I know that.
However, at the time, those terms as applied to music (in 1966, you would find "heavy metal" at a steel foundry) weren't used.
Cream was conceived and treated as a POP band because, at that time, POP was not a genre, per se, but was a term simply applied to whatever was POPular.
all except Hendrix was recording his debut in London as Fresh Cream hit the streets in late '66.
Nice try, but epic fail.
I know their background; Clapton left Mayall (whose band at the included John McVie and Mick Fleetwood); Baker and Bruce knrlew each other from their days in Graham Bond's band but didn't like each other, yadda yadda...
They were known in their natve England as The Cream.
That's what they referred to themselves as, and Jimi Hendrix called them that, too.
So I take their word over yours.
EDIT:
yeah, THAN YOU FOR PROVING MY POINT.
The Beatles influence over music, as a whole, is ever-pervasive and almost omnipotent at my point.
The reason I had the "little family tree" breakdown was to show the lineage of influence on very disparate acts.
And I'm good on my music history; I'll go toe to toe with anyone, anytime.
If you ever want to get schooled again, just holler away.