R.I.P. Cream Drumming Legend Ginger Baker 1939-2019 - Noise11.com
Ginger Baker, music news, noise11.com

Ginger Baker

R.I.P. Cream Drumming Legend Ginger Baker 1939-2019

by Paul Cashmere on October 7, 2019

in News

Legendary UK drummer Ginger Baker has passed away at the age of 80.

Peter Edward ‘Ginger’ Baker was a founding member of Cream and also the short-lived supergroup Blind Faith, both with Eric Clapton and the latter with Steve Winwood.

In a statement Steve Winwood said,

“A very sad loss, and my condolences to his family and friends.

A loss also for his contribution to music. He was well-grounded in jazz from very early on, and later managed to combine this with African and rock music to create his own inimitable style of playing.

I was lucky to play with him in Ginger Baker’s Air Force, and to meet and work with such luminaries as Phil Seamen, Harold McNair and Graham Bond. And also in Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Rick Grech. Although his appointment was very unorthodox (he showed up on the doorstep and said, ‘Here I am’) – he made a great contribution to the Blind Faith album which has withstood the test of time.

Beneath his somewhat abrasive exterior, there was a very sensitive human being with a heart of gold.

He’ll be missed.”

After the demise of both groups Baker formed his own Ginger Baker’s Air Force in 1970. That was also short-lived. Baker then built a recording studio in Lagos, Nigeria. Paul McCartney & Wings recorded ‘Band On the Run’ at Baker’s Batakota (ARC) Studios. The studio went bust not long after and its failure sent Baker to drugs.

Paul McCartney said in a statement,

Ginger Baker, great drummer, wild and lovely guy. We worked together on the ‘Band on the Run’ album in his ARC Studio, Lagos, Nigeria. Sad to hear that he died but the memories never will.

Ginger Baker withdrew from the music industry throughout most of the 80s. He had developed a heroin addiction and withdrew to Italy where he lived on an olive farm until he overcame the addiction.

In 2005, Baker, Clapton and Jack Bruce reformed Cream for a series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden. You can now buy the event on DVD.

Baker revealed he had ‘serious heart issues’ in 2016. He was taken to hospital on 25 September. Ginger Baker died 6 October, 2019 at age 80.

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Related Posts

Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
Legendary Songwriter Cynthia Weil Dies At Age 82

Cynthia Weil, one of the most successful songwriters of all-time, has died at age 82.

18 hours ago
Guitarist Stuart Fraser of Noiseworks performs as part of the Red Hot Summer tour in Mornington at the Mornington Racecourse on 23 January 2016. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Rolling Thunder Vietnam Tour Is Dedicated To Stuart Fraser

The latest instalment of the Rolling Thunder Vietnam tour is being dedicated to Noiseworks/John Farnham guitarist Stuart ‘Chet’ Fraser.

2 days ago
Beyonce photo by Ros OGorman
Beyonce Honors Tina Turner At Concert

Beyoncé paid homage to late singer Tina Turner by performing River Deep, Mountain High during her concert in London on Monday.

4 days ago
Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets
Nick Mason On His Strange Days With Syd Barrett In Pink Floyd

In the early days of Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett was the group’s main songwriter and lead singer. The debut Floyd album ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967) was mainly a Barrett creation. But Syd deteriorated with mental health issues and when the second album ‘A Saucerful of Secrets’ (1968) started Syd transitioned out of the band and David Gilmour came in.

5 days ago
Joy McKean photo by John Elliott supplied by EMI Records
Australian Country Music Legend Joy McKean Dies Aged 93

Australian country music legend Joy McKean has passed away at age 93.

May 26, 2023
Tina Turner Private Dancer
Tina Turner’s Australian Connection

Tina Turner had very strong ties with Australia with thanks to the man who became her manager Roger Davies.

May 25, 2023
Tina Turner and Mick Jagger
20 of Tina Turner’s Best Duets

Many an artist considered Tina Turner was simply the best and they lined up to work with her.

May 25, 2023