Cream were a 1960s British rock band, which consisted of guitarist Eric Clapton, bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. Celebrated as one of the first great power trios and supergroups of rock, their sound was characterised by a melange of blues, pop and psychedelia. They also laid down the foundations for heavy metal music, and inspired several generations of bands from Black Sabbath and Van Halen to The Smashing Pumpkins.citation needed] Cream combined Clapton's blues guitar playing with the airy voice and intense basslines of Jack Bruce and the jazz-influenced drumming of Ginger Baker. Between 1966 and 1968 they sold over 15 million albums world wide.citation needed]
Cream's music included songs based on traditional blues such as "Crossroads" and "Spoonful", and modern blues such as "Born Under a Bad Sign", as well as more eccentric songs such as "Strange Brew", "Tales of Brave Ulysses" and "Toad". Cream's biggest hits were "I Feel Free", "Sunshine of Your Love", "White Room", "Crossroads", and "Badge".
Cream, together with The Who, made a significant impact upon the popular music of the time providing a heavy yet technically proficient musical theme that foreshadowed the emergence of bands like Led Zeppelin in the late 1960s and Rush in the 1970s. The band's live performances influenced progressive rock acts and other jam bands, including the Grateful Dead, Phish, and even Black Sabbath. Although Cream's studio work has stood the test of time, their true influence lies in their live set. Cream took the idea of jamming to a whole new level incorporating their jazz background into their long 20 minute jams influencing bands like Led Zeppelin, the Jeff Beck Group and the Allman Brothers Band.