Ginger Baker Article Index for
Ginger
Articles about
Ginger Baker
Website Links For
Ginger
 

Information About

Ginger Baker




Baker's drumming attracted notice for its virtuosity, showmanship, and use of Tympani and other Percussion instruments rarely heard before in rock music. While at times performing in a bombastic manner similar to that of Keith Moon of The Who and Carlo Little , Baker was also capable of more restrained playing informed by years of work with British Jazz groups during the late 1950s and early 1960s , and he established new standards of professionalism in rock percussion. Baker also performed lengthy improvisational drum solos (such as " Toad ") on his elaborate Drum Kit ; he was one of the first rock drummers to use two Bass Drum s as part of his Drum Set , a practice inspired by Jazz drummer Louie Bellson .

Baker was known for taking excessive amounts of Speed during the 1960s; as a result many rumors have emerged throughout the years that he has died, although, as of 2006, he has not. In addition, Baker was addicted to Heroin for over twenty years, kicking the habit in the early 1980s.

Since 1986 , Baker has released several albums of Ethnic Fusion and Jazz Percussion , and has toured with various jazz, Classical Music , and rock ensembles, including a reunited Cream . He has collaborated often with Bill Laswell . As well as bands carrying his own name, such as Ginger Baker's Airforce, Baker Gurvitz Army (1974-1976), and Ginger Baker's Energy (1976), Baker has also at various times been a member of Hawkwind (1980), Atomic Rooster (1980), Public Image Ltd (1986), and Masters Of Reality (1990). For a detailed chart of Ginger Baker's band membership, see this page .

Highlights of Ginger Baker's solo career include:



TRIVIA


  • Prior to the Cream reunion at the Royal Albert Hall , the band had never played "Pressed Rat & Warthog" live.


  • Baker insisted on always having his two bassdrums nailed to the floor at the venue he was playing live. There are many venues around the world with ruined floors to prove it.