Eric Clapton Reflects on the Live Band that surpassed Cream
In the realm of 1960s rock, few bands could rival the electrifying performances of Cream. Featuring the exceptional talents of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker, their live shows were a benchmark for musical prowess. Though, Clapton himself had a different outlook on their onstage capabilities.
“We were quite restricted in our live performances. In the studio, we could create remarkable tracks through overdubbing,” Clapton shared in Bob Beatty’s 2022 book, Play All Night! Duane Allman and the Journey to Fillmore East. ”I would lay down a rhythm part,then add a lead with harmonies,effectively creating multiple guitar layers.”
Jack Bruce echoed Clapton’s sentiments years prior, stating, “Cream was essentially two distinct entities: a studio band and a live band,” he told Guitar Player in July 1985. “Ther was some tension within the group. Eric never seemed to believe in our live potential from the start. He often remarked, ’We can make great records, but we’ll never be a great live band.’”
Cream was essentially two distinct entities: a studio band and a live band.
– Jack Bruce
Bruce continued, “I believed we could excel in both areas if we approached them differently. The band had a dual identity, leaning more towards jazz during live performances.”
Clapton’s Choice for the Ultimate Live Band
So, which band did Clapton regard as the pinnacle of live performance during the classic rock era? His answer was the Allman Brothers band, who rose to prominence just as Cream was winding down.
“The allman Brothers’ music was extraordinary, characterized by their intricate harmony work,” Clapton remarked. “Even their solos were harmonized beautifully. It was all meticulously crafted.”
“What struck me was the immense effort they put into their performances, and how they didn’t seek the limelight. They quietly excelled at creating exceptional music that was thoughtfully composed. It had a meaningful impact on my own work during that period,” Clapton reflected.
To this day, I’ve never heard better rock guitar playing on an R&B record.
– Eric Clapton
“They made it acceptable for bands to focus on live performances. Their essence was more about the stage than the studio.”
Clapton’s Awakening to Duane Allman
Clapton’s admiration for the Allman brothers began when he first heard Duane Allman’s guitar work on Wilson Pickett’s late-1968 rendition of “Hey Jude.” While driving, Clapton was so captivated by the guitar that he had to pull over to absorb it fully.
“I remember listening to ‘Hey Jude’ by Wilson Pickett and calling either ahmet Ertegun or Tom Dowd to ask, ’Who’s that playing guitar?’” Clapton recounted to Guitar Player. “To this day, I’ve never encountered better rock guitar on an R&B track.”
About a year and a half later, Clapton and Allman would finally cross paths, thanks to Dowd, and collaborate on the Derek and the Dominos project.
“When Eric’s manager contacted me at Criteria Studios to produce the Derek and the Dominos album, I was in the midst of working on Idlewild South with the Allman Brothers,” Dowd recalled to Guitar Player. “the Allman Brothers had to pause their recording to hit the road.”
“After hanging up, I mentioned to Duane, ‘A guitar player you’re going to love is coming here in about 10 days: Eric Clapton.’ He exclaimed, ‘Oh, man, I’d love to meet that guy,’ and began playing me Clapton’s riffs.”
Duane said, ‘Oh, man, I’d love to meet that guy’ – and he started playing me Eric’s licks.
– Tom Dowd
Dowd recounted a similar exchange when he mentioned Allman to Clapton.
“When Eric began recording a couple of weeks later, Duane called and asked if he could swing by the studio after their concert in Miami. I told Eric, ‘There’s a guy I’ve been working with named Duane Allman.’ He responded, ‘The one who plays all those bottleneck licks?’ and started mimicking Duane on the guitar, saying, ‘I’m eager to see him perform.’”
“I informed him about the concert on Saturday night,and Eric declared,’There will be no session Saturday night. We’re going to the concert.’ After the show, I introduced them, and they returned to the studio to exchange instruments and riffs.”
Clapton credited Allman with inspiring his shift from acoustic slide guitar to electric. Prior to Allman’s influence,clapton noted that most electric slide guitarists were merely echoing the conventional techniques established by Elmore James. Allman, though, revolutionized the style.
“No one was expanding the boundaries until Duane arrived and played it in a completely new way,” Clapton remarked. “That made me consider exploring it further.”
Despite this, Clapton acknowledged that his own slide guitar style evolved in a different direction.
“Not significantly, as I approach it more like George Harrison. Duane would stick to blues lines; they were always creative but rooted in the blues. I find myself somewhere between him and George, who often invents melodic lines based on scales.”
