Cream

Cream was the prototypical blues-rock power trio. In a mere three years, it sold 15 million records, played to SRO crowds throughout the U.S. and Europe, and redefined the instrumentalist's role in rock. Cream formed in mid-1966 when drummer Ginger Baker left Graham Bond's Organisation, bassist Jack Bruce (formerly of Bond's band) left Manfred Mann, and Eric Clapton, already a famous guitarist in the U.K., left John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.

Debuting at the 1966 Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival, Cream established its enduring legend on the high-volume blues jamming and extended solos of its live shows. Its studio work, however, tended toward more sophisticated original rock material, most of it written by Bruce with lyricist Pete Brown. Cream’s U.S. hit singles included “Sunshine of Your Love” (#5, 1968), “White Room” (#6, 1968), and a live version of the Robert Johnson country blues “Crossroads” (#28, 1969). Wheels of Fire, made up of a live LP and a studio LP (both recorded in the U.S.), was #1 for four weeks in summer 1968, just as the group was coming apart.

Tension within the band led to a quick breakup. Cream gave its farewell concert, which was filmed as Goodbye Cream, on November 26, 1968, at London’s Royal Albert Hall. After patching together the Goodbye LP - which featured “Badge,” cowritten by Clapton and George Harrison - Clapton and Baker subsequently formed Blind Faith [see entry], and Bruce went solo [see entry]. Clapton and Baker soon also went on to solo careers [see entries]. In 1993 Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Clapton, Baker, and Bruce reunited to perform three songs at the ceremonies. In 2005, the volatile trio again reemerged to sellout London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th and New York’s Madison Square Garden on October 24th-26th for one more tear through their legendary catalog.

from The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia Rock & Roll (Simon & Schuster, 2001)