Formed in 1966, Cream is credited as being one of the first “power trios,” in rock music with Eric Clapton on guitar, Ginger Baker playing the drums, and Jack Bruce providing vocals and playing the bass. The three were well-known in their home country of Britain even before coming together. Eric Clapton already had a reputation of the premier blues guitarist in Britain while in his previous band the Yardbirds, and Ginger Baker, now considered a top three drummer of all time, along with Jack Bruce were in the Graham Bond Organisation, a popular jazz/rhythm and blues band (Weingarten, 2016). The trio eventually formed Cream after tensions in their previous bands caused them to break up. Cream was not yet known in America before the release of their first album, Fresh Cream in 1966, and they didn’t perform in America until after the release of their second album, Disraeli Gears, in 1967 (Weinstein, 2013). Cream’s first performance in March of 1967 in New York City marked the beginnings of their dominance of the American music market.
As a solo guitar player, Eric Clapton had already gained notoriety in Britain before the band’s formation. This was exemplified by the famous picture of the words “Clapton is God,” spray-painted on an underground train station wall in London taken in 1965 (Whereseric.com).
