Billboard magazine has an item claiming that a Cream reunion is in the works. The article claims rehearsals will begin in January, preparing for a week's worth of shows at the Royal Albert Hall.
Like every other red-blooded classic rock fan this news set my Pavlovian reflex to High Drool, but I think this should be taken cum grano salis. Clapton's spokesperson had no comment on the story, and Jack Bruce has been seriously ill. Cream did reunite once for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, but I recall that performance as very cautious and aloof, not like the wild Cream shows of legend. Another point to bear in mind is Sir George Martin's comment about the possibility of a certain other legendary band potentially reuniting, "You can't reheat a souffle".
Still, if it comes off, I'd love to see it. I somehow doubt that EC will be playing a Gibson through a huge Marshall backline, but on the assumption it does come off it'll make a dandy concert DVD (something to replace the wretched "Farewell Concert", hmm?)
Cream's legendary status is such that it inspires one of the few put-downs of Clapton heard - "What's the difference between Eric Clapton and coffee? None. They both suck without Cream."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Vern Halen
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.
2 - Lono
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.
3 - The Proprietor
Clapton's people aren't denying the rumor. The money quote from the site is:
4 - mikemudd
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..
5 - Eric Olsen
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.
6 - Ryan Cassidy
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
7 - Eric Olsen
I don't think 35 years is long enough to nurse resentments, do you?
8 - Eric Olsen
why aren't the comments showing up here?
9 - Reesho Cornay
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!
10 - john canale
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.
11 - David Lowell
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.
12 - Wes Morgan
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.
13 - Eric Olsen
I don't think any of them need it more or less than any of the others: that's why it's finally ahppening
14 - Lloyd Gagne
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...
15 - Sam
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!!!!!
16 - HW Saxton
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.
17 - Ryan Cassidy
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!
18 - Eric Olsen
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.
19 - Ryan Cassidy
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.
20 - Eric Olsen
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.
21 - Jonathan Hirons
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.
22 - rob
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)!!
23 - mike
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 !!!!!!!!!!!
24 - DJRadiohead
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.
25 - Ryan Cassidy
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.