Cream drummer Ginger Baker has died, aged 80
The news was shared on Baker’s Facebook page this morning.
Image: David Redfern / Getty
Update: Cream’s former drummer Ginger Baker has died. He was 80. His death was confirmed in a statement on his Facebook page which said Baker had “passed away peacefully” on Sunday morning. Read the full post below:
Last week, Baker’s family shared a tweet informing followers he was “critically ill” in hospital. The rock icon had suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and also had osteoarthritis. In 2016, Baker underwent open-heart surgery due to a diagnosis of “serious heart problems”, forcing him to cancel a tour with Ginger Baker’s Air Force.
The Baker family are sad to announce that Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers tonight
— Ginger Baker (@GingerBDrums) September 25, 2019
Baker co-founded Cream with bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton in 1966, recording four albums over the band’s hugely influential two-year lifespan. After Cream disbanded, Baker went on to join Clapton in Blind Faith, Hawkwind and many others over a career that has spanned over six decades.
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