Meet the

“Rock’s First Superstar Drummer“

-Peter Edward “Ginger” Baker

just remember to

Beware of Mr. Baker

Before the arrival of Ginger Baker, the drummer used to be the quiet one sitting at the back of the stage whose job was to keep time.

While he always considered himself being a jazz drummer,

Baker has pioneered the image of the rock drummer as a flamboyant virtuoso, engaged in a dynamic interaction with the musicians around him.

 “Every rock drummer since has been influenced in some way by Ginger, even if they don’t know it.”

– Neil Peart, Rush

In 1962 Baker, then a jobbing drummer in London’s jazz clubs, had been recommended by Charlie Watts, the future Rolling Stones drummer, for a job, where he first encountered Jack Bruce.

Along with Graham Bond and the saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith, the pair formed the Graham Bond Organisation, playing a form of jazzy rhythm and blues that won them a devoted following.

However, they also developed a hostility that eventually led to Baker firing Bruce from the band.

Cream

in 1966, Baker approached guitarist Eric Clapton, the rising star of British blues, with a view to forming a new group. Clapton was enthusiastic, but insisted on bringing in Bruce on bass.

A fusion of blues, psychedelic rock, and hard rock, the band released four albums in a little over two years.

The group split up in November 1968, at least partly because of the violent antagonism between Baker and Bruce, and a fourth album, Goodbye, appeared in February 1969.

Despite being a short and scrappy collection of live and studio tracks, it gave them a UK No 1, and their four albums sold 15m copies between them.

Following Cream’s demise, Baker joined a new supergroup, Blind Faith

with Clapton, Steve Winwood (Traffic), and bassist Ric Grech (Family).

One of the greatest inspirations for Ginger Backer later drumming came from the roots of sub-saharan AFRICA.

After a near-fatal cocaine overdose, Baker realized he needed a complete break and, traveling by Land Rover, went to Lagos, Nigeria, where he opened a 16-track recording studio, Batakota (ARC) studios, and became close friends with local – later global – superstar Fela Kuti. Baker fully immersed himself in the rhythms of African music, and also joined the Lagos Polo Club.

Ginger Backer was certainly a hand-full.

A great deal of talent, short temperament, drug addictions, and a lot of creativity made him one of the most influential drummers in modern music.