Jack Bruce Composing Himself: The authorised biography

by Harry Shapiro, Foreword by Eric Clapton

When Cream broke up in 1968 it was by no means a foregone conclusion that it would be Eric Clapton who would enjoy continued commercial success. After all, it was Jack Bruce who had the looks, and who co-wrote and sang all the band’s major hits, including ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’, ‘I Feel Free’ and ‘White Room’. But he was a singular talent who wanted to be a pioneer, not just a pop star, and he was never happy resting on his reputation. Bruce’s formative years set the tone for a musical journey that has twisted and turned through the decades, moving through and combining many genres and styles. His background is in classical music and jazz; at 10 he was winning classical song contests, at 12 composing string quartets and improvising on piano. Then he fell in love with Thelonious Monk and Charlie Mingus and left home at 18 to find his fortune as a jazz bass player. He found his way into the London blues scene and played with luminaries such as John Mayall and Graham Bond before first tasting chart success with Manfred Mann. Then there was Cream, one of the most influential rock bands of their time, who sold 35 million albums during their two-year existence. Cream split in their prime but their influence endured, and when they reformed in 2005 tickets were selling for nearly £2,000 on eBay.
In the 40 years since Cream split Bruce has continued his musical adventures with the likes of John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Carla Bley and Mick Taylor, never quite achieving the success and recognition he deserves. It has been an often troubled life — heroin addiction, management rip-offs, family tragedy, and a failed liver transplant, all of which he speaks about frankly in this book, telling a story that is sometimes funny, sometimes bleak, and always honest.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2009

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top 5 musos of all time... This is a masterful book worthy of Jack's enormous talent. It reveals his heartbreakingly sad demons and is exceptionally well-written for a pop icon bio. Jack was always the key figure in Cream and his solo albums remain some of the finest works ever recorded. He brought music to new levels and, like actor James Cagney, made everyone who worked with him, better. It helps to be able to remember his music to appreciate many passages. I loved learning that he wrote a number of songs from his solo career using open tuning that he learned from Richie Havens when they met at the Fillmore East. I was surprised to learn that during his youth his family emigrated from the shambles of post war Scotland to start a new life in Canada but returned shortly after. The book describes his early musical training and subsequent move to London to work with various jazz musicians and developing his life-long writing partnership with lyricist Pete Brown, the years touring, moving from one interesting thing to the next, not at all in a straight line, Jack was "composing himself" as the title so aptly states. When his magnificent recordings with Kip Hanrahan were released in the 1980's, music blossomed to new heights. I highly recommend Shapiro's book for anyone who loves Jack's music and want to know everything about him that they can.

[Barry Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although most people only know Jack Bruce as the bass player for the super group, power trio Cream, and the co-writer of classic rock songs like "White Room," and "Sunshine Of Your Love," his career as a composer and musician is so vast that those moments are, literally, the tip of the iceberg. Bruce's career as a performing musician, began early with classical cello and encompass jazz, blues, rock, Latin jazz and all sorts of hybrids thereof. Harry Shapiro chronicles his varied career achievements in detail in this readable biography that will have the reader researching and seeking out the many and varied recordings of his oeuvre that make up the bulk of his legacy. A great document of an often over-looked master. - BH.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've long since loved Glasgow born Jack Bruce's music, most especially his musical contribution to 60's rock supergroup 'Cream' and it was my love of this music that made me buy this book on impulse (I got 40% off, too!) This book is excellent in parts, especially the days just prior to and after his days with Cream. There is some insightfulness in some of the anecdotes, we get to learn that 'Ginger' Baker's name is in fact 'Peter' and that in 1979 a fire at the Polydor record pressing plant BURNT all of the Cream album multitrack masters (tragic). We hear fleeting accounts of Jacks private life ("I attended the odd orgy...", "I bought an Island in Scotland...", "...my mentor taught me about music and far too much about heroin...') but all too fleeting I'm sorry to say. Whether its shapiros writing style, or whether Jack Bruce wanted to keep a lot of things private is unclear but I did find myself at certain points getting a little bored. (Jack forms a band with 5 other name musicians, band doesnt work for reason A, B, C... etc) Unlike Barry Miles' 'Many Years From Now' -The Authorised Paul Mccartney bio which had similar parts to it, I felt that by contrast Barry Miles never felt like he was repeating himself. I found in this book Shapiro's tone was a little perfunctory in places and occasionally lacked any real 'grab' in what should have been an insightful and fascinating read. There are shocking and exciting points too,( -discussing Jack Bruce surviving an organ transplant and how he was 'awake' during the procedure, a rare and frightening occurence that happens in few save a handful of cases every year) there is also some information about his early childhood in Glasgow and several other interesting parts, the recent reunion gigs with Cream, his love of Jazz-rock fusion etc... Possibly I may have already knew too much about Mr Bruce and so much of this was wasted on me, but I would like to read at least one other book by Harry Shapiro, just in case the authors hands have been 'tied' slightly by the books name-sake. I feel another 400 pages could have been filled, perhaps with more intimate and personal information. I would recommend this book, seeing as I did like it and enjoyed a lot of it. If you would like to know more about one of rocks 'legends' you probably will too, but I feel that Shapiro's book wont be seen as 'the definitive' Bio for Jack Bruce, that I *think*, is yet to come... 'Pt. II', anyone...?

[Steve Coscia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special insight into one of rock's better musicians. The inside-story anecdotes about record company contracts, wasteful spending and touring was insightful. Shed light on why some of Jack's albums were better than others.

[Peter Bayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one.
I'm biased because it evokes the musical soundtrack of my life, but chronicles the chaotic life of a musical genius, much underrated outside of his fan zone and the oeuvre of like-minded musicians.
It pulls no punches whilst maintaining its respect for Jack Bruce's achievements.
It prompted me to write a short article - "Chaotic Lives", see www.writeallalong.co.uk - because of its resonance with and similarities to the bios and autobios of other rock musicians that I have read.
I loved it and devoured it quickly.

[Donald Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read about a history making musician

A very informative read about a remarkably complex person. Jack Bruce's brilliance never allowed him to take the easy way and just make commercial music. He unfortunately prone to bad fortune in that just when a project would be ready, it was ruined by bad management, drugs or ego clashes with other artist. He was a true survivor and always came out on top. His relationship with other artists, especially Ginger Baker was like a bad marriage that produced amazing music. I couldn't put the book down.

[Geff Ratcheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent read for a Cream or Bruce fan. I didn't expect this, but one of the highlights for me was Bruce validating an experience I recently had during surgery. Something similar happened to him.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book many times a great biography of a great musician.

[Prooost Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm Jack Bruce's biggest fan. (Many others have said that about themselves.) Harry Shapiro's book does him and his music justice.

I said after reading Eric Clapton's autobiography that it's a wonder any music ever got made, between the drugs, drink, and other shenanigans. I knew all about Eric's and Ginger's heroin addictions, but I had never heard about Jack's. Turns out, Jack was the worst of the three, having mainlined for years.

But the music got made, an astonishing amount of some of the best music around. Much of it even I had never heard of, but thanks to this book's excellent discography, now I can track it down.

Not sure I'll be reading Ginger Baker's autobiography any time soon. Way too many heroin stories, I'm sure.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shapiro gives us a thoroughly researched, well-written biography with full cooperation from Jack Bruce and a foreword by Eric Clapton. Although Bruce's addiction to heroin is not overlooked, Shapiro holds true to the focus on Bruce's musical accomplishments. He fills in the details of a long career, allowing us to more fully appreciate the mostly unacknowledged genius of Jack Bruce.

My favorite section is the final 2 1/2 pages titled Bass-ic Instincts (Appendix I), where Bruce describes the different basses he has used, and talks about how he plays-he uses his index and middle fingers, and rests his thumb on the string to "dampen" it.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nicely written account of this great musicians life, from his time growing up with his family & a socialist Father who had difficulty finding work due to his political beliefs. Playing in jazz combos while still a teenager & fun & hijinks as bass player in one of the worlds best psychedelic/pop/blues groups Cream. A great read for everyone interested in the music scene. The book documents his & other musicians drug use
and also includes a fully comprehensive discography.
This is one of the best music biographies I've had the pleasure to read.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full and detailed review is on my website at http://rnrchemist.blogspot.com/2014/0...

Great book...Jack is the most musically talented of the former Cream members and this book shows just how and why. His candor when dealing with some of the low points in an otherwise excellent career is refreshing.

[Paul Lyons · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull, academic look at the life of the great Cream bassist. Shapiro's thoroughness is sadly not matched by an engaging prose, leaving the reader suffering through page after page of facts and figures, yet no heart.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I am not a particular fan of Jack Bruce I saw this in the library yesterday and thought I would give it a try. I found it a good read and found it hard to put down. It even motivated me to dig out one of Jack's albums and also a Cream album.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about one of the greatest musicians of all time, not just his Cream days but before and after too, thoroughly recommended

[Colin Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack was one of my heroes and it was interesting to gain an insight into his life story.
Sadly missed.