Clapton Whips Up Cream Reunion 12/23/2004 E! Online http://launch.yahoo.com/
Eric Clapton 's ready for some fresh Cream. Old Slow Hand revealed to BBC Radio 2 last week that he and his former mates in rock's first supergroup, singer-bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker , are planning to reunite for four shows next May at London's Royal Albert Hall, the legendary venue where the power trio played its final gig in 1969. There has been no other official comment since Clapton's remarks--reps for the musicians were not immediately reachable as most labels are on holiday. Since the group's disintegration 35 years ago, the only other time Clapton, Bruce and Baker appeared onstage together was when they performed a scorching three-song set at Cream's 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After the jam, an emotional Clapton told audience members that he was "moved" by the band's performance, sparking a decade's worth of talk of a possible reunion. "It's been so long since I've been around something from somebody else that's inspired me. For the last 20 years, it's been up to me to inspire me," Clapton said at the time. "There isn't a drummer on this earth that has the dexterity that Ginger has," Clapton added. "And [Jack has] this powerful thing that happens when he starts to sing and you're off on the side." With age apparently softening their egos, the guitar god told the BBC that the long-rumored reunion is finally in motion. So far there are no Cream concerts on the Royal Albert Hall schedule for May, but Clapton said tickets would be going on sale very soon, and all four concerts would be recorded for eventual release on CD and/or DVD. Cream was formed in 1966 when Clapton left another Hall of Fame band, the Yardbirds, and hooked up with Bruce, a Scotsman from blues outfit Manfred Mann , and Baker, who played toms for the Graham Bond Organization. Known for its blues and psychedelic-infused jams, the threesome quickly established itself among the rock pantheon. They released just four albums in two years--Fresh Cream, Disreali Gears, Wheels of Fire and Goodbye--but left an indelible mark on classic rock with such radio standards as "Sunshine of Your Love," "Strange Brew," "Spoonful," "White Room" and "Crossroads." The band played its farewell show at the Royal Albert Hall in November 1968. Clapton then hooked up with another supergroup, Blind Faith, for an album and tour before launching Derek and the Dominoes and eventually his own solo career. Bruce, who has recently toured with Ringo Starr and his all-star band, has publicly indicated that he's up for a reunion. "I'd like it to happen," Bruce told Forbes writer Jim Clash for his 2003 book To the Limits. "But I wouldn't be prepared to do it, really, unless it was a challenge. And the challenge would be to come up with new material somewhere close to as strong as the stuff from the old days." New material notwithstanding, Bruce and Clapton haven't refrained from rehashing old memories. In 2001, the two teamed up to record new versions of "Sunshine of Your Love" for a Bruce solo project. King Daevid MacKenzie, WLSU-FM 88.9 La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA How Radio is done. No brag, just fact. http://snipurl.com/bl7j http://ultimajock.blogspot.com "Fear and God do not inhabit the same space." DICK GREGORY "In an ugly time as this the true protest is beauty." PHIL OCHS ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.4 - Release Date: 22/12/2004 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Create your own customized LAUNCHcast Internet Radio station. Rate your favorite Artists, Albums, and Songs. Skip songs. Click here! http://us.click.yahoo.com/7itK7D/xA5HAA/n1hLAA/fnJolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> BritInvasion archived at <http://www.escribe.com/music/britinvasion>, <http://www.mail-archive.com/britinvasion%40onelist.com>, and <http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=britinvasion>. Home page: <http://home.hiwaay.net/~emilyj/britinvasion/>. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BritInvasion/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
