[Closed] Ginger Baker - Dead

Oh no! RIP indeed. A true legend and madder than a box of frogs!

If you’ve not seen it already, the BBC4 documentary on him is worth a viewing

I loved his drumming. It was only the other day that I was listening to Levitation (Hawkwind). Was fortunate enough to get to see him play live when Cream reformed in 2005 but would have loved to see him in a small club rather than the huge Royal Albert Hall.

Just heard this. What a legend & 'probably' the best drummer ever.

Awww.

Great drummer but apparently a total bastard. Incredibly nasty piece of work.

I love Cream but his reported behaviour less so...

my god a genius on the drums but looking into his eyes it is clear he has consumed a ****ing boat load of drugs:

Amazing drummer, but never heard anyone say anything nice about him.

Yes I had a Ginger Baker's Airforce album and remember being awestruck by Toad, before realisation set in that 10 minute drum solos are dull as ditchwater.

Just watched Binners' documentary. What a sad pathetic* man

*in the true sense of the word.

A classic flawed character. His unpleasant demeanour obviously caught up with him as a documentary a few years ago showed when a journalist tracked him down. He was living alone as a recluse somewhere in the middle of nowhere in South Africa or somewhere like that, and appeared to be bitter and twisted about life and everything without a good word to say about anyone. But a story he relayed about how he started struck me when he met one of his drumming hero's, went to visit him to see if he could learn something form him about how to be a great drummer and the first thing he did was to introduce him to Heroin, so clearly not a very nice world he's lived in. Bound to take its toll in many ways.

Best to just remember him for being an amazing drummer during a golden age of music.

He had a sense of humour though:

Sorry to hear of his passing ..but never been that impressed ..maybe because he was a bit of a **** ..
As far as drummers go ..I would put Carl Palmer,Bonzo, Bill Ward and Cosy Powell..to name just a few ahead of him ..

As far as drummers go ..I would put Carl Palmer,Bonzo, Bill Ward and Cosy Powell..to name just a few ahead of him ..

The only other drummer I'd say was better would be Buddy Rich.

Carl Palmer would agree with you there ..I remember reading an article years ago where he rated him as the greatest ..
I've never taken the time to listen to any of his work ..and it's all subjective anyway ..😁

John Bonham!?
It's all subjective int it though.

Like..yeah man ...

6music are doing a tribute to him right now and playing some great stuff by some top drummers.

Good better best. No need to rank people. He was good at what he did and most importantly it married well with and was very much a part of the music. Bonham was perfect for Zep because he was heavy, Clem Burke's drum parts for Blondie were very much part of the sound, Ringo's (yes I rate Ringo) drum parts are recognisable on their own, Richard Kolinka doesn't do anything complicated but provides the insistent drive to Téléphone. Think of a Police song and you can probably hear Stuart Copeland's drum part in your head, Don Powel of Slade... .

Try listening more closely to the drums parts in popular music and I think the usual short list we get on these drummer threads might broaden. Here's a few to ponder:
Edit to correct the vid I wanted to post
Give up , I don't know what's happening there

The only other drummer I’d say was better would be Buddy Rich.

and Bill Bruford. Oh and...

Absolute A-grade piece of work but a sublime drummer, Toad Live at the Fillmore is timeless.