Enemies reunited: Cream gig ends 36 years of hostility
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Your support makes all the difference.Their ego-fuelled conflicts were as well chronicled as their style of "psychedelic blues" that cemented their position as the world's first supergroup.
Their ego-fuelled conflicts were as well chronicled as their style of "psychedelic blues" that cemented their position as the world's first supergroup.
Yesterday, 36 years after a bitter split, Cream, the influential but short-lived '60s band, was reunited in apparent harmony for a sell-out performance.
The guitarist Eric Clapton joined forces with the drummer Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, bass player, for the first of four performances at the Royal Albert Hall in central London.
The belated reunion was reportedly prompted by Clapton, 60, due to concerns about the failing health of band members.
Despite a hiatus of more than three decades - which easily overshadows the three years the band were together - it was clear that their pulling power remained undiminished.
Within two hours of the four performance dates being announced, all the tickets were sold out.
Its status as a must-see event was confirmed withtickets on the auction website eBay selling for more than £1,000.
It was poised to be an emotional event for band members and fans alike. The band had performed at the same venue at the height of their global fame in 1968.
The last time the trio had appeared on stage together was for a one-off union in 1993 for the group's induction into the American Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
It was in 1966 that the band Cream was formed and for three heady years they were defined as the original supergroup with a string of hits including Crossroads, Born Under a Bad Sign, Strange Brew and Tales of Brave Ulysses.
Renowned for its live shows, the trio used to heavily improvise and toured the US extensively, winning armies of fans with its distinct "psychedelic blues" style.
Despite the brevity of the existence of Cream, they churned out four successful albums which sold more than 35 million copies.
However, it was not long before cracks began to appear. It was during a 24-date US tour in 1968 that tensions came to a head and the group disbanded.
Clapton went on to enjoy a successful solo career while Bruce and Baker both went on to play with a number of other bands.
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