Posted: 7/17/2013 7:41:38 AM EDT
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I watched a documentary on drummer Ginger Baker last night; "Beware of Mr. Baker." From 2011. I knew the name since Cream hit the charts when I was a kid, but never "knew" the man until now.
He still considers himself a jazz drummer, but the role he played in rock and roll drumming was monstrous! He was the first to stretch the envelope. Neil Pert paid him tribute (among many others) and explained that Baker was the archetype rock drummer. No one had done what he did. He was a writer, composer and harmonist, but as the drummer, he was part of the arrangement and didn't get much credit or royalties. He was also tormented as most artists are. His volatile nature and drug abuse tore down most everything he created. Cream only lasted 2 years before he scared off Clapton, who couldn't handle the drama and violence Baker created. He became a vagabond, marrying 5 times, and living in 3 states of the US, Italy, and Africa twice. He was living in S. Africa during the filming of the documentary. He considered Africa the roots of "the beat" and while living in Nigeria explored the musical scene there. Discuss. |
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Quoted:
Incredible drummer. Handsome fella, too. I bought the Cream reunion DVD when it came out a few years back. When I turned it on I was like Holy Shit, Ginger Baker is dead and still playing the drums. He looked like a skelator or some shit. Good drummer back in the day, though. |
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Quoted:
WHen I go to hell, Cream will be on a tape loop to greet and torment me there. He was a good drummer, though. Others were better, but he wasvery good]. Re-read Pert's tribute in the OP. 
Good is a relative term. Baker went where no man had gone before, carving the path that the "better" drummer's followed. 
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Typical story about how people with some talent in one area think they are indestructible know-it-all gods and throw everything away.
Great drummer. Massive drug abuser and addict. Giant asshole. Thinks he is always right and everyone else is sub-human scum not worth speaking to. Continuously alienates everyone who cares about him or can help him. Punches people for any reason. Horrible business skills. Constantly pisses all his money away on stupid shit like polo ponies. Thinks African music is great discovery he made instead of the quaint short-lived novelty everyone knows it is. Decides living in Italian shithole shack will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Decides moving to Nigeria will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Decides moving to L.A. will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Decides moving to South Africa will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Basically all he has to look forward to now is seeing which comes first - dying or running out of money. I find "where are they now" documentaries like this one interesting, but also show me just how totally and completely fucked up these people really are. If it wasn't for Ginger's drumming, he'd be either long dead in some back alley or in prison. Another good one is "Still Alive" about Paul Williams. But at least Paul is working hard at pulling his life back together. Ginger is still ranting and raving about shit that happened in the 1960s and still trying to punch people out for even the most minor perceived slights. Somebody needs to seriously kick Ginger Baker's ass. |
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Quoted:
Typical story about how people with some talent in one area think they are indestructible know-it-all gods and throw everything away. Great drummer. Massive drug abuser and addict. Giant asshole. Thinks he is always right and everyone else is sub-human scum not worth speaking to. Continuously alienates everyone who cares about him or can help him. Punches people for any reason. Horrible business skills. Constantly pisses all his money away on stupid shit like polo ponies. Thinks African music is great discovery he made instead of the quaint short-lived novelty everyone knows it is. Decides living in Italian shithole shack will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Decides moving to Nigeria will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Decides moving to L.A. will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Decides moving to South Africa will make people throw money at him. Doesn't work. Basically all he has to look forward to now is seeing which comes first - dying or running out of money. I find "where are they now" documentaries like this one interesting, but also show me just how totally and completely fucked up these people really are. If it wasn't for Ginger's drumming, he'd be either long dead in some back alley or in prison. Another good one is "Still Alive" about Paul Williams. But at least Paul is working hard at pulling his life back together. Ginger is still ranting and raving about shit that happened in the 1960s and still trying to punch people out for even the most minor perceived slights. Somebody needs to seriously kick Ginger Baker's ass. You slobberd a bibfull, buster. 
I have a drunk, drug abusing cousin similiar in that he rages about perceived slights from decades ago. Like a photographic memory each time he dredges up old shit, repeating each story word for word. Could have been something in life but is just a loser. My wife caught the Paul Williams show a couple weeks ago. I thought he was dead. |