Journalism can be quite influential in terms of public opinion. And I’m not just saying that because I’m part of that industry. Historically, concert reviews, music critics, and other types of writers in the entertainment world have influenced quite a bit of public opinion. This influence was particularly strong in the 20th century, and Eric Clapton learned this the hard way, following one bad concert review involving his band, Cream.
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In 1968, Cream was a pretty huge band. The trio of Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton seemed to be at the height of their fame. They were known for putting on killer shows, too. What else would you expect from a psychedelic rock supergroup?
However, one bad review of a concert that year almost ended the band for good. Some would say it did end the band. Cream did call it quits that year, but would return in 1993.
How a Bad Review of a Cream Concert Sent Eric Clapton Spiraling
Back to that review. The review in question came from one Jon Landau at Rolling Stone, who had seen Cream perform in March at Brandeis University in Boston. The concert was part of the band’s US tour.
To be honest, the circumstances for the concert weren’t great. Weather conditions were bad, and the trio was late starting their show. Fans allegedly waited for hours to see them. Landau wasn’t impressed, though he wasn’t really a fan before attending that particular concert.
The band eventually made it to the stage at about two o’clock in the morning, and the two-hour set was quite fantastic. However, Landau wasn’t into it. He originally published his review in a different paper before revising it, with a bit more vitriol, in Rolling Stone’s May issue that year.
“Clapton’s problem is that while he has vast creative potential at this time, he hasn’t begun to fulfil it,” the review read. “He is a virtuoso at performing other people’s ideas.”
That was just one dig among many in Landau’s review.
Eric Clapton has always been a bit sensitive to criticism. What artist wouldn’t be? In fact, Clapton said that he fainted after reading Landau’s review.
“The ring of truth just knocked me backward,” said Clapton. “I was in a restaurant and I fainted. After I woke up, I immediately decided that it was the end of the band.”
While other factors led to Cream breaking up that year, Landau’s review in Rolling Stone definitely had a hand in it. Even Ginger Baker later said that the article “had a very detrimental effect” on Clapton because he respected Rolling Stone’s credibility.
“It was his favorite magazine, and to read something like that in it hurt him,” said Baker.
Cream would disband toward the end of 1968.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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