CNN: Famed drummer ginger Baker died peacefully a few hours ago. He surely will be missed. Trained as a Jazz Drummer he hit the high mark while the drummer for the Super Group “Cream”. I would rate Mr. Baker, Mitch Mitchell and RIngo Starr as the top drummers in musical history. He was 80 years old.
What a lovely dignified and very moving tribute from his daughter. It makes a change from here in the UK, where family tributes go on and on for at least 4 paragraphs.
Lots of great ones over the years, my two favorites are Bill Bruford and Stuart Copeland, but Ginger Baker is right up there with all of the best.
There’s a fascinating movie documentary on his life, made a few years ago. He was always cantankerous, and he continued to be sore that they didn’t give him credit for that percussive intro to “White Room.” Clapton had to make peace between Bruce and Baker to form Cream, Baker had pummeled Bruce onstage when they were in a previous band and they bickered constantly.
Yeah Bill Bruford is up there as far as Drummers are concerned. Other honorable mentions:
Niel Pert, Tony Williams, Jeff Porcaro, Mitch Mitchell, Joe Morello.
Hard to argue Buddy Rich being the Best ever, but again its subjective as in personal preference. Ginger Baker never spoke to me in terms hearing the snap articulation, and off timing rhythms that you get with Manu Katche, Carl Palmer, and some of the other Jazz greats that are not genre handcuffed.
Jesus H, what’s all this with ‘drummers’? A monkey can be taught to hit a few drums, but try teaching one to play a violin, or a keyboard instrument. Let’s keep it in perspective shall we?
I didn’t say I ‘don’t like the conversation’ ffs, I just wondered why drumming is so uppermost in everyone’s mind. No, I don’t play an instrument, and have always wished I could play the piano, but I don’t know what that has to do with anything.
