Congratulations on an interesting and accurate article.

To those of us that actually lived through this time, and the adventures of this group, the memories are very vivid. At least MINE ARE! Those claiming "indulgence" were either misinformed or just palin hated the music. Clapton, Baker & Bruce did something no other group had ever done before. The price of the Cream Reunion tickets are a testimony (vindication?) of the style that was actually DEFINED by these guys.

Personally, I'd give almost anything to go to ANY one of these new concerts! I saw them in 1969 at Madison Squaare Garden and it is a memory that I cherish. What a treat for those that can afford the incredible $1500-$3500 PER TICKET (MOST EXPENSIVE EVER!???) price for these shows.

You tell me... based on that alone, how great were they?

in 1968(?), there was a Rolling Stone Magazine article that was critical of Cream and called Clapton "Master of the Blues cliche." it was said that this article led to the demise of Cream. The thinking was that The Band was hipper and loud amplified music was passe. perhaps Clapton thought Blind Faith was the answer to such criticism. regardless, the formation of derek & the dominoes and release of Layla as perhaps the finest guitar based classic rock album of all time, should have silenced all critics.

anyway - while Clapton had mastered and surpassed the blues phrasing of players such as Freddie King, people seem to forget that Bruce and Baker were also very important to Cream's sound. they too were viewed as the cream on their respective instruments. for example, bruce's bass playing on the legendary "Crossroads" Winterland recording remains unsurpassed and is, it its own way, more remarkable and inventive than Clapton's near perfect pentatonic based phrasing on the recording. bruce's da daist perspective probably had a major impact on later artists such as Sting.

it will be interesting to see if the three are willing to use vintage gibson guitars and basses, marshall plexi amplifiers, and Ludwig drums for these widely anticipated concerts. in a sense, that would be important in getting the true tonal quality of recordings such as Live Cream I to say nothing of the enhanced visual impact to knowing musicians. at the rock and roll hall of fame induction, they use more modern instruments which, while understandable, was disappointing. of course, the three are nusicians nd their equipment, vintage or modern, are likely viewed as tools to them.

Martha Stewart is Eric Clapton's Groupie.....

Sour Cream will be at the NYC/MSG 10/2005, Tix cost more then they are worth....Oh well