Cream Bass Player Jack Bruce Dies
Story by Anne Erickson
Cream bass player and singer Jack Bruce has passed away
Jack Bruce — bass player and singer for the longstanding rock group Cream — has passed away at the age of 71.
A note posted to Bruce’s official website broke the news Saturday (Oct. 25), stating, “It is with great sadness that we, Jack’s family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad and all around legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts.”
Cream was one of the first big rock supergroups, bringing together Bruce, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker in the ‘60s. On top of his bass playing role in Cream, Bruce also took over lead singing duties for a number of the band’s songs and co-wrote chart-toppers suc has “I Feel Free,” “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room.”
Bruce was best known for his unique bass playing style and feel and inspired a generation of rock bass players to follow.
Cream parted ways in 1968, but Bruce didn’t slow down a bit. He continued to tour and release albums, both solo and with other bands. Cream reformed in 1993 to perform at their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band also reunited in 2005 at the Royal Albert Hall in London for four concerts and for one gig at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The shows were recorded and released as a live CD and DVD.
Many musicians sent out tweets and posted messages on Facebook about their regard for Bruce. Eric Clapton summed it up in a short, sweet musing on his official Facebook page: “He was a great musician and composer, and a tremendous inspiration to me.”
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