Originally published in Melody Maker, July 1968

Cream are breaking up. The world-famous trio that features Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce are to go separate ways in the autumn. Said Eric at his Chelsea home this week: “I’ve been on the road seven years and I’m going on a big holiday.”

It was two years ago, in July 1966, that three of Britain’s most outstanding instrumentalists electrified the blues world by joining forces. It was two years ago that Ginger Baker rang me to say, “Me and Jack are forming a group with Eric.”

Then came the denials. Eric was the star of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Jack was with Manfred Mann, and Ginger was with Graham Bond. Nobody wanted to lose their key man. But Cream was not going to be turned off. Soon they were rehearsing together in a London church hall, a thunder of blues startling their first audience—some Brownies, a caretaker, and manager Robert Stigwood.

They made a sensational debut at the sixth National Jazz and Blues Festival—in pouring rain at Windsor. They had their first hit with “Wrapping Paper” in November 1966, then came “I Feel Free”, concerts at the late, lamented Saville Theatre, and this year they conquered America and became superstars.

They had their successes—and failures. Eric got hung up on the pop scene for a while. The result of that was “Anyone for Tennis”, a nice enough record but one that didn’t impress Cream fans. It flopped. Sometimes Cream in full cry was as exhilarating as a lightning jet screaming past at ground level. Jack’s soulful singing and harmonica wailing on “Train Time”, Ginger’s great solos on “Toad”, and Eric’s “Stepping Out” thrilled fans across the world. Sometimes they were tired and played badly, and fans complained their music was taking the wrong course. Most of the time they were idolized.

Eric told me last May that Cream was breaking up. But it was to be kept secret until business problems had been sorted out. At the time, he said, “I went off to a lot of different things since Cream formed. I went off in a lot of different directions all at once it seems, but I find I have floated back to straight blues playing. I’ve returned to what I like doing as an individual, and that is playing exploratory blues. You get really hung up and try to write pop songs or create a pop image. I went through that stage and it was a shame because I was not being true to myself. I am and always will be a blues guitarist.”

In the bedroom of Eric’s pad, he played a fascinating Bob Dylan tape while we lit cigarettes, drank quarts of tea, and attempted to talk about the future. But the oppressive heat of the day often reduced the conversation to about three sentences an hour while Dylan sang his “Wheel’s on Fire” and “Mighty Quinn.”

“They were recorded in his basement with friends at Woodstock,” said Eric. “There is some really great music coming out of America. I think we are due for a whole new spate of Sgt. Peppers.

“I’ve got another tape here of Bob Dylan’s band. I think this music will influence a lot of people. Everybody I have played it to has flipped. The Band are releasing an album called Music From Big Pink by the group. Since I heard all this stuff, all my values have changed. I think it has probably influenced me.”

When and why are Cream breaking up?

“In a couple of months. We’ll probably be doing a farewell performance, maybe at the Royal Albert Hall, plus 15 ‘farewell’ dates in the States. The reason it is breaking up is a change of attitudes among ourselves more than anything. Also, we have all been on the road a long time, before Cream started. That is a big hang up. We want to do things now that require some privacy. We want a holiday anyway.

“Also, I just want to perform contemporary blues. With the Cream solos were the thing, but I’m really off that virtuoso kick. It was all overexposed. We died the death from playing exposure. I think Cream reached its peak last year at San Francisco. From that we all went on such a huge ego trip. Making it in the States was a bang in the head.”

What will Ginger and Jack do, and what are Eric’s plans?

“Jack will probably go into recording, and Ginger will probably get a group together. I want to be in a group where I can control the music, but I want to be at the back. I’ve already had plays with a few people, and I know the musicians I want. Listen to this.”

Eric produced a small spool of tape threaded it on the machine and we allowed our minds to be blasted. “You can’t say who it is,” said Eric. The one number on the tape rocked along for several minutes. It was a backing track without the vocal, including a very funky piano, and two guitars. The most outstanding feature was some tremendously driving drums.

I have no idea who the musicians were, but from the styles they sounded remarkably like Nicky Hopkins on piano, George Harrison on rhythm guitar, Eric on lead, and Ringo Starr on drums. But this is just wild surmise. The number was called “Sour Milk Sea”, and if this is any indication of the sound Eric wants in the future, disappointed Cream fans can look forward to a great new group in replacement.

“I’ll start work on the new group in November. I want a piano, bass, guitar, and drums. Yes, I was disappointed with Cream on record. I don’t think we took the right direction. The tours we did meant being on the road for such a long time we couldn’t rehearse and try new things. That was the strange thing.”

Watch: “Sunshine of Your Love“  [at youtube.com]

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