Just heard on the news that Cream founder, Ginger Baker, has died at the age of 80. With his very colourful background, i'm surprised he reached that ripe old age. Excellent drummer and quite a character. R.I.P. Ginger.
Yep, I'm surprised he even made it to 80 to be honest.
He could be a grumpy old so and so when he felt like it, but Cream (and before that - The Graham Bond Organisation) were a great part of our growing up.
For a while, I was Dave Brock's (Hawkwind) builder, at around the time Ginger played with them.
He was a well respected Jazz drummer too.
Brian May put a flyer up in his University requesting a Ginger Baker style drummer, Roger Taylor applied and the beginning of what would become Queen were started.
Somewhere in my chaotic record library I have an LP of Ginger & Fella Ransom Kuti, does anyone know that? One track is called "Let's start what we have come into the room to do". !
R.I.P. Ginger.
A legend in his own lifetime, and will be remembered as one of the greatest of the rock era.
He passed away peacefully, apparently, and I saw a comment somewhere saying it was the first peaceful thing he's ever done!
RIP Ginger.
Amazed to see that he was 80 - first of that generation of musicians famous in the 60s to reach that milestone, but there are plenty more hot on his heels.....