LONDON — British musician Jack Bruce, best known as the lead vocalist and bass player of the power blues trio Cream, died Saturday at his home, his family and publicist said. He was 71.
Bruce was one of the top musicians of the late 1960s, when Cream played its unique psychedelic blues tunes to packed houses in England and the U.S.
He was an important member of the British blues movement, which saw bands such as the Animals and Rolling Stones first imitate and then expand on the American blues tradition as exemplified by Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and other stalwarts.
Cream, widely cited as the original supergroup, was known for hits such as “I Feel Free” and “Sunshine of Your Love,” which featured Eric Clapton’s innovative guitar riffs and Bruce’s vocals and roaring bass, backed by Ginger Baker’s explosive drumming. Cream was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
Bruce enjoyed a long solo career after Cream’s acrimonious breakup, and in 2005 he reunited with his former bandmates for critically acclaimed concerts in London and New York City.
Five years later, however, Bruce said Cream was “over” — an indication of ongoing tensions among the band members.
Publicists LD Communications on Saturday said Bruce died of liver disease at his home in Suffolk, England. He had received a liver transplant some years ago and continued to suffer a variety of health problems.
