Remembering Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher Bruce was born May 14, 1943 somewhere in Scotland. His parents Angus and Moira owned a Haggis factory. Haggis is a savory pudding containing Sheep’s heart, liver, lungs, testicles, vomit and stomach, minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal’s stomach and intestines. Mmmmmm Mmmmm Good.
Jack learned jazz bass as a teenager and quickly became a sought after musician. When Jack first met Ginger Baker, they were members of The Graham Bond Organisation. It was hate at first sight. Their volatile relationship included on-stage fights and the sabotage of one another’s instruments. After Baker fired Bruce from the band, Bruce continued to arrive for gigs; ultimately, Bruce was driven away from the band after Baker threatened him at knifepoint. Bruce once threw a live grenade in Baker’s bass drum.
Bruce, Baker and Eric Clapton formed the groundbreaking band ‘Cream’ in 1966 and changed the world and music forever. Jack once revealed that it was actually Eric Clapton himself who spray painted “Clapton is God” on walls all over England. “He was quite in love with himself”, said Bruce.
Bruce was an incredible singer songwriter and musician. He was voted one of the greatest bass players of all time. A true musical legend, he is sorely missed.
