Ginger Baker Drum Solo Toad, 1968, full vid, less pixelated

[beautifulsongs]

great

[MyGooner100]

I saw Cream live and seeing Ginger doing this drum solo brings a lot of memories back of my youth. Fking brilliant .

[BidleyThePirate]

I swear drum solos this long are only interesting to drummers.

[Retrographer]

Fucking hell!! He could have blown Buddy Rich right out through the backwall togerther with a bunch of other drummers as well. Respect !

[szolnokmeichel]

FANTASZTIKUS!!!!!!!!!!

[wetlettuce92]

Best member of Cream :)

[beroth77]

That's just surrel 7:31 till the end of the solo i'm not a drummer but it is a sick amazing solo..sonds like more then one drum.Octopus guy

[straatsalaat]

♥ ADHD ♥

tx

*(☼♥☼)*

[sebastiansap2003]

There's very little doubt Peter "Ginger" Baker is one of the finest drummers in recent history.

[coralnz]

Ginger the best ginger of them all

[mazza555]

so long

tired

zzz...

[CorpusHunter]

he´s an underrated drummer!!!

[HelioJenne]

Happy birthday, Ginger Baker! You play a lot! That's why you are the greatest drummer of the world.

[pptthik]

Hendrix was the Keith Moon of guitarists.

[MartinWiseman]

Ginger is the best drummer of all time for me. He made his drums an essential part of Cream's songs and without his drumming (sorry Eric) but they have never sounded as good! He sets the standard by which every other drummer has tried to reach.

[crgMCF]

Baker, Bonham and Moon...Nothing else to say

[b25364]

This is legendary.

[kordinia]

merci danke thanks - in Amsterdam in Paradiso - and so on - I hav seen so many 1968- till 1969 :-9)) i love drum solos

[3rdStoneObliterum]

monster of monster of monsters, and it SWINGS the whole time.

[3rdStoneObliterum]

always loved the myriad polyrhythms flowing over each other in a maze of mists, orange and maroon and copper and ginger-colored. Love those flams too. Love that Do What U Like solo too. Heard it at age 11 and always thought it was weird and great.

[Zepplica911]

This alien influenced everyone from BONZO til you reach Portnoy !!!!!!!!!!!

[cicciointernazionale]

UUAAAUUUUU!!!!!!! E' 1 sfigat assurdo !!!!!!!!

[busenfr]

un maestro dello strumento....

[gabeaze]

ginger fritando...

[ixion58]

Jazz Drummers rule Rock

[TheFsDesign]

Ginger is the REAL MOBY DICK, not john bonham!!!!

[MumboMoose]

1:55 awesome example of his african influences

[SoulTraveler400]

Pure noise, currently, any decent drummer could play that and feel bored.

[MumboMoose]

just because the drummer enjoys it doesn't mean its good, its showing his restraint, and just general awesomeness

[b25364]

Go Ginger!

[SAHBfan]

After many,many years of waiting I hear that Ginger Baker's autobiography has finally been released :)

It's called "Hellraiser".

[aaarrrggghhhh]

I've been dropping none too subtle hints that I'd like to read it, just in time for xmas!! Here's to hoping.

[ixion58]

Baker was the Master

[DirtyMidnightTown]

He's still the master!!!

[Tumfy]

He uses his feet fuckwit.

[newworldman123]

he could put nytol out of business.

[imageinaction]

He is so at ease, so comfortable, at his instrument of choice, so playing like that is like drinking water for him. It's natural. When you do what you love, you're likely to be good in what you do, and for this is clear Ginger loves his drumming and kit ! He's incredible ! !

[joergen100]

I never liked Ginger Baker's drumming to be honest. Didn't think he was the same calibre as Eric and Jack. HE WAS!!!!

Fan-bloody-tastic solo. Not overdone or showy, just right!!!!

Cream was (along with Jimmy Hendrix' trio) the best ever in my opinion.

[AllisterCooper2008]

Listen to that applause. He deserved every bit of it.

[LazarusGordon]

he's a fucking train! yo!

[uzielis]

Truly great footage. I just wish they'd incorporated shots of the audience watching him blitz the xxxx out of those drums and cymbals on that very night.

[LondonKumamoto]

Fucking hell that was one hell of a drum solo ! Ginger baker was the 'Hendrix' of Drummers

[lipi29]

@LondonKumamoto

no, hendrix was the 'Ginger Baker' of guitarists :P

[loopylou4266]

Ginger baker was a master, if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have had John Henry Bonham,/Moby Dick. Ginger showed people like him the way. Can't believe this track is 41 years old. I was Only 2 when it first came out but I remember hearing it when I was about 8 or 9 and loved it then as I do now. and I'm an old crumbly now.

[kilercam92]

who started the flame war?

[lwilliams1968]

slow at typing

[rootheart]

youtube blocked this vid from beeing viewed in USA ...Who cares?

[LazarusGordon]

can i know why? just for copyright or cause other weird things about his fame?

[MotorheadDrew]

@rootheart i dout the Usa would even appreciate a Bristh Drummer

[lwilliams1968]

I have written some memories long hand but not by blog or on my pc .... but I plan to ... Maybe with the help of a program that will tranlate vocal to type ....

[lwilliams1968]

rootheart .... no ..... don't be jealous ..... It was pretty amazing ....... I tried to write my memories of it so that you and others could visualize the experience and share in it a little bit ...... almost 41 years ago ..... See it thru my eyes

[derby62]

I FUCKIN HATE ALL U CLEVER ANALYTICAL SERIOUS MUSOS' just enjoy. peace.x

[mangeldeth]

Wow, awesome.

[outbreakerwolf]

he's the greatest

[Nikkor85mm]

It's the use of the two bass drums that does it for me on this solo - stunning.

[peteandniko]

Ginger Bakers combinations with his hands and feet truely amazing he could pull any technique out of his huge bag of tricks and incorperate in his solos fucking fantastic.

[minutegongcoughs]

His drum sound is organic. No wonder he lives in South Africa. He scared a lot of musicians in the sixties because he knew a faker, a music moron. Him and Brian Jones use to change the beat to confuse Mick Jagger in their early gigs when he was filling the drum stool before Charlie Watts.

[raindogred]

Mate I've never heard that one about ginger filling in on the drums before Charlie Watts?? Not sure what your comment is suggesting that Mick Jagger is a musical moron?. Mick Jagger, one of the greatest song writers of all time, fantastic white blues harp player and singer-a musical moron??? You sir are either a professional fuckwit or just a very gifted amateur...

[minutegongcoughs]

raindogred. It is inappropriate to use the "F" word in your comment. It is a violation of your YouTube agreement and in this context is abusive. It is also ethically wrong to use this word and is a violation of your YT user terms.

[raindogred]

Your comment below was abusive to me. Some crap about Ginger Baker and Brian Jones being superior to a musical faker sounds very arrogant. Every line of your comment is offensive. Some weird idea that South Africa is more organic than anywhere on earth- I'm thinking probably more violent/rascist/biggoted. You obviously have a weird take on life. then when you have been called out about it-you pull out the rule book. GET FUCKED hahahahah

[minutegongcoughs]

Ginger actually works with a mixed community in South Africa. I'm from East London. We're a mixed community as well. We don't see it that way as East London has been a mixed community for hundreds of years. Maybe there's an envy there.

[raindogred]

No envy here just a bit dissapointed by your(Ginger's) back-handed swipe at Mick Jagger. I love a lot of late sixties music Cream , Hendrix Stones etc etc. I rate "Let it Bleed" amongst the alltime best albums-came out in '69 same as this vid. I found your comment insulting because ALL original stones songs are written by Jagger/Richards not Jones/Baker...surely Jagger's hit after hit writing,lyrical content, blues interpretation, harp playing saves him from being labled a faker??? your shot..

[Porkys009]

yeah, i'm a drummer and a guitarist ... there's just one possibility ... before starting another song, you simply start hitting it !! there's 3 options, or he will shut up, or he'll try to jam with you or he'll try to duel you

[AusOwns]

dude his awsome as. True modern drummers should learn to play jazz and the basics first. listen to Joey Jordison, different genre, still awsome drums

[Willspurling]

Just a silly joke aimed at guitarists, namely the one in my band who hates drum solos! You can imagine this looping throughout eternity.

[Willspurling]

I hear they are looping this in the egocentric guitarists room in hell at the moment.

One of the greats, just goes to show all modern drummers should study their rudiments and study Jazz.

[hangthetreasure]

I don't believe it!

[uzielis]

He and the drums sound like an attack helicopter with machine gun cannons a-blazin', blastin', and blitzin'. No wonder John Bonham calls him astonishing.

[RattusNorvegicus67]

i was just a baby then but so proud to say 2 my kids i lived in the 60's the best music ever.

[justlikejack1959]

I have to watch this over and over.  It's almost impossible to believe that somebody can be this good. This is greatness isn't it?

[justlikejack1959]

This is so f--cking awesome that it's almost surreal! I'm in a trance. I can't believe this occurred. It's sheer brilliance.

[justlikejack1959]

VIRTUOSO

[1958fordsondexta]

I think everyone was stoned out of their minds at this concert

[1958fordsondexta]

Ginger Baker is the greatest drumer ever!!!!!

[bravebelt67]

Ginger Baker greatest of all time

[789pequignot]

great drum solo

[verbatumverbotten]

Incredible. He barely even stops to rest.

[eskutnik]

too bad you can't actually see him play for most of this incredible piece. What was the camera person / director thinking? obviously not musicians.

[friendsofbill]

I think the camera man and director were probably under the same chemical influence as the band and most of the audience.There was a lot of it about in those days. Wonderful times. Thanks for posting

[leeroy75]

Im not sure what to think of this, whilst i can see he's a magician on the skins and liking a good drum solo on tracks myself. I cant help feel think this is alittle over the top and by the end sounds like a big mash.

[jonasbacklund]

he can play like this when he's stoned too, ever seen that interview when he has the stoniest expression ever? he jsut says "you wnat me to play a bit?" and he play the most incredible snare solo ever, just ten seconds long, but still fiúcking great...

[igotwritersblock]

this is not one of my favorite solos by him. hes so great

[toecutterr6]

Amazing! Baker is in his own league! like Laing,Bunker,Ward,Paice,Whaley­,Bonham,Moon and Pert.

[leeroy75]

Lets not leave out Mason :O :D

[PoundForABrown]

Bonham

Bruford

Bozzio

[09ad85]

Ginger is my personal favorite, but i cant decide whos the best between Ginger,Bonham,Moon, and John Densmore.

[NardyQ]

comparing ginger to ringo is like comparing led zeppelin to brittney spears. ginger's infinitely better

[ShaolinRespektah]

Agree with that. You can't put Ringo Starr in the same sentence as Mitch Mitchell and Steve Gadd let alne Buddy Rich

[Cliner97]

I notice Ginger had sizzlers on his cymbals. Didn't even know anyone was using those back then. He's the only one I see from back in the day using those on his cymbals.

[mrpigchopper]

michael shrieve did during woodstock

[pichinaki]

Every drummer hassomething different to play it doesn't exists the best drummer Ringo Star M Mitchell,Phil Collins,Ian Paice Steve Gad, Buddy Rich every drummer had their contribution to the history like Shrieve and Baker too

[ZUMBIE83]

some of you guys are comparing richard starkkey to ginger mutha fuckin baker!!

[crinkleman123]

"he's no Ringo"... examples Rain She Said She Said and Get Back

[fanofthemusic1090]

curiosity forces me to ask, who's better, Neil Peart or Ginger Baker?

[paukenmeister]

YES. They are both innovators.

Ginger Baker revolutionized the rock drum solo by introducing jazz and African elements to it. Rock drum solos before Ginger Baker were mostly little novelty things like "Wipe-Out" and "Let There Be Drums".

Neil Peart has more double bass rolls in his solos and (I think) plays a wee bit faster than Ginger. Of course, Neil takes better care of himself.

Anyhow, who ever is the "better" drummer is merely subjective and the cause of many dumb arguments.

[fanofthemusic1090]

HERE HERE

[dougalmac54]

Your points are very astute, but i wouldn't be surprised if Ginger was an influence on Neil, since Ginger came first. At the time in 1966 when Toad first came out, there was no other drummer like Ginger. He revolutionized what drums could be in rock music, and definitely helped introduce jazz-type playing into the rock genre.

[paukenmeister]

Ginger *was* an influence on Neil. In his instructional DVD, "Anatomy of a Drum Solo", Neil Peart discusses growing up listening to all of the various drummers who influenced him. Ginger Baker's solo from "Toad" was a big one.

[originalname33]

I think Mitchel Mitchell single handedly introduced jazz drumming to rock. he actually invented fusion drumming

[Gitars5]

ginger baker rules :D

[glaetze]

I've seen many, many outstanding drummers in my lifetime, but Ginger still tops them all. He is in a building all by himself.

[kieser78]

obviously I am kidding, gang

[kieser78]

he's no Ringo.

[danigoni]

Of course he's no ringo, Ginger is waaay better.

[GREATWHITE2]

Ringo was the ultimate timekeeper, while Ginger was the ultimate innovator!

[rastajoe]

that is true man

[GREATWHITE2]

Thank you so very much for your educated opinion!

[beagleman123456789]

no, Bonham

[kieser78]

its called sarcasm, dude. As Sonny Liston said when he was on the Ed Sullivan show with the Beatles, my fuckin' dog could play drums better than that asshole.

Surprising how good his kid is with the Who, though

[BoudjeR6]

It is fantastic, i have this on dvd and look it

100's time's, Ginger Baker is the best drummer.

[Evilpacman828]

idk how he uses double bass and still hits the high hat pedal. Help me out here!!!!!

[ricochetshoemaker]

All you have to do is have half the left foot on the hihat pedal and the other half of the left foot on the bass drum pedal. Split the foot between both. I've seen Dennis Chambers and Akira Jimbo both use the split foot technique. Hope that helps.

[drunknifo]

you know what would be cool

if Neil Peart, John Bonham, Carl Palmer, Keith Moon, and Ginger Baker all got togerther and had a big jam session

If J.B and K.M were still alive

[ledzeppelinbojo]

All my favorite drummers but add Buddy Rich, Bill Ward, and Peter Criss (who is very underrated).

[saanzacs]

Now that would be massive!!!!

[Blackshayde]

The Godfather of double bass drumming!

He played on crank with Cream.

[drummer78]

Well, of course the jazz guys like Bellison and Woodyard were playing double bass well before Baker. Still, it would be said that Baker was kind of the rock pioneer of double bass drumming.

[bigguy4570]

The master at double bass drumming. blows me away every time I hear this solo.My favorite drummer of all time You rock Ginger.

[pageisarockgod]

Ginger baker and John Bonham are my favorite drummers of all time

[jackcoffey]

u cant forget moon the loon!

[saanzacs]

nor can u forget good ol' Cozy!

[fanofthemusic1090]

Moon is unforgettable. He's in his own class.  Wish he was still with us...

[cutis1000]

Yeah, but Moon never soloed like Ginger!!

[fanofthemusic1090]

yessir, ginger soloed like no other.

[dougalmac54]

Oh yeah? Listen to the double bass work Keith does in "Bargain" on "Who's Next." I can guarantee you that Ginger never played anything like it. I've seen both live, they were both incredible drummers, and Keith was much more theatric than Ginger, hands down.

[chiefofsparta]

keith was a show-off, dont get me wrong he was still good and has left his mark on rock drumming however i personally believe that ginger has more depth to his drumming, more complex use of rudiments and polrythms and also his use of dynamics that would add more feeling into his drumming. keith was charismatic on the drums and could just go absolutely insane to entertain people...and show off of course.

[XMIR10B]

Meet the man they call the drumming God - hail to Ginger. Palmer and Bushy bow to your greatness.

[wmjoca]

Why couldn't they just show him playing instead all the quick cuts in close? The director sucked. The drumming was good.

[NOPdat]

That was Tony Palmer, who concentrated on the faces, even the nostrils... Maybe Palmer was the Godfather of the music videos: cut, zoom in, zoom out (after 2 seconds!) , cut, zooom...

That's why I like the bootleg of Cream at MSG 2005 better than the official RAH DVD, you see the band, the interaction, even between the songs. But of course it is better to be there and see them live - if you have a good seat, and not way back in row 30...

[pjharrison78]

I'd say Neil Peart of Rush is probably one of the only drummers who even comes close to holding a candle to Mr. Baker.

[chriskiefer79]

the master!

[ISTBASE]

that would be PHIL SEAMEN of course. you can see phil in ginger's style. phil was great. ginger is the best in the last 40 years. and his son KOFI is outstanding as well.GINGER was the undisputed king of drums in this time period. anyone who was alive and concious knows that.

[rootheart]

After listening to Ginger, meet the man who was Ginger´s drum teacher, and compare:

watch?v=0L3ACAoPA8o

[XMIR10B]

Pardon me? Ginger didnt have a teacher. Ginger is the only drummer to do prime number taccato. Cant be taught.

[angelorichetti]

Alex van halen and baker love to see them play together.

[KDbeads]

He moves with speed of a humming bird.

I am a big fan of John Bonham. However, I can see why he pays homage to a master.

Bonham forged his own direction in percussion, and his solo, Moby Dick, is similar yet very different like two sides of a coin.

Imagine if Bonham were still alive, and him and Baker collaborated.

[uzielis]

Meet the man whom John Bonham calls 'astonishing' and was the main reason he set his sights on superstardom and became a memeber of Led Zeppelin two years later.

Meet the drummer that Johnny Rotten refers to as 'legendary'.

Meet the musician whom Charlie Watts describes as 'the most accomplished drummer to ever come out of England'.

Here is the reason Nick Mason added another bass drum to his set up.

Thank Heaven for Ginger Baker.

All hail the master.

[tl2ustee]

John Lydon actually credited someone for their ability to play an instrument?

[uzielis]

Acc to the Modern Drummer article, he apparently did.

[franciscovaldevez]

Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience!

[MyManDan]

dude this guy fuckin rocks, he changed drumming in so many ways

[Pelcoid]

Impossible speed.

[dougalmac54]

Too bad the camera work sucks-you can't really see clearly what and how Ginger is playing. It's truly a shame, because this man was/is a virtuoso, a pioneer, and a true drumming legend.

[rodcrippler]

if you wanna know wether he is ded or still alive (was/is?) its pretty simple: check in wikipedia (btw hes still alive)

[Bacpakin]

Most excellent preservation of a true artist's work. Ginger Baker is the benchmark for all good jazz and rock percussionists.

[yaiknowscrewme]

I couldnt have said it any better..cheers

[98viper]

I saw Cream play live back then. I have to tell you, I haven't seen or heard anybody since do what Ginger did that night. It was truly unbelievable and left me speechless. A moment in time I'll never forget. Thanks for posting this.

It really flashed me back big time. GREAT!!!!

[CCRTour]

es tremendo!!!!!!!!....si no es el mejor de la historia...!!! anda cerquitaaaa

[bluetones83]

definately had his root in jazz. notice that alot in his style in other cream songs. very inventive and clever.

[vonthrud]

1 of the best drummers in history

[SteelyDug]

Ginger will turn 70 this coming August 19th. Still plays with authority! He is the sole reason I play double bass drums today. I am absolutely positive that he has influenced more drummers than just about anybody else in history, along with Buddy Rich!

[rodcrippler]

actually thats very true, but with different meaning, he didnt directly influenced others so they would imitate his very same style (most of the very best drummers never liked the double bass), but these new drummers got his idea of making rock drummin a much more important musical staple than it was conceived back then, without ginger we wouldnt have bonzo, keith moon or neil peart

[rodcrippler]

he was like the gene krupa of hard rock

[dougalmac54]

Maybe Neil Peart, but Bonzo and Keith were already well established drummers in their own right, so Ginger's influence on them isn't the same as those who followed later. But, his influence is critical to the development of jazz/rock drumming, no doubt.

[rodcrippler]

keith moon was already a great drummer, but he saw ginger's solos at monterrey festival and started to seek a bit more protagomism, while bonham was always alert of every great example he could take, even he took as a model a contemporaneous drummer like carmine appice while basing his ambitions on gene krupa and buddy rich, tho once he got too deep into rock n roll, he couldnt achieved such "buddy rich greatness" since very ground to explore due to rock parameters

[dah145]

along with Jonh Bonham, my favorite drummer too.

[Bacpakin]

If you listen closely, you will hear Ginger's influence in John's style.

[XMIR10B]

Has anyone ever wondered where Palmer got his "gongs and cymbels" from. Now you know

[wwwarburg]

i WAS 14 YEARS OLD. DRUMMER IN MY BAND. I KNEW EVERY SINGLE BEAT OF WHHELS OF FIRE'S TOAD SOLO.

MOST OF ALL MY VINILE ARE GONE LOST. THANKS FOR THIS.

[cumdileas]

What can you say...Pure rhythm, strength, stamina duration almost like trance Haitian's gone wild and deep, the man is Legend.

[XMIR10B]

Thanks Chansky69 for referring us to Carey. I always suspected that the best drummers should have been mathematicians.

[CadillacL]

What can be said about Baker? I've got Wheels of Fire & the solo is nothing short of amazing.

[usuchiha]

Awesome

[w5cdt]

Great to see this ...after listening to TOAD on the Wheels of Fire Album as I recall...from WAY back when.

[uzielis]

'A really good band with a bad drummer are not a good band. A really bad band with a good drummer sound better.'

'The band are only as good as the drummer.'

Peter 'Ginger' Baker, Modern Drummer.

''Dt.''

[JamesWilliamson82]

that's right. cuz you can suck on guitar or bass, but the drummer has to keep the rhythm - A.L.W.A.Y.S. :)

[uzielis]

Do it when you're young. Do it when you have strenght.

Robert DeNiro.

[Runes2112]

what a badass! He's great.

[XMIR10B]

Ive posted this on other Baker/Palmer/Bushy topics. Mathematical analysis of the drumming shows that Baker was beating (with 4 appendages) on many occasions in a relationship that matches prime number distribution. Im sure it wasnt deliberate, but we dont see this in any other drummer.

[chansky69]

Check out Danny Carey from Tool. He uses the Fibbonica sequence on Lateralus ... Spiral out.

[chansky69]

Check out Danny Carey from Tool. He uses the Fibbonica sequence on Lateralus ... Spiral out.

[XMIR10B]

Thanks Chansky69 for referring us to Carey. I always suspected that the best drummers should have been mathematicians.

[morbels]

Those were the days!