Ginger baker cream interview

Drums on Fire | Interview with Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker passed away at the age of 80 on October 6th. Musical appreciations, remembrances and heartfelt tributes poured in from fans, fellow musicians and even a few of those who were the object of Baker’s scorn.

What follows below is a story I wrote on Baker in 1999, based on an interview with the legendary British drummer when he was 60. It was the only time I interviewed Baker.

Since that article, Baker recorded two more albums of African music just after the 1999 release Coward of the County, and in 2014 released what would be his last album, Why?, a jazz album.

Ginger baker cream interview

There were also the Cream reunion shows in 2005 and resulting live DVD and album Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6, 2005 and the documentary film Waiting for Mr. Baker in 2012. I have purposely chosen to not update the article, which originally appeared in the now-defunct Inside Connection magazine.

It offers a snapshot of a time in Baker’s idiosyncratic and