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.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
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.…
Article comments
26 - Gina FL Keys
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!
27 - Swlabr
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)
28 - Willie Tune
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.
29 - Eric Berlin
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
30 - mike
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!!!
31 - Willie Tune
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!
32 - mike
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 !!!!
33 - mike
youre a smart guy willie. you knew someone from mc5 ?
34 - Willie Tune
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!
35 - Bruce
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.
36 - Willie Tune
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.
37 - Eric Olsen
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.
38 - godoggo
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
39 - Douglas Mays
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
40 - Larry Bowser
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.
41 - Willie Tune
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?
42 - mike
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!)
43 - CREAMFREAK
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.
44 - Jim Graber
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.
45 - Rick
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.
46 - David Dann
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.
47 - David Lowell
Hi,
Has anyone heard how the Reunion is coming along
I haven't heard Jack about this major Event. Rehearsals? Updates?.......anything?
48 - charlie
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.
49 - RD
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.
50 - jake
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.
51 - essay
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!
52 - Arthur C.Wolff
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)
53 - dave
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!!!