7/4 Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Cream Stirring Up 2005 Reunion Vintage rock trio Cream will reunite for a string of shows next year at London's Royal Albert Hall, sources tell Billboard.com. The group -- guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce -- played its final shows at Albert Hall before splintering in November 1968. Cream has not performed together since its 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Billboard.com understands the trio will begin rehearsals after the first of the year, with an eye on a week-long run of gigs at Albert Hall. It is unknown if plans call for additional shows in other parts of the world. A spokesperson for Clapton had no comment. In just two years, Cream achieved legendary status on the strength of the albums "Fresh Cream," "Disraeli Gears" (recently reissued in a deluxe edition by Polydor) and the half-live/half-studio "Wheels of Fire," expertly blending blues, rock and the burgeoning strains of psychedelia. "Disraeli Gears" is a particular landmark, sporting such signature tracks as "Strange Brew" and "Sunshine of Your Love," which features one of the most distinctive riffs in rock history. "Live, Cream was a great, hardworking band -- Eric was supreme and Ginger the most musical drummer alive -- and those original live albums were very good, probably the best records of their kind up to that point," Bruce told Billboard in 1997, prior to the release of the boxed set "Those Were the Days." "But our studio recordings were probably more important, although there you can tell that each one of us had a different idea of what Cream should be." Following Cream's split, Clapton and Baker joined another supergroup, Blind Faith, with Traffic's Steve Winwood and Family bassist Rick Grech. But the combo issued only one album before Clapton set off on an enduring solo career. Baker and Bruce have continued to record and tour in a variety of incarnations. As previously reported, Clapton will release a new CD/DVD, "Sessions for Robert J," on Dec. 7 via Duck/Reprise. -- Jonathan Cohen, N.Y./Billboard.com Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 "Live, Cream was a great, hardworking band -- Eric was supreme and Ginger the most musical drummer alive -- and those original live albums were very good, probably the best records of their kind up to that point," Bruce told Billboard in 1997, prior to the release of the boxed set "Those Were the Days." "But our studio recordings were probably more important, although there you can tell that each one of us had a different idea of what Cream should be." This coming from a man who played with Tony Williams?! Quote
7/4 Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Posted November 10, 2004 "Live, Cream was a great, hardworking band -- Eric was supreme and Ginger the most musical drummer alive -- and those original live albums were very good, probably the best records of their kind up to that point," Bruce told Billboard in 1997, prior to the release of the boxed set "Those Were the Days." "But our studio recordings were probably more important, although there you can tell that each one of us had a different idea of what Cream should be." This coming from a man who played with Tony Williams?! It sounds like he really wants this band to get together. Keep in mind that Tony Willams isn't alive anymore. Quote
Big Al Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Jack Bruce is still completely full of shit. Quote
GregK Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Clapton is so adult-contemporary now, I'd be afraid to even hear this reunion. Quote
7/4 Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Posted November 10, 2004 Clapton is so adult-contemporary now, I'd be afraid to even hear this reunion. Nonsense...he can still play those lines. Quote
bertrand Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Wasn't Bruce near death not that long ago? Bertrand. Quote
7/4 Posted November 10, 2004 Author Report Posted November 10, 2004 Wasn't Bruce near death not that long ago? Bertrand. Yes, liver problems. Quote
GregK Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 Clapton is so adult-contemporary now, I'd be afraid to even hear this reunion. Nonsense...he can still play those lines. uhhh, have you heard anything he's done lately? S-L-I-C-K Quote
Michael Fitzgerald Posted November 10, 2004 Report Posted November 10, 2004 This stuff didn't sound good at any of the earlier reunions I've seen on video. It will probably sound even worse now. All three are past it, by my reckoning. And I was a supporter of Clapton up to 1985, when people were saying he couldn't do it anymore. I've heard nothing since to prove that he's still got it. Someone must have got an expensive new ex-wife who needs paying. That seems to be the cause for these kind of reunions. Mike Quote
Guest ariceffron Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 i dunno mike they probably arent doing it for the money man-- arent they all rich already? this is probably just a rumour, just like the floyd ones a few weeks back. cream broke up in 1968 for fucks sake. tidbit: who opened up for their farewell royal albert hall gig?? A: YES! Quote
BFrank Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 As much as I like all their albums (still have all the vinyl and the "complete" box), I can't imagine that this reunion will be anything other than embarrassing. It was great music in its time and at their AGE, at that time. Quote
AfricaBrass Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 I'm with you guys... I love Cream, but I don't know if I want to see this. I remember footage from their '90s reunion and it wasn't that great. One good thing... If they film their reunion show(s), at least it won't have the crazy, psychedelic, zooming in/out camera work of their '68 farewell shows. Watching that makes me a little seasick. Quote
Guest ariceffron Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 I WOULD GO SEE THIS. CLAPTON CAN STILL PLAY THE BLUES. I SAW HIM THIS SUMMER (5TH ROW) AND TRUST ME HE COULD DO IT. AS FOR GB I HAVENT HEARD HIM RECENTLY BUT IF HES STILL WITH IT IM SURE HELL ROCK. YES IT WONT BE AS GOOD AS ORIGINAL CREAM CAUSE THEY ARE OLDER NOW AND MORE MELLOW IM SURE BUT NEVERTHELESS FOR SOMEONE WHO COULDNT SEE THE CREAM ORIGINALLY IT WOULD BE A BIG TREAT AND IM SURE IT WILL ROCK THE SOCKS OFF MOST OTHER SHOWS I SEE IN '05 Quote
AfricaBrass Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 You're right, Aric. It would probably be worth seeing. I know Clapton can still dig down and play like we all want him to play. I would hope they could recapture some of the magic they had together. Speaking of Clapton, I saw the Crossroads Benefit DVD at the store tonight. Has anyone seen this? It looks like an interesting all-star concert. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 i dunno mike they probably arent doing it for the money man-- arent they all rich already? this is probably just a rumour, just like the floyd ones a few weeks back. cream broke up in 1968 for fucks sake. tidbit: who opened up for their farewell royal albert hall gig?? A: YES! Yes, what? Quote
alankin Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 i dunno mike they probably arent doing it for the money man-- arent they all rich already? this is probably just a rumour, just like the floyd ones a few weeks back. cream broke up in 1968 for fucks sake. tidbit: who opened up for their farewell royal albert hall gig?? A: YES! Yes, what? Who? The Yes? Quote
mikeweil Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 Who? Yes, Cream?! I'm skeptical, but would give them a shot. There are things that take place at the right olace and time and with the right people, and Cream was such a thing. Now, the people have grown older, and the time and the place aren't the same anymore .... Quote
Big Al Posted November 11, 2004 Report Posted November 11, 2004 Who? Yes, Cream?! Them. And if not them, then who? Quote
7/4 Posted November 11, 2004 Author Report Posted November 11, 2004 Who? Yes, Cream?! Them. And if not them, then who? Yes? Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.