Eric Clapton and his music

Derek Trucks on working with Eric Clapton
News entry published on 5 February 2006 / Last modified on 5 February 2006

At 26, guitarist Derek Trucks has spent more than half of his life as a full-time working musician. Last fall, he joined Eric Clapton in the studio for sessions produced by J.J. Cale.

Derek Truck's musical career began at the age of nine, when he picked up a five dollar acoustic guitar at a yard sale. He played his first paying gig at 11 and formed his first band at 12. Now 26, he has spent more than half of his life as a full-time working musician.

The Derek Trucks Band released its first album in 1997. In 1999, he was asked to join the Allman Brothers Band on slide guitar. His uncle, Butch Trucks, is an original member of the Allmans. Rather than break up his band, Derek decided to work with both.

Last fall, he joined Eric Clapton in the studio for sessions for Eric's new CD. In a recent interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, he said, "I just got a call from him randomly on a cell phone one night as I was headed home. Doyle Bramhall, who plays in his band, is on my wife's new record and has always been really supportive of the band. I think maybe Doyle turned Clapton on to some of our records because he was familiar with the stuff we've done in our band. He asked me to come out and record on the album he's doing with J.J. Cale. Obviously, it was a blast to get a chance to hang with both of those guys, as well as Billy Preston, who also played on the session. It was quite a trip." Derek is married to blues singer Susan Tedeschi.

The session work led to an invitation to join Eric's band for the European tour this spring. "Those are opportunities that you don't think will ever come up, so when they do, you jump at the chance. I don't spend a lot of time looking back, but it's pretty wild to consider the progression of this band and my career in general. It seems like a lot of the big milestones and events in my life happened at the perfect time. I've been very fortunate to meet and be around some really great people, whether it was meeting Colonel Bruce Hampton as a kid and having him introducing me to all the people that played in the Atlanta music scene at the time, playing with the Allmans and Dylan by the age of 11, getting to know Buddy Guy or now getting a chance to play with Clapton."

Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker are blowing off tomorrow's Grammys.
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences tried to lure them with a Lifetime Achievement honor for their work in the band Cream. But Baker doesn't feel like traveling from South Africa, and Clapton won't leave the UK, where he's finishing his next album with J.J. Cale.

"I know Eric is highly honored," a Clapton rep said, by way of apology. Jack Bruce will pick up the Grammy for his Cream-mates.

British rock group Cream to play more reunion shows By Dean Goodman
Tue Feb 7

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Legendary rock trio Cream, which reunited last year for a handful of concerts in London and New York after a bitter break-up in 1968, has scheduled more shows, bassist and singer Jack Bruce said on Tuesday.

But don't expect a world tour. Rather, Bruce told Reuters that he, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker will set up camp in select cities for multiple dates, just as they did last year.

"What we feel is that it's so special, and also so emotionally draining that it's not something we could do every day," he said. "We will play more, but where and when I'm not at liberty to say."

He declined to say when an official announcement might be made, joking that he would "get chopped" if he said anything.

Bruce, 62, was speaking hours before Cream was due to receive a lifetime achievement Grammy during a ceremony also honoring rocker David Bowie, country singer Merle Haggard, opera diva Jessye Norman, folk group the Weavers, late bluesman Robert Johnson and recently deceased comedian Richard Pryor.

Bruce, flying in from his farm in Britain, was set to be the group's sole representative. He said Clapton, 60, had other commitments, while it was impractical for Baker, 66, to leave his farm in South Africa.

All three did show up in Los Angeles 13 years ago when Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, burying their differences long enough to play three songs, including their hit "Sunshine of Your Love," for a black-tie crowd.

Then they went their separate ways until last year, when they reunited for four lucrative shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, the scene of their farewell concert on November 26, 1968, and then three at New York's Madison Square Garden.

In its first iteration, the band lasted a little over two years, brewing a potent mix of blues and psychedelia that paved the way for hard rock. But Baker and Bruce fought bitterly, leaving Clapton to play the thankless role of peacemaker.

Cream cultivated the tensions, churning out four albums, and rock-radio staples such as "Sunshine of Your Love" and "White Room." But the group's demise was inevitable.

Bruce said he is less explosive in his old age, and the band knows better how to handle problems, but there remains an underlying, brotherly tension with Baker. On the other hand, he described Clapton as "the most beautiful, kindest, most understanding guy that I've come across."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060208/music_nm/leisure_cream_dc;_ylt=AhRr8qI0QLQ7p0bAmV7N...

KEYBOARDIST NOT ON BOARD FOR RUMORED DEREK & THE DOMINOS TOUR - YET

There have been recent rumors that Eric Clapton's upcoming tour will celebrate the music of Derek and the Dominos, but the band's keyboardist isn't involved -- yet. A spokesperson told us that Bobby Whitlock and Clapton have a friendly relationship, but there's been no contact regarding a tour this year. The representative added that Whitlock would love the opportunity to perform with Clapton again.

The only other living member of the Dominos is drummer Jim Gordon, who killed his mother in 1983. He tried an insanity defense, but he was convicted of second-degree murder in 1984. Gordon has spent most of his time since then confined to the Atascadero State Hospital in California, which is a maximum security psychiatric facility.

Guitarist Duane Allman died in a motorcycle crash in 1971, and bassist Carl Radle died in 1980 from a kidney infection that was related to his years of drug and alcohol abuse.

Clapton has brought Allman Brothers Band guitarist Derek Trucks on board for a European tour in the spring. It's unknown whether Trucks will also be on the North American shows later this year.

Cream Feb 8 2006

Robin Turner, Western Mail

CREAM was the world's first true supergroup, made up of guitar ace Eric Clapton, wild eyed rock drummer Ginger Baker and rock bass pioneer Jack Bruce.

Cream burst onto the scene unexpectedly in 1966, three musicians little known outside their own musical circles.

But the trio were very much aware of their own musical abilities, evidenced by the choice of the group's name.

And even though their first rehearsal was in a Scout hut in front of a bemused troop, for just over two years from 1966 to 1968 they were the cr me de la cr me in the world of rock.

They came up with a string of classics such as I Feel Free (from their 1966 debut album Fresh Cream) and Sunshine of your Love (from the follow up album Disraeli Gears (1967).

Sunshine of your Love starts with one of rock's heaviest, most memorable riffs with Jack Bruce's hard driving notes showing the way for a generation of rock bassists.

Other creations and covers such as Spoonful, Badge, Born Under a Bad Sign, Sitting On Top of the World and White Room meant Cream's portfolio of top class songs would soon be earning them $60,000 a night in sell out US shows.

But there was a chasm of disharmony in the band between Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, who hated each other.

They had played together in the Graham Bond Organisation and often sabotaged each other's equipment and occasionally attacked each other.

Eric Clapton, now 60, was still in his teens when he showed himself to be a guitar virtuoso with the Yardbirds and then John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Baker, fast developing a reputation as a high tempo drummer, approached Clapton about forming a group.

Surrey-born Clapton suggested Bruce, from Glasgow, as the third member.

The suggestion did not go down well with Baker but he agreed to the team line up because, despite personal differences, he respected Bruce as a musician.

The group had a brief, but very productive and successful two years together culminating in a final concert at the Royal Albert Hall in 1968 - the acrimony between Bruce and Baker having finally been too much.

Clapton later told the rock writer Chris Welch, who was working on a biography of Cream, "There was a constant battle between Ginger and Jack. They loved each other's playing, but couldn't stand the sight of each other.

It would be 37 years before Cream got back together again, playing an unexpected concert - again at the Royal Albert Hall.

In the meantime Clapton had become a rock legend and multi-millionaire with a dazzling solo career and self-formed groups such as Derek and the Dominos.

Bruce, 61, who had a liver transplant in 2003, later joined up with musicians Corky Laing (of rock group Mountain) and Leslie West to form West, Bruce and Laing.

He also collaborated with John McLaughlin and Ringo Starr.

Baker later joined bands as varied as Hawkwind, Atomic Rooster, Public Image Ltd and Masters of Reality.

Bruce said cash was a factor in the reunion concert but added, "Apart from the money, the band gets overlooked these days.

"Led Zeppelin has got a lot of recognition, and quite rightly so. But, it seems to be forgotten Cream and Jimi Hendrix created that audience."

Baker, now 65, who struggled with heroin addiction for many years, said of the reunion, "A lot of people think I'm dead ... but that's nothing new."

Eric Clapton - Love Comes To Everyone
Promo CD

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Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "Back Home," Alan Douglas and Mick Guzauski, engineers (Eric Clapton).

CREAM Receives Honorary Grammy Award
News entry published on 8 February 2006 / Last modified on 9 February 2006

On the eve of the music industry's biggest night, Cream received an Honorary Grammy Award. The low-key event took place in Los Angeles on Tuesday, 7 February. Traditionally, the lifetime achievement awards are presented the night before the main ceremony.

Although Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker were unable to attend, bandmate Jack Bruce accepted the award on their behalf.

Other honorees included blues pioneer Robert Johnson, the late comedian Richard Pryor, Island Records chief Chris Blackwell, opera singer Jesse Norman, the folk group The Weavers, David Bowie, Merle Haggard, producer Owen Bradley, and recording engineers Tom Dowd and Al Schmitt.

For the 2006 Grammy Awards on 8 February, Eric Clapton is nominated for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance for Revolution (from his album Back Home). "Back Home" is also nominated in the category Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (engineers: Alan Douglas & Mick Guzauski).

News entry published on 9 February 2006 / Last modified on 9 February 2006

At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on 8 February 2006, Clapton's most recent studio album, "Back Home" was awarded a Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. The album's engineers are Alan Douglas and Mick Guzauski.

During the telecast from the Staples Center, Cream was acknowledged for the Lifetime Achievement Award it received in a ceremony on 7 February 2006. Sheryl Crow and Sting spoke briefly about the band and its importance. Jack Bruce was shown seated in the audience. Ginger Baker and Eric were not in attendance.
Eric Clapton was nominated in the category Best Solo Rock Performance for "Revolution". Also in the field were Robert Plant ("Shine It All Around"), Bruce Springsteen ("Devils & Dust"), Rob Thomas ("This Is How A Heart Breaks"), and Neil Young ("The Painter"). The award went to Bruce Springsteen.

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Jack Bruce, bassist of music group Cream, speaks during an interview at the Grammy Special Merit Awards and Nominee Reception at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, California February 7, 2006.

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Eric Clapton to play historic Hampton Court Palace

On 9 and 10 June, Eric Clapton and his band will perfom at historic Hampton Court Palace. Although most often identified with Henry VIII, the palace's history was influenced just as much by William III and Queen Mary II in the late 17th century. It is set amongst acres of parklands and gardens in the Surrey countryside.