“It’s quite hard being the son of somebody famous,” begins Malcolm Bruce, “because there’s always that level of expectation.”
In Bruce’s case, the expectation, presumably, is that he will play psychedelic-tinged blues-rock like his father Jack – best known as the bassist and vocalist in trailblazers Cream.
Which is precisely what he does in Fresh Cream, a tribute to that phenomenally influential late 1960s power trio. Often described as “rock’s first supergroup”, Cream also starred the peerless six-string prowess of Jimi Hendrix’s greatest competition – Eric Clapton. So who did Bruce Junior call on? Clapton’s own nephew Will Johns, who was handed his first guitar by the rock legend.
Johns’s other uncles also include George Harrison and Mick Fleetwood, of Fleetwood Mac. His father is Andy Johns – the legendary rock producer/engineer known for his work with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and, to a lesser extent, Jack Bruce, who was best man at Johns’s wedding.
But while Bruce and Johns knew each other as teenagers through their famous fathers, the pair only began playing together two years ago, following the death of Johns’s father in April 2013. Jack Bruce passed away last October. It’s a fact not lost on either son.
“One embraces the blues and that depth of feeling,” begins Johns. “I’d already lost my mum a couple of years before, it does bring those heavy emotions into view. But it’s the truth.”
“Since [my father] passed away it’s been a more emotional journey,” adds Bruce, who started off playing piano and violin as a young boy, but was given his first guitar by his dad at the age of 10 – a Japanese-made Aria, a company with which Bruce Senior had an endearment deal at the time.
“My first guitar was a freebie, not a £50,000 [Dh 285,638] Fender Stratocaster,” he wryly notes. Now 44, Bruce has been a professional musician ever since, touring and recording extensively in his father’s bands, before being invited to form tribute act Sons of Cream with drummer Ginger Baker’s son Kofi four years ago. That outfit morphed into Fresh Cream two years later when the personnel shifted, adding Johns and session pro Chris Page brought in on drums.
So what did Bruce Sr think of his son’s decision to revisit his heyday work? “He was encouraging, but he always said: ‘It’s a great thing to get you more established in the industry, but make sure you do your own thing,’” says Bruce.
It’s advice he has taken to heart, with a debut solo EP set to launch any minute, and a crowd-funded debut LP, five years in the making, next year. “In a lot of ways I have been in the shadow of my father,” admits Bruce.
Johns’s music career is more established – he first made a name as a member of Glyda alongside Ronnie Wood’s son, Jesse, who was dating Kate Moss at the time. “Very A-list shenanigans,” remembers the guitarist. “We were just flying around from one party to another – a very, very rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle, without us actually being stars.”
Johns later released two solo albums in his own name. However, after a period of retirement from music, during which he worked as a tour guide at a sea-life centre, Fresh Cream has him revisiting the early work of the celebrity uncle who started him on guitar.
“Growing up I spent a lot of time ’round [Clapton’s] house, because I didn’t live with my dad,” remembers Johns, aged 42. “There was this drum kit at the bottom of the house. I used to go down very early in the morning with a ZZ Top tape and smash away at the drums – I just liked hitting things.
"I came up from one of these sessions and Eric said: 'Why don't you play a real instrument?', probably just to shut me up, and I thought: 'He's got to mean the guitar'." Johns spent his teenage years practising on prototypes of Fender's trademark Eric Clapton Stratocaster. Later, at the age of 21, his father gave him one of Eddie Van Halen's guitars that he still plays today. "When I was starting out, [Clapton] showed me the opening riff to [Cream's] Crossroads," remembers Johns. "It's quite weird, after showing me how to play it, to come and play it again is full circle really." The pair are still in touch. Has Slowhand ever stopped by to catch a Fresh Cream show? "He let me know that he was going to try to come along to a gig and I probably wouldn't know he was there," says Johns. "He's not overly encouraging, like it's the best idea he's ever heard."
Johns's family ties to Clapton come from his mother Paula Boyd, sister of Pattie – the wife Slowhand, notoriously “stole” from close friend Harrison. Under the circumstances, it’s not surprising Johns saw less of the ex-Beatle growing up, although he does recall one fairy-tale encounter.
“One time we went on a magical boat ride under his house, an underground lake,” he remembers. “There was this big talk of fairies and mystical things – the most mystical experience I’ve ever had – he was very warm and gentle.”
Fleetwood, meanwhile, married Paula’s other sister, Jenny. The night before I interviewed Johns, he’d caught Fleetwood Mac’s recent reunion tour in London.
“I was so proud of my uncle,” he beams. “He’s got to whatever age he is [68], he plays the drums like there’s no tomorrow – I was so impressed.”
While the reformed Fleetwood Mac are wowing crowds, Clapton recently announced his retirement from touring, shortly before a lacklustre gig at Dubai Media City last year.
“I completely understand,” adds Johns. “It’s like fishing – you have to really want to do it, to put that time in. But I don’t think he’ll ever give up music.”
In Clapton’s absence, Fresh Cream are keeping his very best work alive.
“It’s nice to honour this music,” adds Bruce. “When people say" ‘I saw your Dad in 1966 and you did that song justice’, you feel a very real pride with it.”
• Fresh Cream perform at The Music Room in Dubai tomorrow. Tickets cost Dh100
rgarratt@thenational.ae
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Other promotions
- Deliveroo will team up with Pineapple Express to offer customers near JLT a special treat: free banana caramel dessert with all orders on January 26
- Jones the Grocer will have their limited edition Australia Day menu available until the end of the month (January 31)
- Australian Vet in Abu Dhabi (with locations in Khalifa City A and Reem Island) will have a 15 per cent off all store items (excluding medications)
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11 cabbie-recommended restaurants and dishes to try in Abu Dhabi
Iqbal Restaurant behind Wendy’s on Hamdan Street for the chicken karahi (Dh14)
Pathemari in Navy Gate for prawn biryani (from Dh12 to Dh35)
Abu Al Nasar near Abu Dhabi Mall, for biryani (from Dh12 to Dh20)
Bonna Annee at Navy Gate for Ethiopian food (the Bonna Annee special costs Dh42 and comes with a mix of six house stews – key wet, minchet abesh, kekel, meser be sega, tibs fir fir and shiro).
Al Habasha in Tanker Mai for Ethiopian food (tibs, a hearty stew with meat, is a popular dish; here it costs Dh36.75 for lamb and beef versions)
Himalayan Restaurant in Mussaffa for Nepalese (the momos and chowmein noodles are best-selling items, and go for between Dh14 and Dh20)
Makalu in Mussaffa for Nepalese (get the chicken curry or chicken fry for Dh11)
Al Shaheen Cafeteria near Guardian Towers for a quick morning bite, especially the egg sandwich in paratha (Dh3.50)
Pinky Food Restaurant in Tanker Mai for tilapia
Tasty Zone for Nepalese-style noodles (Dh15)
Ibrahimi for Pakistani food (a quarter chicken tikka with roti costs Dh16)
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