Results for Cream and related artists > Backstage

What rises to the top and is quick to curdle? That must be Cream, the bluesy British trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker whose carefully planned road to success also led, P.T. Barnum-like, to their egress. Formed in mid-1966 with the du...more

What rises to the top and is quick to curdle? That must be Cream, the bluesy British trio of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker whose carefully planned road to success also led, P.T. Barnum-like, to their egress. Formed in mid-1966 with the dual purposes of putting blues "... Ancient and modern..." in the rock-mix and making money for Clapton et al who had been working "... Too hard for too little for too long..." the band quickly found its niche and perfected its style on the blues club circuit. There, accolades came quickly and a bit unfortunately since neither Clapton nor Bruce had given notice to the bands with which they were formally associated at the time. Popularity assuaged their guilt, however, and they soon complemented electrified guitar-solo blues with psychedelic pop and lyrical lyrics. Their first single, 'Wrapping Paper,' was a soft-blues surprise for their fans, but their live performances and albums were progressive adventures into a new genre. Cream was a popular sensation; they were the first band to boast playing both the Fillmore and a sell-out, 18,000 seat Madison Square Garden arena, but by mid-1968, the broad-brushed blues brand annoyed Clapton, and the band made the uneasy observation that fans were beginning to accept almost anything from them. By disbanding in late-'68, Cream left fans stunned but opened doors for Clapton's solo career and for Bruce and Baker to engage in other musical projects....less