Legendary rock trio Cream, which reunited last year for a handful of concerts in London and New York after a bitter break-up in 1968, has scheduled more shows, bassist and singer Jack Bruce said.

But don't expect a world tour. Rather, Bruce told Reuters that he, guitarist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker will set up camp in select cities for multiple dates, just as they did last year.

"What we feel is that it's so special, and also so emotionally draining that it's not something we could do every day," he said. "We will play more, but where and when I'm not at liberty to say."

He declined to say when an official announcement might be made, joking that he would "get chopped" if he said anything.

Bruce, 62, was speaking hours before Cream was due to receive a lifetime achievement Grammy during a ceremony also honouring rocker David Bowie, country singer Merle Haggard, opera diva Jessye Norman, folk group the Weavers, late bluesman Robert Johnson and recently deceased comedian Richard Pryor.

Bruce, flying in from his farm in Britain, was set to be the group's sole representative. He said Clapton, 60, had other commitments, while it was impractical for Baker, 66, to leave his farm in South Africa.

All three did show up in Los Angeles 13 years ago when Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, burying their differences long enough to play three songs, including their hit Sunshine of Your Love, for a black-tie crowd.

Then they went their separate ways until last year, when they reunited for four lucrative shows at London's Royal Albert Hall, the scene of their farewell concert on November 26, 1968, and then three at New York's MadisonSquareGarden.

In its first iteration, the band lasted a little over two years, brewing a potent mix of blues and psychedelia that paved the way for hard rock. But Baker and Bruce fought bitterly, leaving Clapton to play the thankless role of peacemaker.

Cream cultivated the tensions, churning out four albums, and rock-radio staples such as Sunshine of Your Love and White Room.

But the group's demise was inevitable.

Bruce said he is less explosive in his old age, and the band knows better how to handle problems, but there remains an underlying, brotherly tension with Baker.

On the other hand, he described Clapton as "the most beautiful, kindest, most understanding guy that I've come across."
Cream plan reunion shows - February 15, 2006
David Bowie and Eric Clapton to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Grammys - January 11, 2006
Rock legends David Bowie and the Eric Clapton-fronted Cream are to be honoured for their contributions to music with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys next month (FEB06).

Bowie and the proto-heavy metal trio will be formally recognised on 7 February (06), while the award is due to be presented the following evening during the live Grammy telecast.

The rockers will share their accolade with country icon Merle Haggard and late comedy innovator Richard Pryor, as well as deceased blues legend Robert Johnson, opera vocalist Jessye Norman and pre-eminent folk quartet the Weavers.

Mariah Carey, Kanye West and newcomer John Legend lead the nominations at the 2006 Grammys with eight apiece.
Clapton Announces 2006 Tour - November 6, 2005
Eric plans to tour the UK in May 2006. With a new band, he will play in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and Nottingham, before returning to the venue he has made his own, the Royal Albert Hall, for seven shows. Eric, who was reunited recently with his Cream bandmates Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker for seven sensational shows in the Royal Albert Hall and New York's MadisonSquareGarden, last toured the UK in May 2004.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 7 November 2005 at 9am (UK time / GMT) and tour details are as follows;

GLASGOW SECC - Monday 8 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 040 4000

MANCHESTER MEN ARENA - Tue 9 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 190 8000

BIRMINGHAM NEC - Thursday 11 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 909 4133

SHEFFIELD HALLAM FM ARENA - Friday 12 May 2006
box office (UK) 0114 2565656

NOTTINGHAM ARENA - Sunday 14 May 2006
box office (UK) 0870 121 0123

LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Tue 16, Wed 17, Fri 19, Mon 22, Tue 23, Thur 25, Fri 26 May 2006
box office (UK) 020 7589 8212

24 hour ticket hotline (UK) 0870 143 2202 / www.bookingsdirect.com
Maximum 6 tickets per household
Agency and credit card bookings subject to booking fee
Royal Albert Hall ticket sales by telephone & internet only

EricClapton.com
Eric Clapton renews deal with Reprise Records - November 4, 2005
Eric Clapton has renewed his deal with Reprise Records, for whom he has recorded since 1983.

Since Nielsen SoundScan began tabulating sales in 1991, the artist has sold 15.2 million copies of his Reprise releases in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

"I am happy to continue my relationship with Reprise Records," Clapton said in a statement. "We've done a lot in the past 25 years, and there's still plenty of music yet to be made."

The artist just concluded a three-night stand at New York's MadisonSquareGarden with Cream; a live album from the trio's May run in London was recently issued by Reprise, which is owned by Warner Music Group. His most recent solo release, "Back Home," debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and quickly slid down the chart.

Although it is unknown what Clapton's next project will be, he will presumably devote time to writing his memoirs for Random House, which is due for a 2007 release to coincide with a North American tour and a boxed set.
Eric Clapton to tell life story "warts and all" - October 13, 2005
Eric Clapton will follow musicians Bob Dylan and Sting with a book about his life, telling of his 40 years as the top rock and blues guitarist of his age in which he went "to hell and back,' publisher Doubleday said on Thursday.

Doubleday in the United States, and Century in Britain, both owned by Bertelsmann AG said they would jointly publish the book in spring 2007 and paid Clapton a "substantial advance."

Trade industry sources said the advance was between $4 million and $6 million.

Clapton will talk openly about his life, including the death of his child in a tragic fall from a New York apartment and his raucous years in the rock world, said Doubleday spokesman David Drake.

"Clapton is 60 and happily married and he feels very good about his life, and feels ready to look back in an honest way, warts and all,' said Drake. "He's ready to write really candidly about his peaks and valleys and about how he has gone to hell and back."

Clapton, the illegitimate son of a Canadian soldier and an Englishwoman, played with some of the best blues and rock musicians of his day and survived bouts of heroin addiction and heavy drinking.

Christopher Simon Sykes, a close friend since 1967, will collaborate with him in writing the book.

Dylan's book, ";Chronicles: Volume One," which has been on best seller lists and won literary prizes, serves as a model for the new Eric Clapton book, Drake said. "Dylan's is the kind of model we envisioned, and in the same way we see this book bringing out the distinct voice of Eric Clapton. He will be intensely involved in the book writing process," said Drake.

A boxed set of his music will be released by Warner Brothers to coincide with the book, the publishers said, and Clapton will tour ahead of its release.

He appeared in Britain recently in a reunion with Cream, including bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker, and the group will play in New York later this month.
Cream Reunion - Three Nights Only at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, New York - October 24th, 25th, 26th, 2005 - September 7, 2005
Eric Clapton "Back Home' on New Album - June 20, 2005
"Back Home" Eric Clapton's first album of new original material in nearly five years, will be released on Reprise/Duck Records on August 30th.
Featuring twelve songs, five of which were penned by Clapton with creative collaborator Simon Climie, "Back Home" also includes "Love Comes To Everyone" by George Harrison, the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody," a rendition of Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright's "I'm Going Left," and compositions by Vince Gill, Doyle Bramhall II and others. See below for a complete song listing and writing credits.
Produced by Eric Clapton and Simon Climie, who together also wrote the album's debut single "Revolution," "Back Home" additionally spotlights an all-star backing band, many of whose members have worked extensively with Clapton over the years. Included are drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Nathan East, guitarists Andy Fairweather Low and Doyle Bramhall II, and keyboardists Billy Preston and Simon Climie.
Among the special guests appearing on "Back Home" are Steve Winwood (synthesizer), John Mayer (guitar), Robert Randolph (dobro), Chris Stainton (Fender Rhodes), Stephen Marley (percussion), Abraham Laboriel, Jr. (drums), PinoPaladino (bass) and Toby Baker (keyboards). The album also highlights string arrangements by Nick Ingman and performances by the Kick Horns.
"I wanted to make a studio album without quite knowing what it was going to be," remarks Clapton on the creative impetus behind "Back Home." Working closely with Climie, Clapton began recording over a year ago, working around his touring schedule and family commitments. "We kind of resigned ourselves to the fact that it was going to take a long time,"; the multi Grammy® Award-winning artist continues, "but when we got stuck or if it wasn't moving fast enough we'd stop and do a Robert Johnson song. That would clear the air and we'd go back and carry on for the new album. As a result, we ended up with a complete Robert Johnson album first, which was released last year as 'Me And Mr. Johnson."
It was through the writing and recording process, Clapton explains, that the theme of "Back Home" emerged. "One of the earliest statements I made about myself," he reveals, "was back in the late '80s, with 'Journeyman.' This album completes that cycle in terms of talking about my whole journey as an itinerant musician and where I find myself now, starting a new family. That's why I chose the title. It's about coming home and staying home. Even though," he adds with a laugh, "I'll be out on the road again next year, playing this music."
Queen asks Clapton: Who are you? - March 3, 2005
The Queen of England had no idea who Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were when they attended a reception at BuckinghamPalace on Tuesday.
The legendary guitarists were taken aback when the British monarch asked them what their jobs where, at an event to celebrate the music industry's valuable contribution to British culture.
The Queen asked Clapton, "Have you been playing a long time?" to which he replied, "It must be 45 years now."
Clapton laughs: "It doesn't matter at all that she did not know who were are or what we do. I wouldn't expect her to."
Eric Clapton to headline Glasto 2007! - February 18, 2005
Eavis told the Wells Journal that the guitarist had agreed to play at the festival during a chance meeting with him at a BBC new years eve party, which was presented by rhythm and blues performer Jools Holland. The deal was apparently followed up last night (Thursday) when Clapton phoned Worthy Farm and asked to come and play.
The Glasto boss said: 'He had wanted to play next year but because we haven't got a festival in 2006, we shook hands on him coming to 2007. Eric's a favourite of mine, he'll be brilliant."
Back to this year, and a Glastonbury source has 'confirmed' to Virtual Festivals the acts that will be headlining the Pyramid Stage. As rumoured for weeks, The White Stripes will play Friday, Coldplay Saturday, with Kylie finishing things off on Sunday.
Source : www.virtualfestivals.com
Eric Clapton's wife has baby girl - February 2, 2005
The Sun newspaper reported that Clapton's American wife, MeliaMcEnery, gave birth to a daughter in a London hospital on Tuesday. Clapton's spokesman, Andy Prevezer, said only that "there has been a birth" and gave no other details.
The 59-year-old singer-songwriter has two young daughters with McEnery and a 19-year-old daughter, Ruth, from a previous relationship.
Source : www.zwire.com
Special thanks to www.eric-clapton.co.uk
"Back Home" wins a Grammy- February 10, 2006
At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on 8 February 2006, Clapton's most recent studio album, "Back Home" was awarded a Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. The album's engineers are Alan Douglas and Mick Guzauski.