The Graeme Bond Organisation
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Band formed in Feburary 1963, that was to be the forerunner of big band Cream, having in it drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce.
These three had previously been in Alexis Horner's Blues Incorporated, but sneaky Graeme Bond (alto saxophone/organist/lead vocalist) handed in Jack & Ginger's resignations without telling them! He had cottoned on that these were great musicians, and had decided that the time had come to start his own band. Along with them was guitarist John McLaughlin, replaced in August '63 with Dick Heckstall-Smith (tenor sax).
They released two albums, The Sound Of '65 and There's A Bond Between Us (tacky title, eh?)
Jack started off playing on an upright double bass, the massive things that you find in orchestras, y'know? Later he went on to a trusty bass guitar. Yeh! Also, he was a deft kick with a piano, could blow a mean harmonica and sung/sings damn well. A versatile little sod. Jack's playing kinda revolutionised bass guitar (he had been fired from a few groups for being too experimental). Likewise with Ginger on the drums.
However, Jack and Ginger weren't the best of friends. In one incident on stage Ginger lobbed his drum-sticks at Jack, who promptly chucked his double bass at Ginger and smashed up his drum kit. this quickly turned into a fully blown fight; the pair eventually getting seperated before hurting each other too much. Ginger fired Jack from the band, but Jack refused to be fired 'cos Ginger wasn't even the band leader! Ha!
Don't forget, they also had a slight tendancy to go on stage drunk. God knows how they managed to play anything.
Jack went on to John Mayall's Blues Breakers, Manfred Mann and Cream.
Ginger quit Graeme Bond in '66.
After that the band fell apart. Doh!
These three had previously been in Alexis Horner's Blues Incorporated, but sneaky Graeme Bond (alto saxophone/organist/lead vocalist) handed in Jack & Ginger's resignations without telling them! He had cottoned on that these were great musicians, and had decided that the time had come to start his own band. Along with them was guitarist John McLaughlin, replaced in August '63 with Dick Heckstall-Smith (tenor sax).
They released two albums, The Sound Of '65 and There's A Bond Between Us (tacky title, eh?)
Jack started off playing on an upright double bass, the massive things that you find in orchestras, y'know? Later he went on to a trusty bass guitar. Yeh! Also, he was a deft kick with a piano, could blow a mean harmonica and sung/sings damn well. A versatile little sod. Jack's playing kinda revolutionised bass guitar (he had been fired from a few groups for being too experimental). Likewise with Ginger on the drums.
However, Jack and Ginger weren't the best of friends. In one incident on stage Ginger lobbed his drum-sticks at Jack, who promptly chucked his double bass at Ginger and smashed up his drum kit. this quickly turned into a fully blown fight; the pair eventually getting seperated before hurting each other too much. Ginger fired Jack from the band, but Jack refused to be fired 'cos Ginger wasn't even the band leader! Ha!
Don't forget, they also had a slight tendancy to go on stage drunk. God knows how they managed to play anything.
Jack went on to John Mayall's Blues Breakers, Manfred Mann and Cream.
Ginger quit Graeme Bond in '66.
After that the band fell apart. Doh!
