FABULOUS BAKER BOY

Cream and Blind Faith drummer GINGER BAKER talks to Tim Jones

A drumming legend, Ginger Baker has acquired a reputation for not suffering fools, and his long-standing residence in South Africa, remote from the UK music scene, even devoid of an official website, meant a meeting on a cold autumn day in London’s Shepherd’s Bush could’ve been daunting. But in his hotel suite, the 69-year-old was far from the gaunt figure of his popular image and, despite a chesty wheeze – aided by half-a-dozen cigarettes during the course of our half-hour chat – he was soon relatively at ease.

You’re receiving a Life-time Achievement Award at Zildjian’s 385th anniversary show at The Empire on 7 December.

Yeah. I’ve been playing Zildjian since 1966. The first time I’ve played for weeks was yesterday, so I’m aching a bit. I don’t play too much, due to my physical condition. But I find that leaving it for a couple of months or so, when you get back, new things happen.

When was the last time you were in a recording studio?

When I did Coward Of The County, in Colorado, 11 years ago. That’s the best jazz record I ever did. Some very far-out stuff. But jazz doesn’t make money. That’s why I ended up playing pop. I want to do a …

by Tim Jones
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