Cream Bassist Jack Bruce Dead at 71

Jack Bruce, bassist from 1960s band Cream, has died aged 71, his publicist confirms.

Born in the Glasgow suburb of Bishopbriggs in 1943, his parents travelled extensively in Canada and the USA and the young Jack attended 14 different schools.

He finished his formal education at Bellahouston Academy and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music, to which he won a scholarship for cello and composition. 

He left the academy and Scotland at the age of 16 and eventually found his way to London where he became a member of the influential Alexis Korner's Blues Inc, where Charlie Watts, later to join the Rolling Stones, was the drummer. 

He played in a number of bands throughout the early 60s, including John Mayall's Blues Breakers and Manfred Mann before joining Clapton and Baker in Cream.

The world of music will be a poorer place without him, but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts.

Cream - As You Said

Let's go down to where it's clean
To see the time that might have been.
The tides have carried off the beach.
As you said,
The sun is out of reach.

Let's go back to where it's clean
To see what year it might have been.
The road have carried off the smiles.
As you said,
To judge them at the trial.

Let's go back to now that's bad
To see the time we migt have had.
The rails have carried off the trains.
As you said,
I'll never come again, again, again, again.