Rateoholic Forum

Cream is Eric Clapton (guitar and vocals), Jack Briuce (bass and vocals) and Ginger Baker (drums). All have sort of revolutionised the use of their instrument in popular music. Clapton will be somewhat familiar to most readers, especially since he entered his Armani phase in the 1980's and stopped being a drug addict or alcoholic. He is a very good guitar player, with a nice tone and also a rather inventive soloist (although based on generic blues). Jack Bruce is a great singer, an interesting composer (with strong jazz or fusion leanings) and a powerful bass player. One could say he played 'lead bass' rather than 'rhythm bass'. Ginger Baker is a drummer in the tradition of (or preceding) Keith Moon: why keep the beat if it's more interesting to play long solos and try to confuse your band colleagues.

Health problems (Ginger's back) and Claptons general sophistication make this highly anticipated comeback concert (after almost 40 years) a lame, risk free and dull affair. I wish them large pensions, if any were needed, but it's a lousy postscriptum to an illustrious career nonetheless. Cream made some very good and innovative blues based music in their day. However, 2005 isn't their day.