Famous Drummers On Ginger Baker

[@jamescox8402]

Saw Ginger on Cream's American farewell tour and also with Blind Faith in Santa Barbara. He had those drum battles but he also played with Fela Kuti's incredible band in the '70's. He was a force of nature.

[@dannydine5263]

Well said.

[@jamescox8402]

@Kapālin thanks for that.

[@tomtrana3449]

@@dannydine5263 Totally agree!

[@zvolphhasenmiau5369]

You lucky man

[@Mosely2007]

Saw him with Cream and Blindfaith. 4 different beats for minutes

[@anthonyxuereb792]

"Cream was a jazz band but we didn't tell Eric," that's gold.

[@mysticone1798]

Fun but incorrect comment. Cream songs were arranged as rock, played on guitar as rock, and sung as rock. They were rock songs with some jazz elements, but always informed by rock. The jazz element of Bruce/Baker is most pronounced in the live, improvised renditions of their songs, like Crossroads, Politician, etc.

[@unknown6390]

​@@mysticone1798Missing the point

[@mysticone1798]

@@unknown6390 What's the point?

[@BoHorn]

@@mysticone1798the point is ginger fancies himself a brilliant jazz type and commenters need to refit how outdated the rock sound is nowadays.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

@@user-qr7ee2cp4y Another good one, there must be many more out there.

[@alzo7891]

Check out the documentary “Beware of Mr. Baker.” The man was genuinely notorious.

[@billionairerehab4953]

I saw that and thought he was not very nice.

[@JaRule6]

I was looking for this comment. What an awesome documentary. The man was totally insane 😂

[@aidanohara3344]

Flawed genius, there seems to have been a lot of them is the music scene of the past few decades sadly

[@mysticone1798]

Unbelievable arrogance of a true jerk. Good drummer though.

[@randyclere2330]

He’s kind of a jerk…

[@ElMarko2000]

Did a gig with my dad, back in the 70’s and about midway through our 1st set, noticed this wirey dude setting up his drum kit behind us. Then he joined in at some point and we finished our set. The dude carried on into a massive drum solo which the posh guests seemed to ignore because they carried on dancing to him. I chatted to a posh lady in our break and mentioned that the drumming dude looked a little like Ginger Baker, to which she replied “That’s because it is Ginger Baker”. I was a massive Cream fan at the time and excitedly went over and tried to chat with him. Wouldn’t give me the time of day. Still, at least I got to say that I played with one of rock’s most iconic drummers!

[@canadianroot]

How about more context? Name of your dad’s band? What did you play? Where was it?

[@richardwestmoreland4796]

@@JC-sj2pd I couldn't agree more. Ginger was one of the worlds best drummers ever but it's a total shame that he had to be such an asshole about it. He was everything that a drummer should be but the way that he treated others and how he spoke of other very good drummers shows his weakness as a good human being.

[@thomasbell7033]

His idol, Buddy Rich, was a famously huge asshole among his peers, as was Ginger. I remember when Rich started slagging Ginger in the press. Must have been tough to see your moment in history erased by this new form of music, as Rich did. He was quite bitter.

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

@@thomasbell7033 @Thomas Bell I have met a lot of musicians, some famous. One of the nicest I ever encountered was Max Roach, the great jazz drummer. Keith Jarrett was an a-hole. Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford were gentlemen. Rich and Baker had major personality challenges. The personality of the musician has nothing to do with the command of their craft. People have personal idiosyncrasies that don't affect their playing-just. It doesn't affect me unless I interview them or if I get lucky enough to play with them. I can disagree with them (I don't disagree with Baker's assessment of Bonham, and I have my reasons) but it doesn't lessen my respect for their skills.

[@thomasbell7033]

@@garygomesvedicastrology I don't disagree with his opinion of Bonham, either. I am a retired (mostly) journalist. I started out covering music. I recall Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke being all-star pricks, as was John Mayall, as was Srevie Nicks. I was a young drummer myself, and meeting my idols, as a rule, was a dispiriting experience. I covered crime for a while after that. I found homicide victims to be better company.

[@andyman0231]

Ginger was a total artist and his solos were incredible

[@mickpearson6184]

The best

[@tomany65]

The worst.

[@andyman0231]

@@tomany65 hate the person if you want not the drummer

[@richardwestmoreland4796]

@@andyman0231 Agreed. Ginger could really be a cantankerous prick but there can be no doubt that he was one of the greatest rock drummers who ever lived.

[@darzil007]

Ginger and Mitch were giants and very unfairly under rated .I,m glad to see posts like these opens the drummers world,s eye to this very important Fact .

[@stephenreeds3632]

He called Mitch mediocre.

[@marsazorean62]

I love Charlie Watts. Always blunt, to the point but ever so humble. All class.

[@hermangahn6353]

Deserted cities of the heart. Great syncopation changing from the double bass to the top with quick fills and accents on the cymbals. Bruce and him are just meshing

[@twhis9843]

I was driving a cab in the 70s and a passenger said he was going to drum clinic put on by Ginger Baker. It was a small music store and there was a small group of drummers waiting for Baker to show. I parked the cab just to see what this was about. Baker came with the owner and was a great guy. None of his reputation. Super kind and helpful to all the musicians. Great memory.

[@Mosely2007]

Saw him with Cream. Loved his drums. Outstanding solos

[@asagraphics247]

Perfect time and a perfect madman. He was AWESOME!

[@jerryfields4837]

this is where Animal from the Muppets got his inspiration

[@davidfaustino4476]

No. That's Keith Moon. This is not hard.

[@jerryfields4837]

@@davidfaustino4476 sorry for giving you the hard on son

[@mammothenterprises2921]

Got to see and take photos of Ginger when he played a few songs with Jack Bruce in a small music hall.

[@stuartmazzeo2516]

My favorite Baker song is... Which ever one i'm listening to.

[@williamleeming4082]

He was a sob as a person and not a good family man but, I will say I think he was one of the best drummers I've ever heard.

[@BadRonald1]

I’m trying to find a song where he plays with a jazz feel.

[@drumsanddrumming]

Was he great or not? I think he did his best with Baker Gurvitz Army. Listen to the song "People". Great drumming. And "Toad" is a written piece not just a drumsolo, very well composed

[@ranjitverdi5702]

He really didn't give a fuck!..🙏

[@scuzzytwo7556]

He was always nice to me.

[@DavidMahoney-p8i]

mI saw Ginger play live with Cream and Blind Faith. He was every bit as good as they say. Dave Mahoney.

[@mukhumor]

I'm a Hawkwind fan and Ginger played with Hawkwind on the Levitation album. Great drumming. Apparently Ginger did his usual thing of trying to take over the band, wanted to sack the bass player and put his own man in... Hawkwind is Dave Brocks gig and people had tried to take his band off him before. Ginger Baker was a great drummer, but a real gnarly dude.

[@MysteryZenSide2]

05:26 mk. # 4 Alex Van Halen. ' Interplay between the musicians' ' Feeling ' the instruments are talking to each other- ...exactly

[@jojojam6012]

Ginger was perfect for Cream, Mitch for Jimi.

[@aidanohara3344]

TOAD is magnificent, the drummer with Canned Heat at Woodstock 69 did a great solo in Woodstock boogie - those two pieces are my favorites

[@johngammon963]

Genius often is misunderstood at first, but over time the truth of the matter becomes apparent.

[@wahoo222]

I saw Cream in '68, Akron Ohio. Clapton still had hair down around his shoulders. They were a great jam band Live and all had solo's but Baker had 15+ minute showcase with Toad. Triplet Monster!

[@DavidSmith-ss1cg]

What was monstrous was Eric Clapton's Afro(which I've seen called "Faux-Perm").

[@GrilloTheFlightless]

I remember my dad telling me of a time when he saw Cream in the 60s and Ginger Baker took a piss off the edge of the stage into the front row. Despite witnessing such unpleasant antics, my dad always maintained that Baker was the best drummer Britain ever produced.

[@georgemorenstein]

He was an okay drummer, but for my money, Mickey Dolenz ruled the rock world of drummers during the 60's. It's a no-brainer for me.

[@St63420]

😂.....😮.....😊

[@jasperbarnard1976]

What are the big influences on Ginger Baker was the drummer Phil Seaman

[@someguy7993]

After Blind Faith broke up, Ginger Baker's career went nowhere. He was insignificant throughout the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties, and after that (except for the Cream reunion show).

[@Gizmo82477]

He was a very busy drummer

[@Ed-Topo-108]

Saw him with Hawkwind,. I think he fell out with the band.. sounded like it too! Great solos though

[@HowardShillingford-pe7em]

Wow he was taking them on.

[@dr.wianmeintjes9028]

Great Thx

[@iii2187]

I was amazed when i discovered Cream, especifically the drums parts, like AVH said it sounded easy but it was really difficult to play and i was looking for a challenge so i started study the Cream's catalog

[@clifforddriver9434]

I thought he was the best at what he did the best I've ever had the opportunity to listen to.

[@philknight6844]

He lived near Canterbury in kent up til his death. I worked for a kitchen company and we did a survey at his house (not me personally). The guy came back saying it was the worst experience of his working life. Baker was obnoxious, rude, nasty and pissed rotten at 11 am. Awesome musician tho.

[@RaymondMoore-c4g]

I've seen him live,

[@stpaulimdog]

From what I heard, both Jack and Ginger were difficult to get along with. They didn't even get along with each other.

[@MrBongoagogo]

Was allso taught by the famous British jazz drummer Phil seaman who he looked up to.

[@mikebunner3498]

T/his is great. These people speaking of Ginger like they did should tell you something..... Ginger was damn good. THANKS.....

[@donepearce]

Ginger was one of the best back then. These days he would barely find a place in a pub band. Musicianship has moved on in leaps and bounds.

[@mygreatbigfoot1679]

Ants in the kitchen with the Masters of Reality.

[@jeffriessman9693]

He was a great drummer but I heard he said a lot of bad things about other musicians. So I don't care much for his personality but it does play great drums I find him to be arrogant too

[@IloveOtherPplsMsry]

The rare egomaniac who was talented enough to back it up

[@gringochucha]

As much as I love Cream, I think my favourite Ginger beat might be "She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)". I don't think any other drummer has ever reached the level of sheer badassery of Ginger Baker. He was like the god and devil of rhythm combined in one person.

[@davidperez5089]

A spoonful of Ginger helps the músic go down!🎶

[@chrisgibbs612]

Ginger Baker called Hawkwinds bass player the worst bass player in the world at a rehearsal. So the worst bass player in the world sacked him then and there, I think mid tour. Not sure what Dave Brock thought, prrobably he was just relieved to not have to deal with Bakers crap anymore.

[@mikearchibald744]

I liked Neil Pearts comment "all us drummers looked up to Ginger......on how to play the drums"

[@marathongman9281]

If memory serves me correctly Neil Peart made the comment "there are a million best drummers" I think he's right. It was his response to people calling him "The Professor" I have a lot of respect for him saying that.

[@philippusviridi6527]

@@marathongman9281 That sounds like something Neil would say and he is right. I don't think there will ever be a drummer that comes close to Neil but that is just me. His whole point was there is always someone else who think their favorite drummer is the best.

[@TheJosep70]

@@marathongman9281 I recently read that they started calling him that because he was alwas reading, though,

[@cvn6555]

@@TheJosep70 I have read that they called him that because he resembled "The Professor" from the show Gilligan's Island. They also called him "Pratt".

[@cvn6555]

Good thing they didn't emulate any other aspect of his life. Great musician but an absolute loon of a train wreck.

[@magnus9165]

Good thing Ginger got into percussion. He probably would have spent his life in prison if he hadn't. What a short tempered contrarian psychopath.

[@willardtheband]

Sloppy and overrated. Gingers always go grey early. Also he didn’t have a soul.

[@annaforehan7784]

What's the significance of your dubious claim about gingers going grey early? As for GB not having a soul, even if there is such a thing, who are you to make that statement about someone you've presumably never met?

[@1DShoe]

Charlie’s take was just like his drumming: says exactly what is needed, and gets straight to the point, simply and eloquently.

[@humanbeing5300]

It was never about him for a second, it was always about the song.

[@billmiller2051]

Copeland impersonation of Baker was hilarious.

[@billyshane3804]

Pruitt Hopelands

[@tswrench]

I was always wowed by Ginger Baker's drumming and his adventuresome approach to the instrument. As far as being a jazz drummer in a rock band, it felt like that was more Mitch Mitchell's bag with all the dynamic, circular drumming he did.

[@HowardShillingford-pe7em]

Right on, right on! ☮️

[@arrrs4944]

Saw Ginger play with his own band back in the 90's after Middle Passage was released. I stood right in front of him for two hours and was blown away. He was chain smoking the whole time, and during breaks he took great delight taking the butts and swatting them with his sticks. Each time he'd break out into a wide, semi-toothless grin, like a little kid. It was great.

[@kellykempkilroy]

I saw Cream at Hunter College when they first came to the States. Gingers drumming was like nothing I ever heard before. I tried my hardest to play Toad like him. I actually sounded more like a toad than a drummer trying to sound like Baker.

[@PaulWW36]

Talented drummer and I worshipped Cream but you'd be hard pushed to find a more odious human being without a shred of humility

[@SAHBfan]

I recommend reading his autobiography. No doubt he was a very difficult and cantankerous person, angry and horrible to people - but you get the impression that something wasn’t quite right with him. I think deep down he knew it too - and there are definitely moments of extreme humility- there was a lot more to him than the nasty piece of work image that he liked everyone to see. I think a lot of people in the media spotlight put up a front. Most pretend to be better than they are - for some reason Baker seemed to relish portraying himself as a piece of ****. Strange guy…

[@marktaylor6491]

@@SAHBfan It was combination of things. First it was coming from a rough working class background and losing his father in the war. Then it was him in his teenage years discovering that he had this 'gift from God'. A gift that meant he would never have to 'settle down' or live like ordinary people.

[@jpgduff]

@@SAHBfan He pulled a knife on Jack Bruce. That's not an act -- he was deadly serious. He wad a heroin addict which was probably more responsible than you'd admit.

[@dodibenabba1378]

@@SAHBfan I read the first quarter of his autobiography and stopped because he came across as an arrogant nob.

[@peterdelaney7061]

Whether you liked him or not, he was unique and very distinctive. He played fills that no one else has fully replicated to this day. To me, he was the Jimmy Page of drummers; not always technically proficient but full of imagination and surprise. Well deserving of his legendary status

[@webstercat]

Any lick can be duplicated.

[@giulioeugeniomoioli1248]

He was the Eric Clapton of Drumming!

[@peterdelaney7061]

@@webstercat Sure, technically. But not with the same spontaneity or feel. Go listen to the solo in Memory Lane and duplicate it. Will it feel the same? Nope

[@camronbay1]

@@webstercat Play toad for us let us know how that comes out.

[@annaforehan7784]

@@webstercat Really? Even if that was the case, surely being the originator is what takes true talent.

[@douglascarducci6977]

His stuff with Masters of Reality never gets any love . Sunrise on the Sufferbus was a great album from a great band

[@nyobunknown6983]

Yes they were a local Syracuse NY group.

[@JaRule6]

I concur. I them at Toad's Place in New Haven. Did you ever see the documentary that someone made about him?

[@ZigbertD]

I think that album is some of his best recorded drumming. Tone, dynamics and feel are all just sensational, you instantly know it's him.

[@bluesmano5283]

Love "Sunrise on the Sufferbus , Part Three".....especially the last four cuts. Ginger ----and the vocalist, Chris Goss----sounding quite "Creamish" there. "I got a mean little kitten, chasing all the dogs away".

[@kubrickenigma7977]

I heard that album at 13 and... man, 30 years later it's still a favorite. It's a perfect set.

[@shauncorless8965]

Anyone who' knows about drumming ,, knows you can't beat buddy rich ,😮

[@martinsebel6120]

The 1st time I heard Ginger Baker just as Alex VH said was on the radio and it completely turned my drumming upside down. It was melodic in nature but with a vengeance to make his presence known. Seeing him many times was something that was always the same but at the same time different. Weather you like him or not he was and still is a major influence on drummers today.

[@swlabretwquint1311]

So true about Sunshine of Your Love. Sounds simple but it’s not. Very few drummers get the feel right.

[@specialroy6087]

I met Ginger Baker at Trancas in Malibu...We talked for awhile , he was a great guy.. The drums on "White Room" I asked him?..He said he loved playing with Eric...I felt like I knew the guy even though I just met him... Genius really ...

[@danwallach8826]

The timpani part in "White Room" was brilliant.

[@phaedrussmith1949]

It's easy to be nice when someone is admiring you.

[@alvarocordova3664]

Ginger to me was a great influence Ringo & Charlie thought to me how to play in time and for the song But when Ginger came a long he showed us rock drummers that there was a lot more to get involved with. Imrovisation, Polyrhythms,Afrikan tribal beats, beautiful musical double bass patterns , legendary drum solos a la Toad. He was a true Pioneer. RIP Master.

[@Mitch-Master]

4real mon

[@williamdelong8265]

A complete musician on every level and completely mad.

[@albitcapinigro1107]

He was his own greatest fan and completely and utterly overrated. I can name ten ROCK drummers better than him, let alone jazz drummers.

[@BONHAMOLOGY]

I can think of at least a dozen, and all English…… Bonham Ian Paice Mitch Mitchell Aynsley Dunbar Tony Newman Keith Moon BJ Wilson Barriemore Barlow Alan White Phil Collins Nick Mason Jon Hiseman Simon Philips Bill Bruford Bill Ward Ringo

[@yournamehere6719]

Ginger Baker's work with Cream was powerful; his work with Blind Faith was beautiful.

[@danraucci5566]

Saw him twice with Cream and once with Blind faith. Amazing.

[@chrisfournier6144]

I find his drumming frantic. Not to my taste. That puts me in the minority.

[@edellis515]

Ok I'll give you this. The drum solo in TOAD is truly wonderful

[@josephmartino9958]

In every tune, Ginger always took the drums for a ride and went somewhere with them...

[@camronbay1]

Most definitely such a tribal sound.

[@ted.angell7609]

Every time I met him, he was super chill, polite and friendly. I’ve never met him, but yeah, every time.

[@marsazorean62]

Wtf does that mean? Did you or didn't you meet him ?

[@zkj8741]

😐

[@chromeheart6597]

Self praise is no praise at all

[@dannygray-mi3xn]

Well, i will praise him then. Ginger Baker was f'in amazing mate.

[@chromeheart6597]

@@dannygray-mi3xn He hates that Bonzo nvented rock drumming , a vile human being by all accounts of those who met him Bonzo was an asshole too ,but not a self publicist on Bakers level.

[@robertkelly6282]

When you’re that good who’s to argue lol

[@Malama_Ki]

Was that a Carmine Appice quote? Must’ve been after he suckled Bonham and taught Jesus to walk on water….

[@jackthebassman1]

When I read that he criticised Buddy Rich, that was it, he wouldn’t even know why Buddy was the absolute master.

[@andyshuttleworth8341]

Ginger Baker would tell you and everybody that he was the greatest drummer in the world. Fun fact he might well not have been. But he would get violent at the drop of a hat like no other drummer on earth. That may well be a true fat. He tried to hit me once. I loved Cream. There was a joke going round once. What's the similarity between Ginger Baker and Coffee? Answer. Neither taste so good without Cream. He made a great contribution to the history of drums and may he rest in peace.

[@Claytone-Records]

Damn. You must have severely crossed him to earn a swat that didn’t land, I do not believe he ever missed his intended target. So… what did you do?

[@andyshuttleworth8341]

@@Claytone-Records He had been playing with Keith Hale in Hawkwind and Keith and I were in jam band together. Baker used that band to do an album a some European gigs. The album was called "Ginger's Nutters". I did some filming for them as a freebie. We set up some equipment in the dressing room. This was at the Marquee. The dressing room is pretty small Ginger got all upset about it and tried to lash out at me. Not unusual for Mr Baker. His dog bit the sound mixer that night too. Also par for the course.

[@Claytone-Records]

@@andyshuttleworth8341 Flipping hell, man. You could be a contender for the rock n roll hall of shame for that incident. It does sound typical of the many lives Mr. B er… touched. : ).

[@annaforehan7784]

@@andyshuttleworth8341 How fabulous that the great man's dog was as fiesty as he was!

[@andyshuttleworth8341]

@@annaforehan7784 You wouldn't feel that way if it had bitten you. Sad really.

[@enzosmith5371]

I don’t know what people are talking about. Baker wasn’t that good..At best he was OK. Baker, Moon, Mitchell were all so so. Carmine Appice, John Bonham were great.

[@marktaylor2502]

jazz doesn’t have to swing but he’s no Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, etc. I still love Cream but this assertion is silly. I’m not saying he wasn’t great but he was not a jazz drummer.

[@BONHAMOLOGY]

Absolutely…such exaggerated nonsense

[@robertsheetz6067]

The moment he put down John Bonham... He lost me ... Even though he was great.... He continually put down other excellent drummers....

[@marklivingston1479]

He was a drunk, heroin addict asshole...... And a great drummer!🤘

[@raymondrak961]

No musician should criticize another musician especially someone like John Bonum who was an essential part of Led Zeppelin.

[@flashtheoriginal]

John Bonham? Baker wasnt in his league. Its ok to have swing, but Bonhams triplets were far far beyond Baker's range

[@SuperGForce01]

Mitch Mitchell was way ahead of both.

[@johnwade5747]

Sunshine of your love will always remind me of the sock hop at the Jeffersontown Elementary school on College Drive. It was just down the end of my street so I went there often. The bands that played there were just kids, but way older than me. I was probably 14? And the cool guys in the bands were in the 18 to 25 range. Good way to pass time! Ha ha!

[@Dannyvirk]

I feel really happy watching the drum battles, can't stop smiling, no idea why.......

[@vincentjordan8028]

I met ginger baker when he played with air force in a small club in Swansea I later heard he could be testy when I met him he was really nice to me as were the rest of the group a great gig

[@annaforehan7784]

It's nice to hear of someone having a good personal experience with him for a change. He can't have been all bad!

[@allenwood4771]

I've never been impressed. Toad had elements of worthiness, and he was able to keep time obviously, but the largest part of GB's legacy is his overbloated sense of self.

[@danallshaw1131]

I grew up on Ian Paice and Bonzo between 2-4th grade. Never hearing Cream till someone handed me an old 8 track in the early 1980's. A whole new world opened up and he started being in my top 5 drummers. One thing I use to laugh about was his grumping about Bonzo. No sour grapes there, Ginger. (Ha Ha)

[@billdonaldson9091]

It would have been interesting to hear the opinions of jazz drummers regarding Ginger Baker being a jazz drummer.

[@dannydine5263]

Some of them got to know him and even play with him so that would be interesting.

[@malcolmcooke2024]

There are some ginger early jazz recordings live before cream in the record stores if you can find them doing green onion and such

[@ChrisLawton66]

You can see how the jazz community regards Baker by their complete lack of acknowledgement of him. Ask anyone who the top, say 500, jazz drummers are and I'd bet Baker isn't on anyone's list.

[@richardbullwood5941]

Charlie Watts is the one I always heard talked about when a jazz trained drummer moves into rock. Charlie and that funky BackBeat can't be beaten

[@robertcook2680]

Music journalist Albert Goldman interviewed Elvin Jones in the early 70s and he played some rock drummers for Elvin and asked his opionion of each. Goldman played a Who song, and a Cream song, and another by another band I cannot remember. (I read this in LIFE magazine 50 years ago.) I found a music forum online where this is brought up. Below is the quote from that forum, with Elvin's statement about Baker. It is exactly as I remembered it. "Nothin' happenin. Cat's got delusions of grandeur with no grounds. They should make him an astronaut and lose his ass." As for Moon, he said just "The man is a drummer."

[@FantomWireBrian]

I never saw Ginger,but in 75 I saw the Stones ,the Who and Led Zeppelin. I kinda remember it was the battle of the drummers. I remember people being nervous about whether Moon or Bonham were going to pass out or being wasted. We got lucky with Moon , but not Bonham. There was no question at all about Charlie. I remember him being called the " Clock". Sure steady and powerful and also seemed to get Richards in line after he walked out late and wasted . Keith was messing up and about half way through he turned his back to the crowd and walked over and faced Charlie. It seemed like 10 minutes then staring at each other.All of a sudden Charlie gave Kieth the knod and Kieth turned around and was like reborn and played fantastic and a half of an hour longer to make up for being late. Any drummer that has that talent to get Keith's shit together is the best to me. Charlie was like Big Ben that night . 😎

[@thomasgiering8091]

I saw Ginger Baker in a small German jazz club in 1991. He performed in a trio with Swedish bassist Jonas Hellborg. Ginger smoked during the entire performance and while drumming he banged the lit cigarettes into the audience with his drumstick. Well now, perhaps that was his way to show his affection and appreciation for the audience... A friend of mine and I had brought a drumhead and a sign pen to the concert because we dreamed of an autograph. The flying cigarettes should have given us a little hint. During the break we waited for Ginger near the cloakroom. When Ginger saw us he run to stage on a detour, got up to the mic, and in a totally bad mood announced that he'd had enough of writing that fucking GB. I gave away my Ginger Baker records and didn't listen to his music for ten years. After watching "Beware of Mister Baker" I was actually quite glad that Ginger didn't come to my friend and me ...

[@richardwestmoreland4796]

Holy shit! I read another account of the same story you have told about Charlie having to do something to get Keith's shit together. You're the first person Fantom Wire that I have heard was actually there for that. That story has been famously passed around for a long time now. I love your Big Ben comparison of Charlie by the way. That pretty much sums up Charlie perfectly on that one night for sure.

[@Del-Mondo]

Jethro Tull, musicianship was way more solid.

[@jamesmack3314]

Clive Bunker?

[@mc76]

I had played the drums for about a year the first time I heard Cream. I was used to playing along to British Invasion drummers. With all due respect to those guys, Ginger was doing stuff that was so unique. The fills on "Sunshine of Your Love" and "White Room" come at such unusual and unexpected times that it took a lot of concentration to replicate those riffs. Deceptively sophisticated, Charlie and Ringo presented their own challenges, but Baker was in another league altogether.

[@22julip]

We were a jazz band but no one told Eric good because he had enough trying to be relevant at the blues Baker was a great drummer no doubt , but that BS about Bonham not being able to swing a bag of S , I don’t by the line someone said oh he just as no patience for dumb , he must because he put up with himself . And Moon sucked too , I know he was half serious half joking , but you don’t put down people in your own line of work. An old salesman line you don’t bad mouth your competitors wares , not just Baker but Bruce and claptrap too , talking crap about Zeppelin, cream was around for two years reheating old blues standards , before you cry , so did Zeppelin to a degree But they had far more depth in song writing and playing. Only bring it up because all three members talked crap about Zeppelin, to my mind they didn’t say anything negative about Cream , but obviously Baker earned respect as a great drummer , but he wasn’t the only one , cheers

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

There definitely was an edge to Ginger Baker. When he wrote that line about a guy getting "very, very prickly when he's ill" in "What a Bringdown," I always assumed that he was referring to himself. I think of him as a rock drummer who could swing, and the only other drummer who fits that description--in my opinion--is Ian Paice of Deep Purple. (Charlie Watts could swing too, of course, but you rarely heard him doing that on record because the Stones' music didn't call for it.)

[@camc5483]

All of these guys...not one of them said Ginger was a good drummer!

[@Formula-602]

No..cause he was a GREAT drummer!

[@carlosdanger6129]

He was sloppy and noisy.. not even in the top 50 on my list

[@Alan-su5bg]

His main influence was phil seaman, which he introduced young ginger to African drum beats and rythms

[@billmiller2051]

Phil is in this clip.

[@JC-sj2pd]

Introduced him to heroin too

[@Alan-su5bg]

@@JC-sj2pd he did but actually he told him not to take heroin

[@Alan-su5bg]

@@billmiller2051 yes but the intro only said gene kupra and buddy rich. Every interview of baker would mention different jazz drummers but those two but he talks about his idol phil

[@bubinga_basher]

I heard him bash Bonham, saying he "couldn't swing a bag of shit". I honestly think he was too doped up, and had too big an ego to have listened. He couldn't hang with the jazz cats he put himself in the class of. I like some of the tunes he was apart of. Other then that, I don't have many nice things to write

[@ringonor4298]

Yep

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

Swing is a certain feel in drumming. You omitted the part in which he also said Bonham had prodigious technique.Bonham is on record as hating jazz. Jazz requires swing and looseness. Bonham was a good, even great drummer for rock, but he could not have hung in the jazz world or led jazz groups like Baker did; neither could Moon, in all honesty, although Elvin Jones liked Moon's playing. But Ginger was speaking a truth. Neither Bonham or Moon, although great drummers, had the flexibility of style of Ginger Baker. Other drummers, like Carl Palmer, Jon Hiseman, Mitch Mitchell (to an extent). B.J. Wilson, Brian Auger's drummers like Clive Thacker and Mickey Waller, Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, Jaki Liebezeit, and others could hang in both worlds. Bonham and Moon lacked the give and take and responsiveness to the environment that Baker possessed. They were great at what they did--they were specialists within their music. Baker could, while being himself, sound different in different settings. Swing involves implied flexible time keeping. Moon could sometimes do that. Bonham hardly ever did. With Bonham, he basically stated every note. It's one of the major problems I have with Bonham, although I respected his talent.

[@bubinga_basher]

@@garygomesvedicastrology Are you smoking crack, or just making crap up as you go? Bonzo's Moby Dick is structured after Tony Williams "The Drum Also Waltzes", and Joe Morello's big drum solo. I stopped reading your diatribe as soon as you started spewing your nonsense. Philly Joe Jones, and countless other jazz, and Funk drummers are Bonham's groove. Go take a percussion class moron

[@bubinga_basher]

@@garygomesvedicastrology If you show me ANYTHING in which Bonham discredits jazz in any way, I won’t bust ya up as bad as I’m gonna to. 😉

[@garygomesvedicastrology]

@@bubinga_basher I never said he bashed up jazz. His bandmates said John didn't like jazz or Reggae and he didn't like playing D'Yer Maker, which had elements of both. I saw Bonham live as the headline act at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival. John came on after some excellent jazz drummers (right after Buddy Rich). I couldn't picture John in any of those jazz ensembles; I had heard Baker play jazz. Baker's jazz style was very different from his rock style. John was a great drummer, but he would not have fit in a jazz group. Neither would Keith Moon. Carl Palmer, B.J. Wilson, even Mitch Mitchell could play jazz. It wasn't in Bonham's skill set. That was primarily what Baker meant. He also said Bonham had prodigious technique, but most want to linger on the perceived insult.

[@stevefisher8323]

Who can ever match Toad as a drum solo??

[@3DThrills]

Our rock band was finally getting more and better gigs when I went to see Ginger Baker and Cream. I went home, burned my drums and became a CPA

[@HanginInSF]

😂😂😂

[@runisom48]

Saw Cream in Cleveland, Ohio 1968. I was mesmerized by Gingers playing from the time I got their first album. I constantly "played drums" on my thighs for years with his rhythms going through my mind.

[@fredjonestowns4213]

"John Bonham couldn't swing a bag of sh*t" - Ginger Baker

[@ruelsmith]

Never cared for his feel, honestly. It just didn't move me. Honestly, both Moon and Bonham were better, as were many that came later. Never saw the hype. I understand Buddy Rich once challenged him and he was dead silent about it. I can see why. I'm just not a fan.

[@vissttaa]

I just love the photo of the brothers. I have twins and that age is precious.

[@masterofreality5528]

You dont have ears buddy

[@ruelsmith]

@@masterofreality5528 not only do I have ears, I played drums for years! He's not all that...

[@masterofreality5528]

@@ruelsmith still does not mean you have ears

[@ruelsmith]

@@masterofreality5528 better than yours! That's for sure!

[@mindyourself7063]

Ginger will tell you he's great. Isn't that special. 💁‍♂

[@417DrumBob]

He was major rock drummer and a big influence on me when I was learning drums in the 60's, but he was a reprehensible human being. I walked right past Baker backstage at a Modern Drummer event years ago, and didn't say a word to him, I'm sure, out of trepidation.

[@eddieobrien1411]

Saw Ginger Baker in London during mid 70’s. He came on stage,no fanfare,hit the bass drum and proceeded to engage in a 20 minute argument with the sound engineer. He was shouting insults,swearing and just didn’t give a fuck about the audience waiting to hear him play. He got the sound he wanted on each piece of kit and then did a fantastic drum solo. I promise you the fury and sound he created,was like being repeatedly punched in the guts;it was like seeing a raving banshee unleashed on that drum kit

[@petertrotman7708]

The hi-hat pattern on "I Feel Free" has not been topped in Rock music. Totally original for it's time.

[@Dogdrum]

He obviously got it from Jazz. His hi-hat work is legit Jazz.