V.A. - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame (1993)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony Tuesday at the Century Plaza Hotel was a night of both renewal one touching moment capturing the music's ability to reconcile, and in the next casting a bright spotlight on the animosity that can intrude on the most idealistic music.

The members of the land mark blues-rock trio Cream hadn't played together publicly since their 1969 farewell concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall. Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker have kept their distance from each other in the intervening years.

But when singer-bassist Bruce stepped to the microphone to acknowledge the group's induction, which climaxed the evening, he observed, "I think that must be what rock'n'roll is about. It brings people together. And if the three of us could be together again, anybody could be together again, I´ll tell you."

Guitarrist Clapton, whose fame has far surpassed that of his colleagues, was more emotional in his address."I've been reunited with two people I love very dearly,"Clapton said, pausing briefly to collect himself. "It´s very moving.

Cream backed up the words a little later with a blistering live set, but the performance that preceded theirs touched off a renewal of hostilities within one of American's classic groups.

When John Fogerty took the stage to play some of his Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, he was fIanked by Robbie Robertson and Bruce Springsteen rather than Creedence's surviving members, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clillord. That partnership ended in acrimony in 1972 and there are no signs of reconciliation. (In a recent interview, Fogerty characterized his relationship with his former bandmates as like eyeballing each other over a minefield. ... I think there are a lot of strong not-so-positiv feelings. ")

As the threesome and the house band launched "Who'll Stop the Rain," Cook and Cliflord left their table (located on the opposite side of the room from Fogerty's) and walked out of the room,returning later for Cream's performance.

After the music ended and the light came up, Cook stood holding the unused bass that he'd brought in anticipation of playing.

"I personally thought it was somewhat tasteless that Creedence songs, with a band of stars of course," said Cook."We figured that John could set aside whatever (expletive) grievances. Doug and I were both very hurt. We found out just today that we weren't gonna get to play 'Born on the Bayou.' It was (Fogerty's) decision. ... I came down to rehearsal this afternoon and said, 'John, what's the deal?'
He says, 'I'm not playing with you guys ever again. '... I decided just to get up and leave.I didn't want to hear them."

In between those extremes were the annual ceremony's customary range of lighthearted and touching moments.

By Richard Cromelin
Special to the TIMES

Recorded live at the Century Plaza Hotel, L.A., January 12. 1993:

The Doors w/Eddie Vetter:
01. Roadhouse Blues () 5.56
02. Break On Through () 3.33
03. Light My Fire () 8.36

Creedence Clearwater Revival w/ Bruce Springsteen & Robbie Robertson:
04. Whol Will Top The Rain (Fogerty) 3.14
05. Green River (Fogerty) 3.18
06. Born On The Bayou (Fogerty) 3.35

Cream:
07. Sunshine Of Your Love (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) 5.47
08. Born Under A Bad Sign (Bell) 3.42
09. Crossroads (Johnson) 4.28

Recorded live at the Apollo Theatre, NYC, June 13, 1993

B.B. King
10. Rock My Baby (King/Josea) 5.43 feat. Eric Clapton
11. Sweet Little Angel (King) 5.29 feat. Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck & Albert Collins

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