Jack Bruce

Jack Bruce (born John Symon Asher Bruce), was born in Bishopbriggs and received his initial music training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly the RSAMD) as a classical cellist and composer. He found, however, the pull of jazz too much, and he left to Academy and became one of the world’s most respected bass players.

He was a founding member of rock trio Cream, as the band’s bass player, an instrument for which he has been described as a

world-class pioneer … a composer of  some of the most endurable and recognisable rock songs of our time … and one of popular music’s most distinctive and evocative voices.

After leaving the RSAMD (RCS), Bruce joined London-based Blues Incorporated, led by Alexis Korner, as the double bassist in 1962. A year later, the group disbanded and Bruce established the Graham Bond Quartet and he switched from double bass to electric bass. Whilst the band was not necessarily commercially successful, it is said that they influenced musicians such as Keith Emerson and Jon Lord.

In 1966, after brief periods with other ensembles, Jack became the bass player, main songwriter and lead vocalist in Cream, alongside Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton. The band was hugely successful, outselling the likes of Jimi Hendrix and The Doors combined. Their albums reached number one in countries around the world and received the first platinum discs for record sales. Arguments between Bruce and Baker, however, caused the break-up of the band only two years later after a final tour.

He then released a number of solo albums – alongside collaborations with a number of well-known musicians – before formed blues-rock trio West, Bruce and Laing in 1972 with Leslie West and Corky Lang. In 1974 (just after the trio broke up), Bruce made a guest appearance on the title track of Frank Zappa’s album Apostrophe (‘).

Bruce continued to form a number of bands over the next decade and collaborated with musicians such as Ringo Starr, Pete Frampton, Robin Trower, Bruce Gary and Kip Hanrahan. Something Else, a album recorded in Germany between 1986 and 1992 reunited Jack with Eric Clatpon and received widespread critical acclaim.

In 1997 The Slab Boys was released a Scottish film that Bruce produced the soundtrack for alongside Lulu, Edwyn Collins, Eddi Reader and The Proclaimers.

Bruce, Clapton and Baker reunited once again as Cream in 2005 for a series of concerts at London’s Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Madison Square Gardens.

In 2008, Bruce returned to the RSAMD (RCS) to play a semi-impromptu concert to 200 or so students and lucky fans. He also received an honorary degree and had a new informal performing space named after him: The Jack Bruce Space.