Ginger Baker

This fellow was born Peter Edward Baker, on the 19th of August 1939 in Lewisham South East London. He's probably best known as a drummer and played in a number of Band's - Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated (apparently on the recommendation of Charlie Watts). He eventually found fame as a member of the enigmatic super-group Cream, the band consisted of Baker on Drums, Jack Bruce on Bass and a certain err..Eric Clapton on Guitar. Massive egos and Rock and Roll lifestyles meant this Band didn't last too long, but anoraks like myself and members of the sold-out audience at the Royal Albert Hall in May last year will testify that this was one of the most important bands in Rock history period-enough said. I shall briefly and condescendingly recount a few of their hits for the uninitiated (and plain ignorant if you ask me)- Wrapping paper, Cats Squirrel-(from the Fresh Cream album), Tales of Great Ulysses, Strange Brew (Disraeli Gears album), Spoonful and Toad, the ground-breaking Drum Solo track by Baker-the first in Rock history. The band's split was no surprise, being preceded by a tumultuous relationship- Clapton actually recalled a performance in which he stopped playing for a couple of minutes with Baker and Bruce failing to notice.

Ginger Baker quite simply was the best Rock Drummer of that time, characterised by explosive, energetic and almost wild improvisational solos and off-beat patterns. Unlike a lot of other Rock Drummer's he had a grounding in Jazz Playing a in a number of British Jazz bands in the late 50's and early 60's and counted the legendary Jazz Drummer- Art Blakey another frenetic and energetic off-beat Drummer as his influence.

On his beginnings as a drummer Baker had this to say-

"I had been into drums from a listening point of view for quite a time. I used to bang on the table with knives and forks and drive everybody mad. I used to get the kids at school dancing by banging rhythms on the school desk! They kept on at me to sit in with this band. The band wasn't very keen, but in the end I sat in and played the bollocks off their drummer. And that was the first time I'd sat on a kit. I heard one of the band turn round and say: 'Christ, we've got a drummer' and I thought, 'Hello, this is something I can do'."- Culled from www.jackbruce.com.

His Jazz Band days were not without event, being sacked from many a band for his wild technique and legendary short temper. However he appeared to settle with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated , attracting the attention of Phil Seamen, the great Modern Jazz drummer, who rushed over to watch Ginger at the All Niter club (Wardour Street) on the recommendation of Tubby Hayes his Sax player. Phil Seamen happened to be one of Ginger's heroes.

Cream lasted for three years i.e 1966-1969 subsequent to which Ginger Baker formed several collaborations with the following Blind Faith (with Clapton and others), Hawkwind, Atomic Rooster, Public Image Ltd, Bill Laswell.and Masters of Reality . As well as his own projects- Ginger Baker's Air Force, Baker Gurvitz Army Ginger Baker's Energy ( from Wikipedia).

Cream performed twice after their split once at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 1993 and the second being at the reunion concert at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2005 (obviously Clapton's idea and push), where they played their great hits in addition to first time live performance's of "Pressed Rat & Warthog" or "Badge" . They received a Grammy Lifetime achievement award this year.

A restless guy, Baker battled Heroine addiction for 20 years up till the 1980's when he finally quit. He was impulsive, powerful, hugely talented and adventurous. Baker famously kitted up a Van with a portable studio and drove to Nigeria to live and play with Nigerian Sax Legend - Fela Kuti who he adored and with whom he recorded a number of albums and toured with. Overall Ginger Baker lived in Nigeria for 5 and half years from 1970. Fela and Ginger Baker, apparently met in London in the early 60's when Fela was a student at the World Music College and maintained a strong friendship and Musical partnership, with Ginger standing in for Tony Allen (Fela's legendary drummer and still rated as one of the world's best living drummers) when he was ill.

A clip of the recording can be heard via this webpage.

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1947513/a/Fela+Ransome+Kuti+With+Ginger+Baker+Live.htm

Also a review of the album can be found via this link http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=10863

This recording is often critically acclaimed as one of Ginger Baker's most powerful performance's being in the Afro-Funk genre and having to lead one of the world's best Rhythm sections, the tracks were often marked by the presence on stage of two of the World's best drummers at the time- Ginger Baker and Tony Allen. Inspite of their explosive (Art Blakey influenced) styles the harmony in the performance's was remarkable and a rarity in such an ego-driven profession. Tony Allen by the way is still touring actively at the age of 69, with a collaboration with Damon Albarn due for release.

Ginger had never really been an Interview friendly prospect, but did speak fondly of his Nigerian sojourn in an Interview with Jay Babcock. http://www.jaybabcock.com/ginger.html.

Ginger Baker spent a considerable amountof time in South Africa from the early 80's onwards with his family. The Good thing about this posting is that he's still alive and even though the concert in 2005 showed his age (66 years old for pete's sake), he's still sharp and active and after all the years of exertion and abuse. A real survivor and hero of British music.