Ginger Baker 'critically ill' in hospital, family of Cream drummer reveal
Legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker is “critically ill in hospital,” his family has confirmed.
The musician, 80, co-founded Cream with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce in 1966.
A post on his official Twitter account read: “The Baker family are sad to announce that Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers tonight.”
Further details of Baker’s illness have not been disclosed.
The drummer has suffered from health issues in recent years, telling Rolling Stone in 2013 that performing “exhausted” him.
“I’ve got degenerative osteoarthritis, which is extremely painful and I’m on a regiment with a health service pain management control,” he told the publication. “Apart from that I’ve got COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] from smoking.”
He was forced to cancel a tour with Air Force in February 2016 after being diagnosed with “serious heart problems” and is thought to have undergone open heart surgery in June of that year.
Baker was born in 1939 and began playing the drums aged 15, taking lessons with leading British jazz drummer Phil Seamen.
He released four albums with Cream and became known for pioneering the drum solo in rock music.
After Cream split up in 1968, Baker and Clapton went on to form super group Blind Faith with Steve Winwood from Traffic and Ric Grech from Family, who released just one self-titled album.
He then founded the band Air Force and has also played alongside Nigerian musician Fela Kuti as well as groups including Hawkwind, Public Image Ltd and Masters of Reality.
He was the subject of a documentary, Beware of Mr Baker, in 2012.
