Their chemistry was spectacular: Jack Bruces family pay tribute as Cream drummer Ginger Baker dies aged 80

By Deputy Chief EditorOctober 7, 2019

143 2 minutes read

Jack Bruces family have paid tribute to Cream drummer Ginger Baker (Picture: Getty)

The family of musician Jack Bruce have paid tribute to his Cream band mate Ginger Baker, who has died aged 80.

Bruces family spoke of the pairs love hate relationship and described them as being like brothers.

They said in a tweet posted on Sunday: The Bruce family would like to extend their sincere condolences to Ginger Bakers family, friends and fans.

Surviving a love hate relationship, Ginger was like an older brother to Jack, their chemistry was truly spectacular. RIP Ginger, one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Bruce, who was in Cream with Baker and Eric Clapton, died of liver disease in 2014 at the age of 71.

The Bruce family would like to extend their sincere condolences to Ginger Bakers family, friends and fans. Surviving a love hate relationship, Ginger was like an older brother to Jack, their chemistry was truly spectacular. RIP Ginger, one of the greatest drummers of all time pic.twitter.com/G9Pl4Qecdp

— Jack Bruce (@jackbrucemusic) October 6, 2019

The Beatles icon Paul McCartney also paid tribute to the drummer on Twitter.

He said: Ginger Baker, great drummer, wild and lovely guy. We worked together on the “Band on the Run” album in his ARC Studio, Lagos, Nigeria. Sad to hear that he died but the memories never will. X Paul.

Ginger Baker, great drummer, wild and lovely guy. We worked together on the 'Band on the Run' album in his ARC Studio, Lagos, Nigeria. Sad to hear that he died but the memories never will. X Paul pic.twitter.com/Rne4tn6A2i

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) October 6, 2019

Bakers death was confirmed at the weekend on his Twitter page.

The statement read: We are very sad to say that Ginger has passed away peacefully in hospital this morning.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words over the past weeks.

The 80-year-old musician found fame in the 1960s alongside Clapton and Bruce in the band Cream.

The act only performed together for three years, due to Bakers volatile relationship with Bruce, but they remain one of the most influential bands of all time.

Ginger baker tweet

Their songs include I Feel Free, Strange Brew and Sunshine Of Your Love.

The family had revealed earlier on 26 September that Baker was critically ill in hospital.

Please keep him in your prayers tonight, the family shared on Twitter.

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Cream Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce — Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce circa 1968 (Picture: Getty Images)

Baker, who turned 80 earlier in 2019, previously revealed in 2013 that years of heavy smoking had led to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was also suffering from chronic back pain from degenerative osteoarthritis.

In 2016 he underwent open-heart surgery, writing on his blog: Just seen doctor… big shock… no more gigs for this old drummer… everything is off… of all things I never thought it would be my heart…

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Ginger Baker performs at the Iridium Jazz Club on October 9, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/WireImage) — Ginger playing in 2013 (Picture: AP)

Ginger Baker poses behind his drum kit at the Top Ten Club in London in 1959 (Picture: Redferns)

Born 19 August 1939, he began playing drums at the age of 15 he 1954 and took lessons from Phil Seamen, one of the leading British jazz drummers of the post-war era.

He met Bruce when the pair both played in the Graham Bond Organisation, but during a car ride with acquaintance Clapton he asked the guitarist if he would want to start a new band together.