Ginger Baker: Cream's drummer, decoded
Ginger Baker drummed in Cream from 1966 through 1968 plus an extensive jazz / rock / world-music catalog. Ludwig kit (historical), Pro-Mark Ginger Baker signature stick, the jazz-into-rock fusion vocabulary that defined 60s power-trio drumming.
Cream · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Ginger Baker (born Peter Edward Baker, August 19, 1939, Lewisham, London; died October 6, 2019, age 80) drummed in Cream from 1966 through 1968 and across an extensive post-Cream jazz / rock / world-music catalog. Ludwig kits during the Cream era; Pro-Mark Ginger Baker signature stick partnership in his later career. The jazz-into-rock fusion vocabulary, double-bass before metal, African-rhythm integration before fusion was a category, his playing reshaped what 60s rock drumming could be. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Cream (1993). Rolling Stone's top 10 on the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2016).
At a glance
Also known as
Active
Affiliations
- Cream (drummer + co-founder, 1966–1968)
- Blind Faith (1969)
- Ginger Baker's Air Force (1969–1970)
- Baker Gurvitz Army (1974–1976)
- Hawkwind (1980–1981)
- Pro-Mark (Ginger Baker signature stick partnership, historical)
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Cream (1993)
- Rolling Stone, ranked top 10 on the 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2016)
Notable credits
- Cream, Fresh Cream (1966)
- Cream, Disraeli Gears (1967)
- Cream, Wheels of Fire (1968)
- Cream, Goodbye (1969)
- Blind Faith, Blind Faith (1969)
- Ginger Baker's Air Force, Air Force (1970)
- Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Africa '70 with Ginger Baker, Live! (1971)
Who Ginger Baker was
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker, born August 19, 1939, in Lewisham, London, drummed in Cream from the band's 1966 formation through their 1968 dissolution. Across the band's three studio records (Fresh Cream, Disraeli Gears, Wheels of Fire) plus Goodbye (1969), his drum vocabulary defined what 60s power-trio rock drumming could be.
Before Cream he played in jazz combos in London (most notably with Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated and the Graham Bond Organisation, where he met Cream bandmate Jack Bruce). After Cream he led Blind Faith (1969, with Eric Clapton + Steve Winwood), Ginger Baker's Air Force (1969-1970), Baker Gurvitz Army (1974-1976), and various jazz-fusion + world-music projects. He lived in Nigeria for several years in the early 1970s, studying with Fela Kuti and building Batakota Studios.
The Beware of Mr. Baker documentary (2012, directed by Jay Bulger) is the canonical biographical record of his life. He died October 6, 2019, age 80.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Cream (1993). Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time (2016) ranked him in the top 10.
Style signatures
Three things across the Cream catalog you can identify as Baker's:
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Double-bass technique applied to rock contexts. One of the first rock drummers to play double kicks in a touring setting; the Cream live recordings show double-bass used for melodic-rhythmic effects rather than speed displays.
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Jazz-influenced fills with extended single-stroke roll vocabulary. Baker's jazz training (Phil Seamen was his early mentor) shows up in his fill construction; the rolls are jazz-inflected even in rock contexts.
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African polyrhythms before fusion was a category. Songs like 'Pressed Rat and Warthog' (Wheels of Fire, 1968) show African rhythmic vocabulary integrated into rock contexts; his Nigeria years (1970s) deepened the integration.
Related
The catalog. Cream from Fresh Cream (1966) through Goodbye (1969). Plus Blind Faith (1969), Ginger Baker's Air Force (1970-1971), and his post-Cream jazz / fusion / world-music catalog.
Drummer hub. Drummers index.