In the fall of 1966, a cramped railway hotel in London became the unlikely setting for a musical breakthrough. The Klooks Kleek Club, known for hosting some of the best blues and jazz acts of the era, was about to witness something different—louder, more daring, and unlike anything heard before.
On November 15, Cream took the stage for their first live performance. With Eric Clapton’s fiery guitar work, Jack Bruce’s thundering bass, and Ginger Baker’s relentless drumming, the trio was about to introduce a sound that would reshape rock music. It was a night of raw power and experimentation, where blues met psychedelic ambition and hard rock took its first real steps.
The show wasn’t just another gig in London’s busy music scene—it was a pivotal moment. In less than two years, Cream would burn brightly and fade away, but the foundation they laid that night at Klooks Kleek would ripple through generations of musicians.
A New Force in Rock
Cream brought together three powerhouse musicians—Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker—each already a standout in the English music scene. Their combined talent and reputation made them more than just another band; they were a supergroup before the term became popular.
Their first public appearance happened fast. In July 1966, only weeks after forming, they played at the Twisted Wheel Club. Manager Robert Stigwood wasted no time securing gigs, eager to showcase the band’s explosive sound.
By October, they were already making waves. Sharing the stage with Jimi Hendrix in London, Cream found themselves in the center of a rock revolution. The fusion of blues, jazz, and psychedelia they brought to the stage would soon redefine the sound of the era.
The Birth of a Name
Before Cream had even made a name for themselves, their manager, Robert Stigwood, knew how to sell them. He issued a bold press release that immediately caught the attention of festival bookers. His cryptic yet confident pitch—“The first is last and the last is first, but the first, the second, and the last are Cream”—gave the band an air of mystery before they had played more than a single show.
Momentum moved quickly. With just one performance under their belt, Cream suddenly found themselves booked for one of Britain’s biggest music festivals. It wasn’t a slow rise to fame—it was a catapult into the spotlight.
When they stepped on stage, 15,000 people had no idea they were about to witness history. The crowd came for the music, but they left having seen the birth of a band that would change rock forever.
A Band on the Brink
Looking back, it seems almost impossible to imagine, but even Cream felt the weight of the moment. In Clapton: The Autobiography, Eric Clapton admitted just how nervous they were before their big festival debut. They weren’t just another act on the lineup—they were an unknown band given the daunting task of closing the final night.
Up until that point, they had mostly played in small clubs. Now, they were standing in front of 15,000 people with minimal equipment and no idea how their sound would hold up. Compared to the thunderous presence of The Who, Cream felt stripped down and exposed.
The challenge was clear. Could a trio really command a crowd of this size? The answer would soon become obvious—not only could they, but they would set a new standard for rock performance.
Listen to the bootleg of the show below: