Jack Bruce Squashes Hope for Supergroup's Return: "Cream Is Over"

If you missed Cream's epic reunion shows in 2005, bassist Jack Bruce is the bearer of some bad news. "There's a new story now — Cream is over," Bruce told BBC 6Music, effectively crushing any hope of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame trio reuniting once again to rock "Sunshine of Your Love." Bruce's recent quotes to the BBC are in stark contrast to what Bruce said in October 2008: "I think there might be a chance of some more," Bruce said then of the possibility of more Cream reunion shows. "I would like to do some more, 'cause I enjoyed it. It was very emotional. I would like another shot at it."

A short history of supergroups, in photos.

Cream's 2005 reunion — the group previously reunited briefly for their Rock Hall induction in 1993 — lasted only seven shows, four at London's Royal Albert Hall and three at New York's Madison Square Garden. Much of what caused the band to break up in 1968, namely tensions between drummer Ginger Baker and Bruce, resurfaced again during the reunion gigs. While Baker went on record about his rift with Bruce in 2005, the bassist downplayed it to the BBC. "There was one argument where I misremembered the phrasing of one of the songs. Ginger said 'You've got that wrong,' and I said 'No I haven't,' " Bruce said. "I thought about it and realized he was right and I apologized, so everything was all right."

While no official announcement has been made regarding the end of Cream, the members of the trio have been moving along with their own musical endeavors. Eric Clapton will tour this year with Jeff Beck and then Roger Daltrey, and Bruce also has something "very exciting" planned. "So much so I can't even talk about it. It's the most exciting project I've ever been involved in," Bruce said.

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Song Stories

“Too Close”

Next | 1998

Next was formed in Minneapolis when the uncle of Terry "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, who was a gospel choir director, introduced the brothers to Robert Lavelle "R.L." Huggar. Sounds of Blackness singer Ann Nesby groomed the R&B group before handing them over to Naughty by Nature's KayGee, who wrote and produced "Too Close." The idea for the song was sparked "from a conversation we had with several girls at a nightclub," explained T-Low. "It's talking about the club scene, with guys getting out of hand and the female telling him to back up, asking, 'What are you doing?'" 

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