Jack Bruce has gone nuts!

[funkifiedsoul]

A close look at Jack's resume makes John Paul Jones look like Sid Vicious.

I like them both.

First, you young lads gotta realize (as I'm sure Jack does, as he stirs said pot) that when someone (or a band) is "great", "unique", it is meaningless to compare, that's what makes them great.
Second, a close look at JPJ's resume makes you look like someone who's not familiar it. The diversity in, and quantity of sessions he did before Led Zeppelin was even a thought, (Keith Moon's thought actually) is impressive indeed!

 

[dougjwray]

First, you young lads gotta realize that when someone (or a band) is "great", "unique", it is meaningless to compare, that's what makes them great.
Second, a close look at JPJ's resume makes you look like someone who's not familiar it. The diversity in, and quantity of sessions he did before Led Zeppelin was even a thought, (Keith Moon's thought actually) is impressive indeed!

Young lads? Young lads?! I'll have you know that I saw Zep at Madison Square Garden back in Sept. 1970! (And I thought they were lame, BTW.)
Yes, I know JPJ was a highly regarded session musician in the early '60s, and that's how I will always think of him: as a session musician. His work with Zep was very solid, no doubt, but he was never an iconoclast, a wildman, an innovator like Jack, IMHO. I like his playing as much as anyone, but... I mean, in the early '60s Marvin Gaye asked Jack to move to America and join his band, for Pete's sake!

 

[pedro]

I know that Jimmy Page plays guitar, not bass but how could ANYONE even THINK about dissing Zeppelin?
Sorry Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton doesn't come close to Page's skills.

(pedro blinks at screen. Bewilderment sets in.)

 

[ClassicRock55]

I've gone through my Zep phase.....but I am all about the rhythm section. Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce make up my favorite rock rhythm section bar none. I'm not saying LZ is crap by any means. I see why Jeff Berlin likes Jack Bruce so much, hehe.

 

[jerry]

You guys should read Ginger Baker's quotes sometime, talk about cranky!
FWIW, both bands made my world better for the last 40 years. I also like both apples and oranges.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

However, I definitely believe Cream did a better reunion than LZ did. Like Bruce said, they played it just like they would have in the 60s, with the same people, and they played more shows.

I didn't see an SG through a Marshall stack anywhere on stage at the reunion show...

They might've played it in the right key, but it still sounded wrong...

 

[ClassicRock55]

You guys should read Ginger Baker's quotes sometime, talk about cranky!
FWIW, both bands made my world better for the last 40 years. I also like both apples and oranges.

There is a hilarious YT video with Ginger Baker being interviewed. One of the questions pertained to Cream's first song, Wrapping Paper. When asked, Ginger snarls his face and says in his best angry Cockney accent, "That song is the most DESPICABLE piece of s*** I have ever heard in my lifetime!" I'd post a link to it but my school does not allow access to YT.

 

[dougjwray]

I've gone through my Zep phase.....but I am all about the rhythm section. Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce make up my favorite rock rhythm section bar none. I'm not saying LZ is crap by any means. I see why Jeff Berlin likes Jack Bruce so much, hehe.

And Steve Swallow switched from acoustic bass to electric bass after seeing Cream at the Fillmore, ca. 1968! (He was with Gary Burton, on the same bill.)

Ginger and Jack have such bizarrely good chemistry, musically. If they didn't, Cream probably would've broken up in about 20 minutes.

 

[Ampeg SVT]

The argument in this thread is borderline Youtube.

This comparison crap is annoying to see everyday.

 

[pedro]

I didn't see an SG through a Marshall stack anywhere on stage at the reunion show...

They might've played it in the right key, but it still sounded wrong...

At MSG the Marshall stacks were right ontop of Clapton/Bruce's rigs.

 

[dougjwray]

There is a hilarious YT video with Ginger Baker being interviewed. One of the questions pertained to Cream's first song, Wrapping Paper. When asked, Ginger snarls his face and says in his best angry Cockney accent, "That song is the most DESPICABLE piece of s*** I have ever heard in my lifetime!" I'd post a link to it but my school does not allow access to YT.

Here's the link:


The story was that Jack wrote it (with lyricist Pete Brown, as usual) to be their first single. It's a blues song disguised as kind of a zany little vaudeville ditty... his thinking was, "They're expecting heavy blues-rock. Let's give 'em something completely different."
According to a Clapton interview in Uncut magazine several years ago, Clapton got the anti-music establishment joke and dug Jack's sense of humor. According to this video clip, Ginger DIDN'T get the joke.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

At MSG the Marshall stacks were right ontop of Clapton/Bruce's rigs.

Then I can still blame the Strat...

 

[fightthepower]

I posted this in the 'Jack Bruce Dead?' thread, which was apparently deleted...

but what the fff, good ears Jack!

 

[pedro]

Then I can still blame the Strat...

'Credit the strat' would probably be more accurate.

 

[MHensleyJr]

'Credit the strat' would probably be more accurate.

No, I think he was right when he said blame the strat.

 

[KPAX]

I won't argue with that. That's why he's JACK BRUCE. The dude kicked royal, major ass. Again, major, MAJOR JB fan here. My point was simply that Cream didn't accomplish what Zeppelin did.
I think Zeppelin gets a rap because they were so popular and successful and that they were major rock stars - but in my view, they were a very rare rock band that combined absolutely fabulous musicianship, great songwriting, versatility, creativity, live improvisation and amazingly crafted records - all while being rock stars.
And who knows, Jack might have been putting people on and being delibertely provocative ... or maybe he was drunk, being a prick or just being Jack.

It certainly is up for debate what is and is not anyones best work. But the point remains in response to your earlier assertions about Jack vs JPJ bass playing abilities that it was Jack who had the chops to be asked to join the likes of Tony Williams, etc. and hang at that level. And whether or not any of these were landmark recordings IMO it demonstrates Bruce's versitility and musicianship.

 

[pedro]

To each their own but I was there and it sounded pretty great to me.

 

[pedro]

My point was simply that Cream didn't accomplish what Zeppelin did.

Agreed in terms of longevity or popularity.

And who knows, Jack might have been putting people on

I think so.

 

[KPAX]

Lemon Song, What Is And Shouldn't Be, Livin Lovin Maid, Heartbreaker, Good Time Bad Times, Celebration Day, Tangerine, The Ocean, Heartbreaker, Gallows Pole, Hey Hey What Can I Do, You Got To Groove, Black Dog, Immigrant Song (live) ... that aint just solid.
Cop that stuff with all it's funky nuance and/or sheer power and you're right up there ... now create your own comparable lines! JP Jones was the amazing hidden ingredient in Zep. He added an extra layer of subtlety to an amazing band.

Young lads? Young lads?! I'll have you know that I saw Zep at Madison Square Garden back in Sept. 1970! (And I thought they were lame, BTW.)
Yes, I know JPJ was a highly regarded session musician in the early '60s, and that's how I will always think of him: as a session musician. His work with Zep was very solid, no doubt, but he was never an iconoclast, a wildman, an innovator like Jack, IMHO. I like his playing as much as anyone, but... I mean, in the early '60s Marvin Gaye asked Jack to move to America and join his band, for Pete's sake!

 

[4-string]

I know that Jimmy Page plays guitar, not bass but how could ANYONE even THINK about dissing Zeppelin?
Sorry Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton doesn't come close to Page's skills.

I guess you're entitled to your opinion, but only just...