieved in the sense that it could be argued that all three were more or less equal members of the band (with Bruce singing and writing right along with Clapton, and Baker being very much a "lead" drummer), but one has gone on to be an iconic superstar and the others have remained well beneath the radar. That's all I meant - no offense to them as artists, but they have not recaptured the public's attention or imagination as Clapton has one (for good or for ill) pretty much all along.

Just a footnote to the above discussions. Clapton confirmed in a radio interview on Thursday 16th Dec that a concert was being planned for 2005 at the RAH and that tickets were going on sale soon (!)

PS Jack Bruce's Shadows in the Air album was possibly his worst work ever.

What is with everyone bashing Clapton? If he sucked that much then musicians the caliber of Bruce and Baker would'nt embarrass themselves with this reunion. And to say he's done nothing worhtwhile since The Dominoes is rediculous. Yeah, I could do without some of his "power-pop" from the mid-80's and mid-90's, but just when you start to doubt his abilities, he more than pulls it off. The Journyman album was great, even with a few clinkers on there, the first string bend on his solo to "Bad Love" is worth the price alone, not to mention "Old Love", "Before You Accuse Me", "Alibi", the tone of his guitar on "Breaking Point", etc. I saw him in July of this year and he played better than he has in years. I mean he tore it up. And even if Cream don't reach the musical heights they did 36 years ago, I have no doubt what they do will be beautiful, because it's three extremely talented, groundbreaking, real musicians who for all intents and purposes invented free form jamming in a rock and roll context. If for no other reason than that, they deserve more respect than what I've seen some posters (posers)give them. Long live The Cream (if only for a few shows)!!

i think it would be cool to hear them come up with some new material. mabey just pick up as it were in 1968. or even jamming on some of their individual post cream tunes (like a new arrangement of layla). wouldn't it be cool to hear them rip on some other blues standards like "furthur on up the road" or "come in my kitchen" with jack on lead vocal? they'll probably have a keyboard player/pianist, which is cool but it would be better, i think to see just the 3 of them again. (hopefuly they leave andy fairweather-low at home!)clapton's pretty much played with big 6,7 & 8 piece groups since their break up. thats what keeps us all excited for the newt few months. THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!!!IM SO EXCITED I COULD SHIT !!!!!!!!!!!

It is rare that a reunion lives up to hopes and expectations of the 'original' run of a band. I do not suppose that is any reason not to do it, but I think it is a good idea to keep expectations reasonable.

I will admit... I am curious as hell to see how it goes.

P.S.(Jonathan) - Your nuts! Go smoke some weed and listen to Jack Bruce's Shadows in the Air. I've been listening to it the past 2 days, it's an awesome CD.

I too have been obsessing how they'll pull this off and live up to these incredible expectations. Little worried when I read Baker/Bruce don't even have to speak to each other, just play. Sounds awful naive to me during rehearsals. Seems it puts EC right square in the middle of the bickering dynamics of 36 years ago. I'll be my own best/worst critic opening night and judge for myself. The RAH crowd are tough too, not as loose like American audiences at all.

I predict they'll have guest musicians filling the Pappalardi void on some classic numbers and hope they channel the late great Tommy Dowd when it comes to arranging new material.

Peace, Love & Guitars!

Well they havn't played together in 12 years - it would have been nice if they didn't play that HOF gig as it's a suck ass forum like the grammies. It would be nice to let Ginger get the opportunity to play a 'good' gig as he said the 1968 RAH gigs were below 'cream par'. I would like to see the show open with the backing track of Wrapping Paper in total darkness then halfway through, the song gets interupted by the bass, drums, guitar and vocal unison intro of White Room - the place would go insane! And i wanna hear a FULL orchestra playing Where Going Wrong with Jack singing it opera style!! They better have a huge vintage Marshall backline (with proper monitoring of course) with Ging squeezed in the middle! I'll bet the audience wont be a mixture students, hippies and proto head bangers! Just the middle aged versions of the same crowd from '68. Who will sit in with the band? I think the only musician ever to sit in with them was Hendrix in '66!

NSU, Live Cream Vol 1 (not the crap version from TWTD)

I was there.

I first heard Cream in late '66, I think December. I ran into Rob Tyner from MC5 in Milwaukee and he split the brand new Fresh Cream album with me. We listened to the whole thing without a word, of course, and it was like it was the first music in the world - ever.

In 1967, there was an exploding world of incredibly fresh and new underground music, but Cream was clearly the most exciting thing we had ever heard. The sheer power and profundity of it were unmeasurable - and still is almost 40 years later. Other groups were just bands. And there were no imitators. Before you start sputtering, just put on NSU from the Live Cream CD and turn up the volume to get all the subtlety. From the first attack of Baker's drums to the last fading chord of Clapton's, you are lost in the very definition of Cream. Where've you ever heard anything else like that?

Much more than the sum of its parts, as talented as they were, was the magic of the Cream. Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker merged their creativity into a cornucopia of incredibility. The interaction with each other was pure dynamite that never stopped exploding. If the three of them had never done anything else in their entire lives, they'd have deserved the Hall of Fame in just those two years. As it was, they all had somewhat successful careers, but Cream was impossible to live up to as an encore.

I have made the statement that if I could go to the Royal Albert Hall for Cream's last performance, I'd give $20,000 in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, RAH tickets are headed towards there now. Now Cream will reform and perform, but it will never be like that night in November of '68 or like the Fillmore in August of '67. Time can never turn back. Who cares? They are professionals and they will play, and play well. The performance will be a synthesis of where the artists are and their respect for the group that blew us all away. I went to a Dylan concert recently, and I was puzzled by the fans that were disappointed that Dylan wasn't like he was in the 60's or 70's. Well, none of us are.

But that doesn't mean we can't play. And just maybe, it's about time.

I was born after Cream broke up, but I can dig everything that you've said, Willie. I don't know how I even found Cream, but it was part of my high school rotation (with The Doors, Led Zep, the Airplane, Hendrix, REM, U2... and that's it) that got me through to college and through the nadir of the late 80s hair metal years.

There's a fresh sound, an original sound, a true sound to Cream that still sings forth today, innocent in a way and timeless.

One of my all-time favorite cinematic moments, perhaps my very favorite: when, in Goodfellas, "Sunshine of Your Love" kicks on as the camera pans in on a retribution-minded Robert DeNiro as he sits smoking at a bar. It still gives me goosebumps: it's so timeless, so evocative.

Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash

i know its all about cream but willie, ive seen bob a dozen or so times & i cant imagine a guy being more on top of his game than dylan. i hope you enjoyed the show. his current band is his best ever & his set list always kicks ass!!!

Yeah, Mike,

I agree about Dylan. I liked his "Time out of Mind" tour a lot. Don't expect that he will be the Dylan of your high school days - that's why we like him so! The times they are a changin', yah? I thought he kicked butt! I was jammin' and dancin' and lovin' it!

actually willie, i'm 24-so bob is much like he was in my highschool days. but i'm a big fan of all stages of his career (have you read "chronicals" ?). as a musician, i can say that there have been no 2 performers (bob & cream) that have influienced me more. we're all so lucky to be alive in their times.....and i feel so because i wasn't born for 12 yeaers after the fair-well concert. ROCK ON !!!!

youre a smart guy willie. you knew someone from mc5 ?

In the 60's you could know anybody. Bands were part of the scene. You went to a concert and afterwards hung out with them. The interchange of ideas was very much part of the times. Of course, we had fun too!
Rob is one cool dude. Kick out the jams, MF!

I first heard Cream during my college days and have worshipped them ever since. Literally. They were like a religion to me. I'm very excited about the reunion, but have one major concern. Can Jack still sing anywhere near the level that he did when he was with Cream? His vocals were electrifying. I heard him a few years ago when he was touring with Ringo Starr. Jack sang a bit of "Sunshine of Your Love," but he clearly was being casual about it or just wasn't up to it. I haven't heard any of his recent recordings and I know that he had a liver transplant a year or so ago, so I'm just wondering how well he will be able to sing. I have absolutely no doubts about his bass playing or other instuments.

I have a hard time believing that if Cream sold out that fast in the UK, why they don't fly to the US for a mini tour?

Maybe we should start lobbying with the promoters for just that.

Willie, #28 is one of the best short bits about music -- and the passage of time, and thereality that you can never REALLY go back -- I've ever read. It almost made me cry.

Of course it can't be the same, but it might be revealing and transforming for the artists, in particular, nonetheless. We can hope.

I've nothing interesting to say about the topic at hand, but a couple people mentioned the MC5, and I just wanted to say that there's an absolutely awesome site for them: http://makemyday.free.fr/mc5.htm

hhhmmm...it will all be cool, that is for sure. The problem with naysayers is that they are expecting the cultural explosion of the times to suddenly reappear and magically take over the planet for a reunion concert. It doesn't work like that.

Cream wrote the songs (well, not all) and played them with the magic of the 3 musicians that came together. On a technical level it would be better than ever. Clapton is a better player than he was back then. Age seasons musicians. Athletes are the ones that suffer from age.

Anyway, as far as a presentation of Cream music by the original musicians, oh man, it is gonna smoke!!!!

Viewed as a musical event as opposed to a reach for the free wheeling 60s, things will be outstanding. If it goes well, they will extend the tour to the States I bet.

peaceloveguidance

Jack Bruce is certainly the front artist to Cream. Pete Brown, Bruce, Felix Papalardi were really responsible for the sound that made the band what it was. Clapton complimented the band, but was still feeling his way through his still young musical development. Jack's complex and jazz inspired (He's a true jazz basist, perhaps the most inovative in history). Practically though, the band is it's own vehicle and voice, Baker has a raw, take no prisoners style and Eric has developed into the greatist rock and blues guitarist of all time. Enjoy the band as the band and try not to separate the remarkable anomoly that makes Cream so remarkable.

I agree about Bruce. I think that he was the driving creative force in Cream. I will admit he is my favorite, but it took me a while to learn to appreciate him.

Baker was, well, Baker. We used to try and imagine how he could hit all the drums at the same time with only 4 appendages. We came to the conclusion that it was impossible and that he was a mutant.

Clapton may have been young then, but I for one don't think he ever was as intense as after Cream. I think he stumbled once slightly in NSU, but otherwise it seemed stunningly perfect to me. I saw Blind Faith soon afterwards, and it sure did nothing for me - like a Buffy St. Marie song at 16 1/2. I think he lacked focus, and certainly had his share of problems which I think hurt his playing most of the rest of his life. What a bringdown.

To properly appreciate Cream, I think it may be instructive to imagine substituting another top musician like Harvey Mandel into Cream and visualising what the result would be. It would be best done by the original members, but the rest of us could perhaps paint a good enough picture. I wonder what the answer to that would be from Clapton, Bruce, or Baker?

How about the rest of you? Any thoughts?

i saw clapton live in philly in '02 & it was quite different than "clapton & friends" & "live at hyde park" and all of the other made for video concerts i've seen of his on film. he flat out CUT LOOSE. i think if there are 2 people in the world that can bring that type of intensity out in him it's jack & ginger. lets hope. he was more prone to go for it in his younger days & less worried about being playing perfectly clean chops (which is how it seems to me that he is now). it is like hearing 2 different players (example: n.s.u. & wonderful tonight). but peoples tastes in music will change, especially if they've been playing for 40 years. i think that clapton listening to music from big pink in the late 60's had just as much to do with him mellowing out than anything. lets hope he cranks the fuzz & kicks the wah-wah & get's in touch with his inner 24 year old !!!! even if he doesn't-i'm sure it will be the greatest thing to happen to us all since.......1968 ?!?!? (ha-ha!)

THE BOTTOM LINE :
GINGER BAKER WAS AND IS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST INVENTIVE , MUSICAL DRUMMERS EVER WITH A GREAT DEAL MORE TECHNIQUE THAN HE'S GIVEN CREDIT FOR. EASILY THE BEST ROCK DRUMMER WHO EVER LIVED.
JACK BRUCE IS A GIFTED SINGER/SONGWRITER , BUT IT IS HIS FACILITY WITH THE BASS GUITAR THAT STOOD THE MUSIC WORLD ON ITS EAR IN 1966. ENDLESSLY INVENTIVE AND BRILLIANT.
ERIC CLAPTON HAS ALWAYS PREFERRED BLUES , BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT IF HE SET HIS MIND TO IT , HE COULD MASTER ANY FORM OF MUSIC. THE GREAT DEBATE OF 1967 WAS "WHO'S BETTER - CLAPTON OR HENDRIX?"
HENDRIX SAID THAT ONE OF THE REASONS HE CAME TO ENGLAND IN '66 WAS TO GET TO MEET ERIC CLAPTON - END OF DEBATE.
THE CREAM REUNION WILL HOPEFULLY INSPIRE TODAY'S ARTISTS TO PRODUCE REAL MUSIC OF SUBSTANCE , NOT THE BLAND METAL/RAP/ALTERNATIVE DIARRHEA THAT POLLUTES OUR AIRWAVES TODAY.
P.S. - WHILE THE BOYS ARE STILL SPEAKING , LET'S HOPE THAT THEY DECIDE TO GO INTO THE STUDIO USING VINTAGE INSTRUMENTS TO RERECORD "FRESH CREAM". THIS MASTERPIECE WOULD FINALLY BE COMPLETE WITH A GOOD LOUD PRODUCTION.

I love the idea of Cream getting back together. Relative to Clapton's guitar prowess, I have been playing lead guitar for 30 years and I can tell you that Clapton is still an amazing guitarist. If anyone doubts that Clapton is still on top of his game, check out the Martin Scorsese's PBS documentary, "Nothin But the Blues". Without a doubt, Clapton's guitar playing on "Nothin But the Blues" left me breathless. Anyone who says that his best guitar playing days were back in Cream doesn't play guitar. His clean phrasing, note selection, finger vibrato, and stylings are without peer. He reminds me of the guitar version of Frank Sinatra. There are other vocalists that can sing louder, and play with their voices more, but none could style a song like Sinatra. Clapton is the same way. I'm not saying he can't play fast. He can burn through the fret board when he wants. It's just that he uses speed economically. Speed overused gets boring and very easy not to appreciate. Clapton's leads tend to imitate the voice. Clapton's note selection makes use of his unbelievable ear for what note should come next. The great ones can actually hear what should come next. The non-musician gunslingers are all about rolling through scales as quickly as possible without any feel for what note should come next - great athletic feats totally devoid of musicianship. Relative to Bruce and Baker, I can't wait. They are both fantastic. I just hope that these three 50 something guys have the energy to kick 30 minute songs into gear the way they used to. I can just see one of them having a heart attack on stage.

Jack Bruce was/is an animal on the bass. He was the guy that got me to actually LISTEN to what the bass was doing. Anybody else ever put the balance on full to Jack's side, turn the treble down and bass controls up? Wow, could the guy play or what?

I hope SOME of the magic is still left. Like the other poster said, I'll look at it as another chapter in the Cream saga.

Polydor apparently is doing the boxed set treatment in the Cream re-issues. But the original LP's, especially of course "Wheels of Fire" and "Disraeli Gears", were the most entertaining album jackets of the period. And the liner notes for the tracks on "Wheels" with those unusual instruments (cello and calliope among others) for a rock album What a great and forgotten contribution Felix Pappalardi made on the studio recorded disc in that album! Besides the cover parody the Beatles did later in 1968 with the "White Album", the two LP's had a lot in common. They both had some raw rock and blues songs but much of the material in both could not be easily performed outside of the studio.

Hi,
Has anyone heard how the Reunion is coming along
I haven't heard Jack about this major Event. Rehearsals? Updates?.......anything?

CREAM WILL BE AWESOME. EVERYBODY TAKE A FUCKEN ASPERIN AND CHILL OUT. THESE GUYS
ARE THE SAME GUYS FROM 1966 AND WILL RE-INSPIRE US,EVEN THOUGH IT'LL HAPPEN 39 YEARS LATER.

That comment about clapton being crap without cream was originally about Ginger Baker, who is the finest drummer ever and could make a melody on the drums, unlike almost every other player out there. Should be interesting to see how it all comes out, and I am sure it will be a fun time had by all.

Because of Bluesbreakers and Cream nobody can ever dismiss Erics place in the universe.Without any of these three distinct individuals,Cream would never have been what it was and now gloriously is.My hope is,Clapton will reconsider and Cream will visit the states.It's only fair,considering they were bigger here then home in the UK.

Well they pulled it off last night. So far reviews are sketchy, but the consensous is so far:
They played for about 2 hours. Clapton became very emotional after announcing;
"We'll play as long as we can"
Ginger did a 5 minute 'Toad' *No improv. jams.

The audience gave them standing ovations before the show started, and after performing certain songs.

On reviewer wrote: "They were just getting warmed up"

I would have loved to have been there!

I just saw the Dvd..
i'd like to rename it
"Cottage cheeze""
This "Cream" has gone Sour ?
Ginger Baker sound like he wanted to nap.
Juck Bruce "the Contiental man" ech!
an a terrible bassist this time around?
E.C, was right 'bout the Les Paul in a
trio. the Stratocaster is to thin sounding to give anything like dynamics
to the rymthm and bottom of this trio.
on a scale of 1 to 10 it gets a 1?
for you people who'v spent hundreds of dollars? i offer my condolences i expected better ..
(p.s.save your money go see buddy guy
or butch trucks)

Are you out of your mind?? Cottage Cheese?? I'll give you at times the sound was a little thin, but some especially blistering solo's, and some amazing jams. I challenge you to find many bands that haven't played together in 37 years and jammed as well as them...can't wait for MSG tommorow night!!!