London
(CNN): Ginger Baker, notorious hellraiser and celebrated drummer in the
supergroup Cream, has died at the age of 80 at a hospital in the United
Kingdom.
Many consider Cream the first heavy metal rock band. Some would consider it the first “supergroup”;
previously well-established musicians (Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton) coming
together to form a new band. Those
familiar with the band and the musicians will often say that their time during
Cream produced their best work.
Cream stayed together all of two years. Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker couldn’t get
along. Each went separate ways, with
perhaps only Clapton maintaining the same level of notoriety, albeit in a
softer form of music.
Perhaps at their most exciting, a live cover of Robert
Johnson’s Crossroads.
Because I can’t help myself, I will also offer the best
cover of Cream’s version of Crossroads, by Rush.
Dang. Ginger Baker was great. My neighbors saw him years ago and considered it a badge of honor when he told them to "Fuck off" (just quoting him) when they asked for his autograph.
ReplyDeleteHe was a rough personality but a great musician. Sad to hear he is gone.
For at least a decade, maybe more, the watchword was 'Clapton is God'. Cream was the original power trio they called it. There's a video on youtube from not too long ago about Baker's trip to Africa - where he apparently set forth for it within a matter of hours after hearing recordings of African drumming. I think its called Beware of Mr. Baker.
ReplyDelete