The Cream reunion at Madison Square Garden in New York last week was a monster box office hit. The Oct. 24-26 shows–the band’s only North American appearances–grossed more than $10.6 million and drew 56,151 people, according to Garden officials. More than 60% of those attending the shows came from outside the New York area.
“Hosting Cream’s only North American performances at MSG was a milestone event for what has already been a banner year,” Jay Marciano, president of Radio City Entertainment, which oversees the Garden tells Billboard.biz. “To be host, or witness to, one of music’s most influential rock groups as they reunited on our stage was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
The Garden shows followed an equally successful, though smaller-scale, spring reunion at London’s Royal Albert Hall which grossed $3.6 million U.S. and drew more than 18,000 people to four sellouts.
Prior to the London shows, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce had last appeared onstage together at Cream’s 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And now it appears that the Cream reunion is over, as sources say the trio has passed on lucrative tour offers.
Producers declined to release merchandise revenues from the Garden shows, but Billboard estimates put the merch gross at more than $1.1 million, likely a Garden record.
Cream was booked by Rick Roskin and Rob Light at Creative Artists Agency, and promoted by Ron Delsener Presents.
