Malcolm Bruce – I have vague memories of being a very young child and hearing some of the Cream music played in our house. or. Runrig was a Scottish Celtic rock band formed on the Isle of Skye in 1973. Jim explains to Bruce Headlam why these songs finally came out five years after The Waterfall. You know, Eric’s a very private person so it’s not like Eric’s going to come out and make some big statement about it. So, you know, we’ve got all the elements there, and it’s very natural for us. [Laughs} I think that phenomenon is very easy to forget how hurtful that shift is.”, “Some people, they grew up around money there’s not such as big deal to be an artist and to make tons of money – it wasn’t such a huge shift economically. Malcolm Bruce – In some ways it’s different, but in other ways it’s just the same process of writing music – whether it’s a microscopic version of something or whether it’s a much more expanded sound world. From 1966-69, at the apex of the explosion of the musical creativity of the 1960s, the band Cream brought together three extraordinary musicians: guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. He grew up hearing and experiencing firsthand some of the finest musicians around, whether through his father’s frequent collaborations with musicians such as Tony Williams or John Mclaughlin, or Jack’s own bands with musicians like Simon Phillips and Mick Taylor. Cryptic Rock – And it has led you to great things. It’s definitely a challenge. That in mind, what is coming up next for you? So he was aware of it and I worked with my dad behind the scenes on his records. I thought it was dangerous to attempt to do what they did because Blade Runner is such a classic which came from a book; although a lot of things in the book didn’t seem to make it into the film. It was just an opportunity that arose through Kofi and his management about the idea of going to Australia and New Zealand to do The Music of Cream, which we did; we went down there and did a short 7 day tour in all the major cities, which was also really great because I had never been there before. I think we do and have a lot of fun on stage for sure. Cream and Eric Clapton’s songs, all this music has always been in my DNA. Kofi Baker. Every day I am learning and working, it’s a craft. The Cream reunion shows in 2005 – what was that experience like for him? Musician/Band. He grew up hearing and experiencing firsthand some of the finest musicians around, whether through his father's frequent collaborations with musicians such as Tony Williams or John Mclaughlin, or Jack's own bands with musicians like Simon Phillips and Mick Taylor. Having the opportunity early on to work with someone like Bill Ward was just amazing; he is a great guy and obviously a legend. © 2020 by Malcolm Bruce Music ALL RIGHTS RESERVED You just learn no matter what you do in life, right? “ And we’d improvise together and talk about the music and I’d work for him. Like the in-depth, diverse coverage of Cryptic Rock? “And you know we’ve all paid our dues. “And he attended a couple of my shows with my own band where we might throw in “Sitting on Top of the World” or something like that in the set. Well, that is exactly what is happening with Jack’s son Malcolm, Ginger’s son Kofi, and Eric’s nephew Will Johns uniting together to celebrate the music of Cream on tour. CURRENTLY UPDATING WEBSITE. The length of the set does not matter necessarily if the band is into it. As I got older, I actually started working with my dad recording in the studio. So we’re here and we’re excited.”. New Album Savation out now http://www.malcolmbrucemusic.com/ They can expect all the well-known songs of the Cream catalog. That said, we are in this sort of unique position of what we grew up around with our parents. We’ve all been out there on the road and in different bands and doing lots of different things over the years. Excellent gear at any price, highly recommended! You come across people, you get the opportunity to do things, and you just grow through the experience. Monica: Hopefully not, because I want to keep singing in the band. One of the promoters who put that tour together suggested we keep it going and he take over the helm as project management and booking. Cryptic Rock – Surrounded by music your entire life, you would go on to study it and pursue a professional career. What’s it like to be playing the as a headline player now? I think it was intriguing and kept my attention throughout the movie. I went through that whole process to a degree when he had a liver transplant and he almost died – he went into a coma twice. Log In. “And I think that was difficult for him at times. … It isn’t so much about the music anymore – it’s about image and it’s about sales. It plays Sunday, Oct. 14, at Penn’s Peak near Jim Thorpe and Oct. 18 and Keswick Theater in Glenside. Malcolm Bruce Music Composer and Performer at Independant Music Professional High Barnet, Greater London, United Kingdom 500+ connections Create New Account. 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Malcolm Bruce is very much the son of his father the late Jack Bruce, best known as the bassist/singer and songwriter in Cream alongside drummer Ginger Baker and guitarist Eric Clapton. I met Kofi – Kofi was working at a rehearsal studio in London, and the guy who owned the studio called my mum when I was 14 and said, ‘Oh yeah. 07.02.15 Malcolm Bruce | House Concert | London UK [Private House Concert for Pledge Music] 05.02.15 Malcolm Bruce | Rhythm and Blues Cafe | Moscow Russia [with Will Johns] 30.01.15 Malcolm Bruce | Central House of Artist | Moscow Russia [with Will Johns] Malcolm Bruce is very much the son of his father the late Jack Bruce, best known as the bassist/singer and songwriter in Cream alongside drummer Ginger Baker and guitarist Eric Clapton. Jack Bruce at the birth of his son Malcolm Malcolm admits he found it tough growing up in the shadow of a star who was inducted into the Rock … “So we had Ben Hughes and Robben Ford come on as out special guests, and that was great. And it’s nice, I think it’s nice for them in one sense to see the music is carried forth by the kids who were growing up around them. MALCOLM BRUCE: “We’ve all known each other for a long time. New Album Savation out now http://www.malcolmbrucemusic.com/ And suddenly they were rock stars, you know? Cryptic Rock – We learn something new everyday, like you said. If you are a fan of these genres, do you have any favorites? “And I’ve known Will since I was like 18 or something. “The music industry, it takes a year to book a tour these days. [Laughs] But I did actually do a session with Ginger earlier this year, and he didn’t tell me not to do this band, either [laughs].”. So I think the main redeeming thing for me and my dad was that share love of music and love of each other in the music. “So, you know, I think there was a massive learning curve for all of them. (Laughs). I think I learned a lot from that. .. [laughs] I think, I’m not sure Ginger would ever say yes. Malcolm Bruce Middleton (born 31 December 1973) is a Scottish musician and member of indie band Arab Strap. So I absolutely feel I got my dad’s blessing in that sense.”. Last question. “And I know my dad would be proud of us going out and doing this. Tickets: $20 general admission seating; $122 VIP with early entry, pre-show soundcheck, pre-show meet-and-greet, photograph with group, Q&A session, autographed tour poster, more, 866-605-7325, pennspeak.com. Cryptic Rock – That is very cool and special you were able to share that with your dad. Stanley Clarke could be down the street and I'd bicycle 100 miles to see Jack Bruce. Cryptic Rock – Very interesting and that will be compelling to hear what you come up with. And the Freshpet? I think the challenge of writing an Opera is creating in a much larger form. Was your dad supportive of your musical interests, and what did he teach you to prepare you for a career in music? If you are into the music, time does not matter. Malcolm Bruce. I like playing 3 hours, but some people think that’s a bit too long. How Bruce Springsteen Agreed to Do a Super Bowl Commercial for Jeep Film ... From soul to funk, jazz, hip hop and R&B, the music of “Malcolm & Marie” ranges from 70 years ago to last year. He has also released seven solo studio albums and three albums performing under the pseudonym Human Don't Be Angry . It’s a source of inspiration and great joy for me. This group was advertised by some venues as a reformation of West, Bruce & Laing, with Malcolm described as "filling in" for his father on the tour. I even toured with my dad a little bit and I’m a multi-instrumentalist – I play piano and guitar and bass. How excited are you for this tour and what can fans coming out expect? 1 talking about this. In a lot of ways, it’s very natural for us to take it out around the world and celebrate the music, so that’s what we’re doing. Cryptic Rock – And it has led you to great things. It’s just so wide open though and you can do anything. … The timing was right, and it just happened that we were putting all of this together and it was around this time, whether it’s the 50th anniversary of the final concert or 50th anniversary of the early years or whatever I was. As much as we love our own music, it’s something that we’ve kind of decided, ‘Let’s embrace this. $29.50-$49.50, eswicktheatre.com, 215-572-7650, Will Johns, nephew of Eric Clapton (left); Malcolm Bruce, son of Jack Bruce, and Kofi Baker, son of Ginger Baker, will play the music of Cream for the group's 50th anniversary tour at Penn's Peak and Keswick Theatre, What’s going on at the IRS? Malcolm Bruce – Yes, and the chemistry is great. It was one of those things that timing – when Cream appeared in the kind of lineage in the rock industry and just how it happened. In fact, Cream’s music is so significant, many fans, young and elder, yearn to hear it performed live all these years later. Malcolm Bruce – I’ve known both Kofi and Will for quite a long time. Malcolm: You are Italian from your accent. Help us in support to keep the magazine going strong for years to come with a small donation. Clapton has said he will stop touring. Malcolm studied at Guildhall School of Music and has been performing professionally since he was 16. A song tends to be, although it doesn’t have to be, more or less, a verse, chorus, bridge, etc. But I think a lot of it flies under the radar just simply because of the way the industry has gone. Bruce says they put that together and they wanted to have a couple of bigger names to come on with them. Because of radio formats and all kinds of things like that, I think the industry has gone in a certain way. “Um, yeah. And he was still very ill. At Madison Square Garden a little bit later he was a little bit better in terms of health. Being that everyone involved with The Music of Cream grew up around it, what’s the chemistry between you on stage? Did the 50th anniversary of Cream play into it at all? Back in 2017, you joined forces with Ginger Baker’s son, Kofi, and Eric Clapton’s nephew, Will Johns, to form the touring band The Music of Cream. Malcolm Bruce – I will go through phases of Science Fiction. #norwalkct – nancyferriello, https://crypticrock.com/interview-malcolm-bruce-talks-the-music-of-cream/. Musician/Band. “We kind of said, ‘If we’re going to carry this on, let’s strip it back to what it really was meant to be, which was trio music – that ‘Magic Three’ number. Malcolm Bruce – I’m actually in the middle of a period of writing. Beyond music, we also cover movies, particularly in the Horror and Sci-Fi genres. And Will’s just a wonderful blues-rock guitarist. And they were just working-class kids, you know? Malcolm Bruce – Yes, he was very encouraging, but he didn’t necessarily sit down and teach me things, although, that did happen occasionally when I was a kid. I think all three of us have grown up around that music. Malcolm Bruce – It’s continual, every day is a new day and I learn something new. That’s the challenge, going from the point of being able to do anything, to honing in and creating something that is cohesive, has meaning, development, but is also natural; you don’t want it to be pretension. Interview – Malcolm Bruce Talks The Music of Cream. It was more an environment of encouragement, creativity, and the freedom to express yourself within that creativity. With the music in your blood, what brought this project together? Your dad produced a lot of significant music before and after Cream. New Album Savation out now http://www.malcolmbrucemusic.com/ “I think it’s something he struggled against because he wanted to be recognized for everything else that he’d done – all the things in a career that spanned over 50 years compared to a band that he was in for 2 ½ years that basically overshadowed everything else he did. They got the rejection drugs wrong the first time and he went back into a coma and we were all standing around him in intensive care and the doctor saying, ‘He’s not gonna come through; you might as well switch off the life support.’ And I said, ‘Don’t switch off the life support whatever you do!’ And he came through it miraculously. … We didn’t speak about this before, but he wouldn’t have a problem with it. Malcolm Bruce. So we’re not just .. there’s a certain amount of capitalization in that sense, but at the same time, I think if we weren’t good enough, then it would be kind of embarrassing to do this, you know? Back in 2016, the Music of Cream was just the seed of an idea. See more of Malcolm Bruce on Facebook. I think they were just working musicians that had a love of what they did. But at the end, we kind of all looked at each other and said “Cream is trio music, so it doesn’t really make sense to have Ben Hughes on stage with a tambourine and two guitarists and all this kind of stuff. Beyond The Music of Cream tour, you have many other projects as well. In the early 1960s Bruce joined the Graham Bond Organisation, where he met his future bandmate Ginger Baker. After leaving the Graham Bond Organisation, he joined with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, where he met Eric Clapton, who also was his future bandmate. 3.4K likes. The best tools for musicians and the best music for everyone else. But I think there’s absolutely room for real musicians to go out and pay their dues and gone and learned their craft properly and comprehensively to actually go out and do that. Then, to do a sequel like that, I thought was risky, but they pulled it off. Corky Laing. Arguably one of the most important bands in Rock-n-Roll history, Cream’s story dates back 50 years. Artist. People seem to love it and they really seem to love the music, which is great! In 2 ½ years, the group defined the power trio, producing music that formed the blueprint for hard rock to follow and was itself enduring. But the music of Cream lives on, and has found a new vehicle in the progeny of its members. As the son of musician Jack Bruce (Cream), Malcolm has always been immersed in a musical environment. […] https://crypticrock.com/interview-malcolm-bruce-talks-the-music-of-cream/ […], © Copyright Cryptic Rock 2020 – All Rights Reserved – User Login Website Design by Anthony Idi. Which was a great achievement for him, because his health was really failing at that point, but he stuck it through. Malcolm should put together a band with Kofi. I suppose for many of us in our lives we don’t know how it’s gonna pan out. I’m super excited to be coming over again, I love touring in The States. In honor of Cream’s 50th anniversary, you are back out on tour, set to visit the USA this spring. So it’s been the 50th anniversary of the band, I guess. Listen free to Malcolm Middleton – Waxing Gibbous (Ballad of Fuck All, Red Travellin' Socks and more). I’m also writing my first classical opera. “Ginger’s another story. That’s going to be in the works for the next 2 years and that will be premiered in London. “So it’s been a long time coming and it’s been kind of a Karmic thing. Eric had studied the blues; he understood, he got right inside that idiom. What was your sense: Where did Cream fit into his life? I have a lot going on. #musicofcream #walkstreettheater. “So over the last year and a half, we put it all together and we got a great agent and he put it all together for us. “I think Will reached out to Eric, and he kind of gave his person, private blessing. And I spent a few weeks with him in the studio and he created these new songs based on electronica and everything. “So for us, it’s actually for us almost more important to make a statement in terms that – obviously there are great musicians out there, but I think there isn’t a lot of rock music … I think it’s gone in a certain direction.