GINGER
THE STARS PAY TRIBUTE
Away from the music world, he became
a dedicated polo player and set up his own stables
and polo club in South Africa. A documentary
by the American film maker Jay Bulger, Beware
Of Mr. Baker (2012), portrayed him as a reclusive
and cantankerous character, an impression
which his bracingly direct memoirs Hellraiser:
The Autobiography Of The World’s Greatest Drummer
(2010 ) did little to dispel. In it, he wrote candidly
about his years of heroin addiction which began
in 1960 and continued on and off until the 80s.
In later years he suffered innumerable health
issues including degenerative osteoarthritis and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the result
of years of heavy smoking. He was married four
times and leaves behind three children: Nettie,
Leda and Kofi.
Cream were inducted into The Rock And Roll
Hall Of Fame in 1993, when they played together
for the first time in 25 years. But it was the string
of Cream reunion shows at the Royal Albert Hall,
London and Madison Square Gardens, New York
in 2005 which marked the most fitting memorial
to this colossus of the kit. The London shows
ended with Baker once again performing his
showcase number To a d. Looking like an ageing
gangster, and playing with an air of super-relaxed
menace, his hands seemingly guided by his huge
sticks rather than the other way round. With
Clapton and Bruce standing admiringly at either
side as he hammered the drum heads, his status
as one of the original rock superheroes was sealed
beyond any shadow of doubt.
“I’ve had loads of high points and loads of
low points,” he told Classic Rock. “Where a lot of
people would have topped themselves, I kept
going. Getting to know people I really admired
and getting accepted and respected by them is
a highlight. Guys like Phil Seaman, Art Blakey,
Elvin Jones, Max Roach – all these people became
friends of mine, and I was accepted by them on
the same plane. That was worth more than all of
the money in the world.” DS
“As a young musician, few
drummers stood taller or
were a bigger musical
influence than Ginger
Baker. I will never forget
the awesomeness of
seeing him perform with
Cream at Massey Hall on
June 5, 1968.”
Neil Peart“Fly free, Ginger... We have
crazy, happy memories of
your time with us.”
Hawkwind“Ginger created an
inimitable style of playing.
Beneath his somewhat
abrasive exterior, there was
a very sensitive human
being with a heart of gold.
He’ll be missed.”
Steve Winwood“Ginger Baker was a great
and unique musician and
an innovator – he will be
sorely missed.”
Dave Davies“This man I’d never met,
this traveller, rule breaker,
this man who showed the
very many that change is
possible, will live forever.
Something beautiful
has passed.”
Bill Ward“When I sought to form
a group, my advert said:
‘Wanted: a drummer who
can play like Keith Moon,
Mitch Mitchell and
GINGER BAKER...’ Guess
who replied? A certain
Mister [Roger] Taylor.
And he could! So Ginger is
inextricably woven into
Queen’s history, as well
as conquering the world
with Cream and his
other projects.”
Brian May“Ginger was a big influence
when I was in my teens.
The Cream were one of my
favourite all-time bands.
I went to see them eight
times. Ginger was
always on fire!”
Carl Palmer“Sad to hear of the passing
of this legend. Ginger could
be difficult, sure, but he
was truly unique behind
that drum kit.”
Bernie Marsden“There was so much
freedom in his playing.
What a wildman.
Rhythms we’ve heard
all our lives, he plucked
them out of the sky.”
Flea“I was at Cream’s first ever
USA performance, in
March 1967 in NYC, as an
opening band, and also
their final farewell show
in London in 2005. I am
proud to have seen
them from the beginning
to the end.”
Jay Jay French“Combining his character
with his talent, Ginger
lashed out at the world,
rocked it and massaged it
like no one else.”
Michael Des Barres“He was a great drummer
and a wild and lovely guy.
We worked together on
[Wings’] Band On The Run
at his studio in Nigeria. Sad
to hear that he died, but
the memories never will.”
Paul McCartney“I played with him very
early on in Alexis Korner’s
Blues Incorporated.
He was a fiery but
extremely talented and
innovative drummer.”
Mick Jagger“A few drummers came on
to the scene during the
sixriess playing ‘lead
drums’, but Ginger took
it to a whole new level
of expression.”
Mike Portnoy“Beneath his somewhat
abrasive exterior, there
was a very sensitive
human being with
a heart of gold.”
Steve WinwoodThe Graham Bond Organization,
circa 1965: (l-r) Graham Bond,
Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ginger
Baker, Jack Bruce.Baker with Cream at the
National Jazz & Blues Festival
in Windsor, August 13, 1967.CLASSICROCKMAGAZINE.COM 13