Rush hail Ginger Baker’s “incredible legacy”

Rush (opens in new tab) vocalist and bassist Geddy Lee has paid tribute to Ginger Baker (opens in new tab)’s “incredible legacy.”

The Cream (opens in new tab) drummer died early on Sunday morning after he was admitted to hospital last month (opens in new tab).

The music world gathered to pay tribute to Baker immediately after the news of his death broke (opens in new tab), with Lee later posting his own message.

He says: “As a young musician few drummers stood taller or were a bigger musical influence than Ginger Baker. I will never forget the awesomeness of seeing him perform with Cream at Massey Hall on June 5, 1968, alongside the late great Jack Bruce (opens in new tab) and Eric Clapton (opens in new tab). 

“He was one of rock’s first virtuoso drummers and his incredible legacy lives on. Sincere condolences to Ginger’s family, friends and fans.”

Rush’s Twitter account also posted a quote from drummer Neil Peart, which featured in Jay Bulger’s 2012 documentary Beware Of Mister Baker.

Peart said: “He was really at the forefront of a complete revolution of rock. It is hard to find fault with the notion he was the pioneer of a rock drummer. There was no context for him, there was no archetype.

“Ginger Baker’s most notable achievement that should be recognised is the first rock drum solo. And me as a 15 year old kid at the time was, ‘Yeah, yeah – that’s the rock drummer I want to be!’”

Baker had suffered ill health in recent years, and was forced to cancel a number of live shows in February 2016 after a fall and being diagnosed with a serious heart condition which required surgery.

No cause of death has been made public.