CREAM au revoir

CREAM au revoir

ICE ALEXANDER

I can remember, in 1967, being at an all night “rave” at the Queen’s Hall in Leeds, England. On the bill were the Small Faces, Pink Floyd, and the Cream. It was Cream’s second live gig together, and when the Faces didn’t show, 80% of the crowd left the hall, leaving the Floyd and Cream to entertain about 35 people from the hours of 6:00 ‘til 6:00.

As you can gather, at this time, very few people knew Cream. They opened with N.S.U. and Eric’s first chord brought a ten foot girder down from the roof. Queen’s Hall used to be a tram terminal, and is very old, but nonetheless, it took mucho power to bring down a girder. No one was hurt, from the bar. After seeing these two incidents, Cream became rather afraid and turned down somewhat.

During the second set, at Re dear, Eric launched into “Steppin’ Out.” By this time, the audience were aware that this was not just another limey soul band, but three instruments playing people. After the melody line to “Steppin’ Out” had been played, and Clapton was just entering his solo, he broke the top string of his Les Paul. Most people obviously at this point get flustered particularly when “Steppin’ Out” is played mainly using that string. Whilst ; continuing his solo, Eric tuned the other five strings up so, in effect, he had broken . his botton string. Nobody can do that, while playing a solo. But Clapton could. Those were the days. When short hair was not something to be ashamed of, so Cream had short hair. It was easier to play weel with short hair.

When they became famous super-stars, around the time of their first American tour, it occurred to them that, as they were very tired and becoming very rich, they wouldn’t have to work so hard. The USA kids wouldn’t notice anyway as they had never seen Cream when . they were Cream in the days when they had to work because no one knew who the hell they were.

So Cream became a foursome with Felix Pappalardi, who played nothing well, and turned out their Gears album. . .“We’re Going Wrong”. And they were, too!

Rumors started, and Cream were gods. Not gods like in England where they deserved it, but Bopper-gods — bubble gum idols which the media of America chewed into the biggest bubble for years.

Wheels of Fire — their supposed last album — weakened the bubble.

Goodbye burst it. Yeah, we know that they’ve gone. Why, oh why, do they have to try to kill the savage beauty that was Cream by releasing bad tapes, tidied up, and prettied up “songs” made in the studio and “arranged” by Felix. Arranged! The irony of it! Who is this low-calibre producer who dares to arrange Cream? They were tired of it all. Let them go back to their musical wombs and start again. ' Cream as a multi-milfion dollar industry was a brutal mistake but don’t rub it in. Don’t let me see , Disraeli Gears with little stickers j saying “Contains their Hit Single ‘Sunshine of Your Love’” on it. Don’t give me Goodbye with its little sticker saying “Includes exclusive Cream poster!” And the poster is what? Is it, Cream? Is it Eric without his poppy “granny shades” that he wears so you can’t see his nervous blink that he only gets when he’s playing? Is he leaning himself against the speakers so he can get back into the music that he’s produced? it is a night shot of the man who’s barely alive away from a drum kit, flogging said drum kit into and back out of submission? Does Bruce look angry as he is only when he’s playing?

None of these. Three clowns, two of which had their hair dyed to match the third, are doing a hat and cane bit. And inside, tombstones, TOMBSTONES! For Christ’s sake!

Are you waiting eagerly for their next album? Titled either Gone But Not Forgotten, Bom Under A Bad Sign, or Out of Sight, Out of Mind. Cream are out of sight. Someone at Atco records is out of mind — their own.

Please don’t make me forget the Cream. Or the two weeks vacation. I took and drove all over England following them gig to gig. Or thin little Eric in his huge fur or buckskin jacket walking unseen through a crowd clutching his Les Paul instead of the piano-like Firebird he “plays” now. Go back to blues, son!

Take a rest, Cream. Don’t die — just split up. And don’t listen to the Goodbyes — especially your own.