Arguably the band that formed the mould for many of the Heavy Metal acts that followed in the 70's, CREAM set the agenda when it came to high volume live shows and extended workouts onstage. Formed in June 1966 by JOHN MAYALL'S BLUES BREAKERS guitarist ERIC CLAPTON (who even at this stage commanded an envious reputation as a consummate guitarist and inspiring the legend 'Clapton is God' from his fans back to his days in THE YARDBIRDS). Joining Clapton were THE GRAHAM BOND ORGANISATION drummer GINGER BAKER (real name Peter Baker) together and MANFRED MANN bassist / vocalist JACK BRUCE. The trio took the quite bizarre step of issuing a press statement declaring the formation of the group although the individual members stayed with their respective bands until they had played first gig as CREAM.

CREAM allied heavy Blues influences with a Hard Rock approach and by no means demure when it came to performing lengthy solos and the monumental first gig was a secret workout at the Twisted Wheel Club in Manchester.

CREAM officially debuted live at the 1966 National Jazz And Blues Windsor Festival, securing for themselves instant adulation from both fans and critics alike A batch of British club gigs followed, including London's Marquee. The trio's first single, 'Wrapping Paper', on manager Robert Stigwood's Reaction record label, provided an inauspicious start and was savaged by the Pop magazines of the time.

CREAM, nevertheless, set out on a tour of Europe and added further British dates to round off their first year together. However, both Bruce and Baker fell ill, delaying recording of the band's debut album. Thankfully, CREAM scored a bona fide hit single in 'I Feel Free' to maintain the momentum.

With the inaugural 'Fresh Cream' album just scraping into the American Billboard charts, it debuted at a lowly no. 198, CREAM began their first tour of America, preceded by some Scandinavian dates, in March 1967. As word of mouth spread, 'Fresh Cream' picked up momentum, bubbling up the charts until it peaked at an impressive no. 20. Strangely, the band's first shows were a week long booking at New York's RKO theatre where CREAM, decked out in hippy attire of beads and kaftans, had a two song slot five or six times each day and sharing the bill alongside THE WHO, SIMON AND GARFUNKEL and MITCH RYDER as part of influential DJ Murray The K's 'Music In The Fifth Dimension' shows. Further New York dates included the Cafe Au Go Go, supported by BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD.

From 1967 onwards the band concentrated on America where CREAM enjoyed enormous success both in the charts and on the concert trail. Time was made to record the acclaimed second album 'Disraeli Gears', produced and co-written by MOUNTAIN bassist Felix Pappalardi.

1968 CREAM spent most of the year on the road in an effort to crack America. The persistence paid off with 'Disraeli Gears' charting within the US top five. The band's next album, 'Wheels Of Fire' was also produced by Pappalardi and boasted live tracks alongside studio numbers in a double album set, gave CREAM a American number 1 hit.

The strain began to tell however and, following a farewell tour of America and a brace of concerts at London's Albert Hall in 1968 (supported by YES and TASTE), CREAM recorded their final effort, aptly titled 'Goodbye'.

Post CREAM, Clapton and Baker formed the shortlived but commercially successful BLIND FAITH, whilst Bruce chose to pursue a rather eclectic solo career. The bassist has also worked members of MOUNTAIN in 1973's WEST, BRUCE & LAING and with guitarist ROBIN TROWER in BRUCE, LORDON & TROWER. Baker's post BLIND FAITH outings have witnessed explorations of wide ranging areas of music including African, Jazz and Blues. Band projects have numbered AIRFORCE, BAKER GURVITZ ARMY, HAWKWIND, ATOMIC ROOSTER, PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED and MASTERS OF REALITY.

The late 90's found Baker and Bruce forging an alliance with ex-THIN LIZZY guitarist GARY MOORE for the BBM project album.

Clapton, of course, achieved further fame with DEREK AND THE DOMINOS and the familiar hit 'Layla' and has received enormous critical and commercial solo success in more recent years for his mature soft Rock outings.

1997 saw JACK BRUCE and GINGER BAKER reunited as part of the bassist's 50th birthday celebrations captured on the album 'Sittin' On Top Of The World'. The record encored suitably with 'Sunshine Of Your Love'. In 2001 Clapton also united with his former colleague JACK BRUCE on his new solo album on a re-recorded version of the CREAM classic 'Sunshine Of Your Love'. The track also included contributions from GARY MOORE.

A full thirty six years after they had disbanded, ERIC CLAPTON, JACK BRUCE and GINGER BAKER reformed CREAM for a four night stand at London's Royal Albert Hall in May 2005.