Malcolm Bruce, the son of Jack Bruce, has revealed that he is no longer involved with the Music of Cream, the performing trio that he formed with Kofi Baker (Ginger Baker’s son) and Will Johns (Eric Clapton’s nephew). Bruce revealed on Jan. 10 that he had been “removed from the project by the manager” and looks forward to telling his story. Last October, the Music of Cream announced a new tour for 2020, which is scheduled to begin on Feb. 28.
In his statement, Bruce notes the venues “have continued to sell the shows based on my involvement and the legacy of my father and my connection to that lineage. This has continued for 6 weeks despite the management knowing I was not involved.”
Honoring Cream’s album Disraeli Gears, the 40-date North American outing will feature the 1967 album performed in its entirety followed by a set of additional hits and rarities from Cream, Clapton, Blind Faith and more. The upcoming tour finds The Music of Cream continuing their celebration of the music and legacy their family members created more than 50 years ago via their extensive live show and personal stories and footage of their fathers and mentors.
Malcolm Bruce’s complete statement from Jan. 10:
“As many of you may know, I have been touring over the last couple of years with a tribute to my Dad’s band Cream. At the end of November last year I was removed from the project by the manager. For legal reasons I do not want to say any more at this point about what happened, I will wait patiently until the appropriate time to tell the story.
“My main concern is that since I was removed the venues on the upcoming tour have continued to sell the shows based on my involvement and the legacy of my father and my connection to that lineage. This has continued for 6 weeks despite the management knowing I was not involved.
“Please accept my apologies to any of my friends out there who have bought tickets thinking they were going to see me at these shows. I was ready and willing to do the tour but it was taken out of my hands.
“When the time is right the truth will be revealed as to what transpired.
“From this point on it is full steam ahead with my own music. I’m working with my manager Chase Williams (Righttrack Management, formerly with Jean Luc Ponty, Freddie Hubbard, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, Dave Mason etc.) and we have great things coming soon.”
Related: A “lost” interview with Jack Bruce
Kicking off Feb. 28 in Victoria, BC, Canada, the Disraeli Gears Tour will travel all across North America before wrapping May 3. See below for full list of tour dates.
Photo Credit: The Music of Cream
From the original Oct. 15 tour announcement, “With primal riffs, soaring operatic choruses, poetry, fashion and theatre rolled into one, Disraeli Gears defined the era in which it was written. The super-group’s second studio album, released November 1967, is often considered Cream’s crowning achievement. Disraeli Gears, featuring the singles ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ and ‘Strange Brew,’ was their American breakthrough reaching #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart and ultimately becoming a platinum-seller in the U.S. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.”
Related: Our review of a recent Music of Cream show
It continues: “For the members of The Music of Cream, who first launched their celebratory 50th Anniversary World Tour in 2017 and have since performed over 100 shows together worldwide including a string of recent sold-out U.K. shows, honoring Disraeli Gears and the storied history their family members created on this new tour was an easy choice.”
The Music of Cream – Disraeli Gears 2020 Tour Dates (Tickets are available here)
Feb 28 – Victoria, BC @ McPherson Playhouse
Feb 29 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
Mar 01 – Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo House of Music
Mar 03 – Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
Mar 04 – Spokane, WA @ Bing Crosby Theater
Mar 05 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre
Mar 06 – Mill Valley, CA @ Sweetwater Music Hall
Mar 07 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho Restaurant and Music Club
Mar 08 – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre
Mar 10 – Folsom, CA @ Harris Center for the Arts
Mar 11 – San Juan Capistrano, CA @ The Coach House
Mar 14 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Mar 15 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Tucson Theatre
Mar 17 – Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
Mar 19 – Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theatre
Mar 21 – Greenville, TX @ Texan Theater
Mar 22 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
Mar 24 – Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Mar 25 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ The Parker Playhouse
Mar 26 – Lakeland, FL @ Youkey Theatre
Mar 27 – Bonita Springs, FL @ Southwest Florida Event Center
Mar 28-31 – Miami, FL @ Flower Power Cruise
Apr 02 – Birmingham, AL @ Workplay
Apr 03 – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Apr 06 – Greensboro, NC @ Carolina Theatre
Apr 07 – Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage
Apr 09 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
Apr 10 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Apr 14 – Ridgefield, CT @ The Ridgefield Playhouse
Apr 16 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
Apr 17 – Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Theater
Apr 18 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
Apr 19 – Boston, MA @ The Wilbur
Apr 21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Apr 24 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Apr 26 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
Apr 28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Apr 29 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
May 01 – Jackson, MS @ Duling Hall
May 03 – Austin, TX @ 3Ten ACL Live
Watch Music of Cream perform “SWLABR” from Disraeli Gears
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3 Comments
That sux…i brought 6 6ix for Montclair show….Still missing Jack Bruce
Call
Pete Bremy
Pete Bremy (born October 15, 1952) is an American rock bass player. He is best known for his associations with Vanilla Fudge and Cactus.
Week the management knew but yet keep using the Bruce name to promote ticket sales. Deceptive practices to take your money. Bottom feeders have more integrity.
This is a shame, because the lineup with Malcom Bruce was excellent. I will not pay to see the group without Malcom because the legacy to Cream has been diluted.