Superstar rock drummer Ginger Baker dead at 80
Ginger Baker, best known as the infamous and hard-rockin’ drummer for the 1960’s ground-breaking band “Cream” died peacefully in a British hospital on October 6. The legendary drummer was 80 years old at the time of his passing. CNN reported Baker’s daughter, Nettie Baker, as saying earlier today that her father suffered “from many long term conditions” notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Dad passed away peacefully. He was in no pain and had recently been able to see and speak to his children, close family and special friends.
We are very sad to say that Ginger has passed away peacefully this morning. Thank you to everyone for your kind words to us all over the past weeks. ~ Baker’s Facebook Page
Baker’s first love was Jazz. He began drumming when he was only 16 and started earning real money playing with Jazz bands in England’s Soho district back in the 1950s.
In his early days, Baker made a name for himself on the music scene playing with the Graham Bond Organisation along with future Cream bandmate Jack Bruce. In 1966, he founded what was to become the supergroup Cream, with bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton.
During their short tenure from 1966 – 1968, Cream released four albums, forever cementing Baker, Bruce and Clapton as musical mainstays. Jack Bruce died in 2014 at the age of 71.
After Cream, Baker became part of another supergroup, Blind Faith, in 1969. Clapton was also in Blind Faith along with Ric Grech and Steve Winwood. Before the band broke up, they put out one still popular and iconic album, the self-entitled “Blind Faith.”
After just two years Cream split, due largely to the tension between Bruce and Baker, having trail-blazed musical techniques that led many to call it the first ever heavy metal band. Baker also played the first ever long on-stage drum rock solos. Baker and Clapton continued with the group Blind Faith but only for a year.
His next venture was Ginger Baker’s Airforce — band that fused rock with jazz and African influences. Again, that only lasted just a year. ~ per CNN
Cream got back together a few times, first in 1993 for the band’s induction into the Rock Hall of Fame, and again for several sold-out tours in 2005. In 2006, Cream received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Rest in Peace Ginger Baker.
~ Written by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter
