ginger baker is a crazy person.
and that's why we love him!

this is completely unrelated but ticketmaster says that both Interpol AND LCD Soundsystem will be opening for the Pixies on June 14th @ Jones Beach. Of course I already bought Bloc Party tickets for that night, so who wants to swap my 4 bloc party tickets for june 14th for your 4 bloc party tickets for june 15th?

for those of us who were too young to have attended such concerts in 1966-1968, these had the potential to be the shows of a lifetime. after being fortunate enough to have seen two nights in ny in october 2005, it was obvious that the three had rehearsed quite a bit and there was a high level of planning and decision making in the musical arrangements and other details. after thinking about it for quite some time afterwards, reviewing countless comments by others and listening to available recordings and viewing the RAH dvds, this is my summary opinion: 1) the arrangements were a cross between original studio versions and truncated original live versions: more structured and less adventurous; 2) Bruce's singing met expectations; his playing seemed more subdued and not as fiery and unconventional as in the old days and his tone was too muted (the vintage Marshall sound was lacking); 3) Baker overall was incredibly good and made strong use of accents; 4) Clapton's (who has been my and many's idol for decades) singing is now extraordinary; his guitar playing was quite good but the Stratocaster and reworked vintage Fender amps did not have the fire and edge that using a Gibson and a Marshall would have had. the vintage equipment issue was raised by many purists prior to the shows and bruce acknowledged that they had tried it at rehearsals but it didn't work out (and most musicians would dismiss the choice of equipment as of little relevance for these master musicians).

for those of us who were too young to have attended such concerts in 1966-1968, these had the potential to be the shows of a lifetime. after being fortunate enough to have seen two nights in ny in october 2005, it was obvious that the three had rehearsed quite a bit and there was a high level of planning and decision making in the musical arrangements and other details. after thinking about it for quite some time afterwards, reviewing countless comments by others and listening to available recordings and viewing the RAH dvds, this is my summary opinion: 1) the arrangements were a cross between original studio versions and truncated original live versions: more structured and less adventurous; 2) Bruce's singing met expectations; his playing seemed more subdued and not as fiery and unconventional as in the old days and his tone was too muted (the vintage Marshall sound was lacking); 3) Baker overall was incredibly good and made strong use of accents; 4) Clapton's (who has been my and many's idol for decades) singing is now extraordinary; his guitar playing was quite good but the Stratocaster and reworked vintage Fender amps did not have the fire and edge that using a Gibson and a Marshall would have had. the vintage equipment issue was raised by many purists prior to the shows and bruce acknowledged that they had tried it at rehearsals but it didn't work out (and most musicians would dismiss the choice of equipment as of little relevance for these master musicians).

millionaire
millionaires
millionairs

One cant help but pay respect to 3 guys now in their mid-to-late 60's who gave their physical all. Producing a nice piece of nostalgia, but musically disappointing.

Bruce once the incarnation of a bass-genius, now barely standing upright after an organ transplant and reduced to an average player, with remnants of acceptable singing & harmonica.

Baker close to 70, once the driving force, now neurologically retarded, plagued by arthritis, unable to follow (not to speak of lead) lost it more than once in evry title.

And Clapton like a slow-pitched turntable to meet the smallest common denominator.

They played a list of Bruce-compositions, surrounded by some blues-standards. And they scored, like any above average blues-band would have.

But CREAM could not be re-united. Because CREAM wasnt just Clapton + Bruce + Baker (hear anyone of them play with almost any other band and you know)
CREAM was a multiple of that: a phenomenon of 3 musicians at their peak, with almost telepathic understanding of a common goal, on their mission with an unstoppable fierceness, unboundly innovative.

Stangly they DID accomplish something unexpected with these 'Reunion' performances: by singling themselves out after each song, they once-and-for-all-time UNDID the legend: we were not looking at, nor were we listening to anything even close to CREAM.

No need to remember where you were that day in '05 or '06 when they played at 'Royal Albert' or 'Madison Square'

Because it wasnt CREAM.

What a retard czik is. I grew up idolizing Cream and would rate myself an expert guitarist. I was not fortunate enough to attend the reunion concerts but I have them on DVD and they are phenomenal. Their performance only ENHANCED their legendary status. I just praying I get tix for the 2007 reunion.

What a retard czik is. I grew up idolizing Cream and would rate myself an expert guitarist. I was not fortunate enough to attend the reunion concerts but I have them on DVD and they are phenomenal. Their performance only ENHANCED their legendary status. I just praying I get tix for the 2007 reunion.

Posted by czik |

That had to have been the most miserable post (I've) ever read on this blog.

In my view, the shows were amazing (I saw them at MSG), and while you're entitled to your opinion, you are also grossly misinformed; as well as have committed the terminal error of investing your personal emotions in a group of strangers who play music (and rather wonderfully, at that) for a living.

Many on this blog were either not born or were too young to have attended any gigs during the first wave of Cream.

That some of us were able to do so, even if much later on, was due thanks to a rather fortuitous convergence of time, space, and distance -- as Radiohead put it, everything in its right place.

Unlike the dated model you prefer, this century's return of CREAM showcased a trio that played like a band, and not like three individuals acting like megalomaniac virtuosos.

Were they paid well?

Of course.

Was this reunion fueled by the need of money by a certain band member?

One could say "yes."

Nonetheless, the music, the artistry, and the power of this trio was undeniable, and confirmed by both young and old alike, in London 2005 and NYC 2006.

Not many reunions work, but this one did.

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