Post by wingsj0 on Feb 4, 2006 20:49:32 GMT
Cream, Royal Albert Hall Friday 6th May 2005 - By Jean Herbaut.
I was so lucky to have been at the last night of the Cream concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, 37 years after their farewell appearance at the same venue in 1968. The Company that I work for owns 2 seats at The Albert Hall, and staff are eligible to be entered into a draw for tickets to the shows at the venue on a monthly basis. You forward your name for the shows that you’d like to be entered for, and the only shows I was interested in for May were of course, the Cream dates. I just couldn’t believe that I had not only won tickets, but they were for the last night, which was even more unbelievable.
The excitement for me began whilst in the Hall’s Café Consort having a pre-show meal. Cream could be heard sound checking. Mick and I had commented that there must have been a problem as they seemed to be quite late with the sound check. We amused ourselves by saying that Clapton was probably being a stickler over something that wasn’t quite right, knowing what a perfectionist he is.
The audience consisted of mostly 50-plus year olds. Tickets were expensive to start with at around £125 each, but we were surrounded by Americans who it would seem had paid obscene amounts of money to be part of it all. One American fella a couple of rows behind us openly admitted to paying £2,300 for his ticket, unbelievable. Makes you wonder what would be the greatest amount anybody would pay to see their idols. I may be tempted to pay this if The Beatles were to reform, but then that would be something worth paying for as it would be something of a miracle!
There was no support act, and when our heroes took to the stage there was a standing ovation, and so it was from then on. Every song was greeted and concluded with a standing ovation. Eric, well he was just Eric, no surprises there, as I have seen him practically every year over the last 18 years, but I was surprised at how well Ginger Baker looked, because in my personal opinion he always looked the worst of the three back in the sixties. However, although I had only seen Jack Bruce a few years ago when he toured Britain with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, he had aged quite a bit in those few years, and was clearly not all that well. That is not to say that his performance was under par, on the contrary, each of them gave it their all. Not quite as wild as back in the sixties, it was a much more civilized performance this time round and much more polished, there being no competitive meanderings, and no drink and drug induced egos. Yes there were guitar meanderings, after all this is their trade mark, but this time they were more structured, and Ginger Baker did an amazing drum solo in what must have been at least a 15 minute version of Toad, but my favourites will always be Badge, White Room and Sunshine of Your Life. Clearly all their differences, whatever they may have been in the sixties, were put behind them, as they warmly hugged each other before leaving the stage.
Was it worth the 37 years wait? I think so, for here was history being made, and I certainly think it will have given them food for thought about whether to attempt more dates, health permitting.
Jean Herbaut
Set List
I’m So Glad
Sthingyful
Outside Woman
Blues
Pressed Rat & Warthog
Sleepy Time
N.S.U.
Badge
Politician
Sweet Wine
Rollin’ & Tumblin’
Stormy Monday
Deserted Cities
Born Under A Bad Sign
We’re Going Wrong
Crossroads
Sitting On Top Of The World
White Room
Toad
**************************
Sunshine Of Your Love
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
I was so lucky to have been at the last night of the Cream concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, 37 years after their farewell appearance at the same venue in 1968. The Company that I work for owns 2 seats at The Albert Hall, and staff are eligible to be entered into a draw for tickets to the shows at the venue on a monthly basis. You forward your name for the shows that you’d like to be entered for, and the only shows I was interested in for May were of course, the Cream dates. I just couldn’t believe that I had not only won tickets, but they were for the last night, which was even more unbelievable.
The excitement for me began whilst in the Hall’s Café Consort having a pre-show meal. Cream could be heard sound checking. Mick and I had commented that there must have been a problem as they seemed to be quite late with the sound check. We amused ourselves by saying that Clapton was probably being a stickler over something that wasn’t quite right, knowing what a perfectionist he is.
The audience consisted of mostly 50-plus year olds. Tickets were expensive to start with at around £125 each, but we were surrounded by Americans who it would seem had paid obscene amounts of money to be part of it all. One American fella a couple of rows behind us openly admitted to paying £2,300 for his ticket, unbelievable. Makes you wonder what would be the greatest amount anybody would pay to see their idols. I may be tempted to pay this if The Beatles were to reform, but then that would be something worth paying for as it would be something of a miracle!
There was no support act, and when our heroes took to the stage there was a standing ovation, and so it was from then on. Every song was greeted and concluded with a standing ovation. Eric, well he was just Eric, no surprises there, as I have seen him practically every year over the last 18 years, but I was surprised at how well Ginger Baker looked, because in my personal opinion he always looked the worst of the three back in the sixties. However, although I had only seen Jack Bruce a few years ago when he toured Britain with Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, he had aged quite a bit in those few years, and was clearly not all that well. That is not to say that his performance was under par, on the contrary, each of them gave it their all. Not quite as wild as back in the sixties, it was a much more civilized performance this time round and much more polished, there being no competitive meanderings, and no drink and drug induced egos. Yes there were guitar meanderings, after all this is their trade mark, but this time they were more structured, and Ginger Baker did an amazing drum solo in what must have been at least a 15 minute version of Toad, but my favourites will always be Badge, White Room and Sunshine of Your Life. Clearly all their differences, whatever they may have been in the sixties, were put behind them, as they warmly hugged each other before leaving the stage.
Was it worth the 37 years wait? I think so, for here was history being made, and I certainly think it will have given them food for thought about whether to attempt more dates, health permitting.
Jean Herbaut
Set List
I’m So Glad
Sthingyful
Outside Woman
Blues
Pressed Rat & Warthog
Sleepy Time
N.S.U.
Badge
Politician
Sweet Wine
Rollin’ & Tumblin’
Stormy Monday
Deserted Cities
Born Under A Bad Sign
We’re Going Wrong
Crossroads
Sitting On Top Of The World
White Room
Toad
**************************
Sunshine Of Your Love
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.