Eric Clapton described Cream as a “glorious mistake”, saying the influential 1960s trio became very different from the blues-focused, democratic group he had envisaged. The assessment matters because Cream is widely regarded as one of rock’s formative supergroups, despite the internal tensions that helped bring its short career to an end.

Formed in 1966 with bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker, Cream achieved major success with songs including ‘Sunshine of Your Love’, ‘White Room’ and ‘Strange Brew’. Clapton later said Bruce and Baker’s dominant personalities shaped the band while he largely “went with the flow”; Cream split in November 1968 after roughly two years and four studio albums.