Cream Band Mates, Including Eric Clapton, Remember The Late Jack Bruce

On Saturday (Oct 25th), Scottish musician Jack Bruce unfortunately passed away after losing a battle with liver disease, aged 71. Since his death, many fans, friends and fellow rockers have paid their respects to the man largely considered as one of the greatest bassists of all-time.

Among the mourners is Bruce's former Cream band mates Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker, and they quickly remembered how much of an influence the late musician had on rock & roll.

"It is with great sadness that we learned that Jack Bruce had passed away this morning at his home in England," Clapton wrote on his Facebook page. "'He was a great musician and composer, and a tremendous inspiration to me' ec."

More: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Eric Clapton

Baker's official fan page also posted a quote from Cream's drummer that read, "I am very sad to learn of the loss of a fine man, Jack Bruce... My thoughts & wishes are with his family at this difficult time."

Bruce's signature melodic fills and rhythmic jazz influences quickly established Cream as one of the greatest live acts of their heyday, in the 1960's. Furthermore, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters also called the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer "probably the most musically gifted bass player who's ever been" in his Rolling Stone's '100 Greatest Artists tribute to Cream.'

More: Eric Clapton Ponders Retirement As The Stresses of Touring Bring Him Down

Upon the announcement of Bruce's passing, his family released a statement, which said: "It is with great sadness that we, Jack's family, announce the passing of our beloved Jack: husband, father, granddad, and all round legend. The world of music will be a poorer place without him but he lives on in his music and forever in our hearts."