Led Zeppelin vs Cream (Page vs Clapton)?

Guitarist:

Eddie VanHalen

Kieth Richards

Jimmy Page

Eric Clapton

Peter Frampton

Pete Townsend

Jimmy Hendrix

John Frusciante

Les Paul

Randy Bachman

BB King

Django Reinhardt

Too Many more to list-

Eric Clapton Led Zeppelin

I personally prefer Cream over Zeppelin and Clapton over Page. But Led Zeppelin is great, and Jimmy Page does not suck by any stretch of the mind. Both bands deserve large amounts of respect.

They're hard to compare, even thought they made up something like 2 of the 3 official "heavy" bands when they were formed, Iron Butterfly obviously not in the same class.

Cream really changed the sound of rock music, made some great music, Disraeli Gears is a near-perfect album, and they burned out and broke up quickly. Led Zeppelin became popular a couple years after Cream did, also changed the sound of rock music, if less so, and made more great music over a longer period of time that was much more popular and this is much more connected to the rock music that came later. Clapton and Page obviously were both great guitarists at the time. I never got to see Cream in concert, but they were known for long incoherent jams. I did see Led Zeppelin in 1970 and they were remarkably good live.

In terms of having a legacy of popular songs people still enjoy, Led Zeppelin wins. In terms of what I am actually likely to pop into the CD player once in a blue moon, Cream wins. I think Clapton is the better guitarist, and while he's mostly popular for the blues he did after Cream, the psychedelic stuff he did with Cream was groundbreaking at the time. Page's guitar playing with Led Zeppelin was less so, though I was certainly on my feet for his solos and though he did some very interesting things with Led Zeppelin through the years, and he doesn't have the 40-year history of continuing to contribute to music.

I think both bands are dated now, Led Zeppelin so overplayed on the radio I can rarely stand to listen to them, and Cream pretty much nostalgia. They were both amazing bands 35 and 40 years ago, and it would be a very very hard choice for me. If I had to pick one, I'd choose Cream. I find it easier to choose Clapton as the better guitarist, but it's still a tough choice.

Neither of them sucks. But if I could have tickets to a reunion tour for either, I'd go see Cream.

Led Zeppelin is more of a classic-blues hard rock band, while Clapton & Cream is more bluesy & isn't as hard rock as Page is on guitar.....

Overall, Led Zeppelin influenced way more bands than Clapton & Cream did, although they both were heard by millions of people, & Clapton just might be more experieced with the blues than Page is, (Obviously just listen to Clapton's song) but Page definetly produces better Classic Rock music than Clapton does...which is why Page is more likeable

Just my opinion....

Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page without a doubt. I like to rock out and Clapton doesn't do it for me. Cream will never be the band Zeppelin was, ever.

Both great bands, but Led Zeppelin are the all time most successful band ever and no one will ever beat them, they are not my favourite band and I am more into modern rock/metal but I am smart enough to know the roots of how my music started off with bands like Led Zeppelin. To hell with anyone who insults Led Zeppelin! If Cream did start talking rubbish about Led Zeppelin then they're obviously just jealous that they weren't AS famous or successful as Led Zeppelin. Either way they're still both great bands.

Their both great in their own rights. I prefer Zeppelin and Page's style over Clapton. I can throw on any Zeppelin and love it all the way through.

In My Opinion

Page over Clapton but only by a hair

Bonham over Ginger Baker, but by an even thinner hair

As a Bassist, Jack Bruce PWNS John Paul Jones but Jones is more of a multi-instrumental virtuoso.

And Plant's Vocals absolutely own the singing of either Clapton or Bruce, easily.

So all due props and respect to Cream but their wrong. Zep is the greater Band of the two

*Edit*

Nothing personal against DB or Shreder, but it's quite patently obvious to Me that neither knows thier hindquarters from a hole in the ground on the subject of Led Zeppelin.

And also in My opinion a Guitarist that has no respect for Jimmy Page is missing something vitally necessary to being a Guitarist. Because Page is quite obviously and assuredly the single greatest Rock Guitarist of all time with the possible exception of Hendrix.

zeppelin is a better band, clapton the better overall guitarist

i'm kinda surprised that cream would say stuff like that...the only thing i can think of, besides jealousy or what have you, is that they stuck to the blues tradition and style while zep broke away from it despite the fact that their best work will be from their bluesy catalog, at least imo