10 Rock Music Bands That Quit On Top
8. Cream
The best thing about a supergroup is also, often, ultimately the worst: a collection of star musicians is going to pack immense talent, and no less immense ego. This spelled the end for Cream, one of the most exciting bands of the UK’s roaring ‘60s, who got together, conquered the world, fell out, and packed it in over about three years.
Comprising a trio of the London blues scene’s best players, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker were one of the most exciting live acts imaginable, playing technical but cohesive sets that went wherever the groove took them. On record, they were a different proposition but no less great. Their standout effort Disraeli Gears is tight but packed with ideas, blasting through blues, psych, proto-prog, and dalliances with music hall over half an hour.
In due course, though, the power of three alpha players pulled the band apart. Bruce wanted to crank it up, Ginger loved jazz, Clapton was always going to go solo. Things ended acrimoniously but not before putting out the appropriately titled Goodbye album. Big money was on the table, but they couldn’t bring themselves to keep going.
Cream’s forward thinking blues is remarkably ageless. Each of the members went on to varying success, but there’s a strong argument that none of them was ever better than they were together.