
Ginger Baker

In 2015 Ginger Baker took part in that year’s edition of the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, where campers are mentored by legendary rock musicians- with whom they get to perform at the end of the camp. Citing the pain of arthritis at his then age of 76, Ginger stated …

Charlie presenting Dad with the Zildjian Lifetime Achievement Award in London, 2008. I know that my late father, Ginger Baker, would want me to pay tribute to one of his two most-enduring friendships. Here is my personal account of a close, yet relatively little-known relationship. From my earliest recollections of …

In its 45 years of publication, Modern Drummer has collected essential data from thousands of remarkable drummers, percussionists, and educators. Throughout our 45th anniversary in 2021, we will offer some features that celebrate the musicians, editors, writers, and photographers who have served the drumming community in these pages. So, sit …

Following a prolific period when Ginger Baker made his name with Cream, Blind Faith, and Ginger Baker’s Air Force, and collaborated with Fela Kuti, the mid ’70s found the drummer setting up a recording studio in Africa, playing polo, trying to kick heroin, and later forming another short-lived rock band, …

Like the amusement park ride—whose name was pinched…

From his pre-Cream recordings with the Graham Bond Oraganisation, through his work with Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, we trace the early career of the recently deceased drummer who influenced generations.

In this issue we feature, for the first time on our cover, the illustrious Alex González. Alex is the drummer and occasional singer/songwriter with the Mexican band Maná, one of the most popular Latin-American groups in the world.

In December of 2014 Modern Drummer interviewed the legendary Ginger Baker, who died this past weekend, on the occasion of his last studio album, Why?

The interactive museum celebrates a decade of percussion education. Nestled in the heart of downtown Indianapolis is the Rhythm! Discovery Center, a gem of the drum and percussion world. Founded by the Percussive Arts Society in 2009 and now celebrating its tenth year, the RDC is said to be the …
“Hello—this is Ginger Baker. I’m calling to say goodbye …” This sounded final and gloomy.

Madman or genius? A new documentary paints a vivid picture of Cream’s Ginger Baker while making a persuasive argument in both directions. It’s not entirely clear what possessed the former model, boxer, and music video director Jay Bulger to fly to South Africa and begin shooting a documentary by moving …

1967 was a year when wild was in. And of the rock bands commanding the world’s attention that year, it didn’t get much wilder than the Who, Cream, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The same could be said for the drummers who made them go—and the kits on which they …

The most popular musician autobiographies tend to come from famous singers and guitar heroes. But drummers can tell a tale as well as anyone else. Here’s a ten-pack of proof.

Taylor Hawkins, Jason McGerr, Mike Clark, John Wackerman, Peter Erskine, Mark Craney, Jamie Oldaker, Chad Sexton, Travis Smith, Tennessee Thomas, Brad Pemberton, Vinnie Fiorello, Ginger Baker, Paul John Jr., Ian Paice, David Garibaldi
In this Issue: Vinnie Colaiuta, Rob Affuso, Mickey Curry, Terry Bozzio, Louie Bellson, Dave Abbruzzese, Adam Nussbaum, Ginger Baker, Dennis Chambers

In this Issue: Ginger Baker, Tommy “Mugs” Cain, Fredy Studer

Kenney Jones, John Marshall, Kenny Clare, Ginger Baker, Graham Lear, Pete Best, Hal Blaine, Dennis DeLucia, Carmine Appice, Ron Tutt, Simon Phillips
Posted: February 8, 2021

Thank you to Far Out Magazine for Reminding us how brilliant Ringo Starr is. We Agree!
Credit: AlamyJack Whatley·February 5, 2021 5 isolated drum tracks to prove The Beatles’ Ringo Starr was a genius Too often has The Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr been the butt of some unkind jokes. Reportedly purported by his bandmate John Lennon, the adage goes that when asked about whether Ringo …
Posted: September 1, 2020

Modern Drummer Festival 2020
Modern Drummer is rebooting its world-famous Drum Festival on September 12 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time with a live-streaming event honoring the late, great Rush drummer Neil Peart. Proceeds of ticket sales will benefit brain tumor research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The event, which will be produced and distributed …
Posted: April 30, 2020

Tony Allen Passes
Tony Allen. Photo by Bernard Benant. Tony Allen, the longtime drummer with African music legend Fela Kuti, has died in France. As the drummer with Fela’s groundbreaking band Africa ’70, Allen was responsible for creating many of the beats that defined Afrobeat music, the mix of jazz, funk, and the …
Posted: February 25, 2020

On The Beat with Nettie Baker: Shares Ginger Baker Tribute
A tribute to a drummer by a lead guitarist? Whoever heard of such a thing? But this was no ordinary lead guitarist and no ordinary drummer either—they were legends Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.
Posted: February 6, 2020

Max Silverstein of No1Cares
Comedian/Actor/Drummer Andrew Dice Clay’s son Max talks about his influences, gear, and playing with his brother Dillon.
Posted: November 26, 2019

Eric Clapton and Friends: A Tribute Concert to Ginger Baker
Eric Clapton recently announced a one-time only concert to celebrate the musical life of Ginger Baker.
Posted: June 13, 2019

Gregg Potter of the Buddy Rich Band
Cathy Rich and I brought Buddy’s band back as a touring, living, breathing sixteen-piece big band. The group features alumni who played with the BR Band at some time in their careers and who now travel the world to bring Buddy’s music back to the masses.
Posted: February 6, 2019

The first three Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps of 2019 are ready to make some noise.
The first three Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps of 2019 are ready to make some noise. Leading the riffs and grooves will be an incredible array of legends, platinum-selling artists, and certified rock stars.
Posted: May 10, 2018

On The Beat with Kofi Baker: Mixing Up Paradiddles
Hello fellow MD drummers, Kofi Baker here. As some of you may know, I am the son of a very famous drummer known as Ginger.
Posted: April 18, 2017
Steve Smith’s Acceptance Speech During Journey’s Induction Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
At Journey’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, drummer Steve Smith took the opportunity to, as we say, give the drummers some.
Posted: February 22, 2017
On the Beat with Mountain’s Corky Laing: Talks Festivals, Tours, and New Material
Hi there MD readers, it’s Corky here again! I wanted to update you on what’s happening. In my previous OTB, I was on my way to London to participate in the Jack Bruce tribute. It was a joy to share the stage and drumkit with Gary Husband, Dennis Chambers, and …
Posted: January 19, 2017
On the Beat with Jared Evan: Talks Influences and New Album
Hey, MD! I’m Jared Evan and I’m a singer, songwriter, rapper, producer, and drummer. I’m twenty-six years old and have been playing the drums since I was six.
Posted: October 14, 2016
On the Beat with Corky Laing of Mountain and West, Bruce and Laing: Looking Back and Facing Forward
Hi there MD readers, Corky here. As some of you may know, I have been a professional drummer for half a century. You might remember me from such bands as Mountain and West, Bruce and Laing.
Posted: April 15, 2016
Web Exclusive! JP Gaster of Clutch Talks Gear and More
We recently sat down with Clutch’s powerhouse drummer, Jean-Paul Gaster, to dig a bit into the making of Psychic Warfare, including which song gave him the most trouble, and we got some insight on some of his favorite drummers and recordings….
Posted: January 7, 2016
Bobby Rondinelli
With a résumé that includes Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, and more recently, Mountain guitarist Leslie West and the Axel Rudi Pell Band, Bobby Rondinelli remains a mega-force in heavy-rock drumming….
Posted: November 13, 2015
Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp Hollywood, CA 2015
On November 6, Modern Drummer’s Billy Amendola hosted an afternoon Q&A at David Fishof’s Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp with legendary drummer Ginger Baker. Later that evening, Amendola threw his annual “drum hang??? with special guests Erik Eldenius, Matt Star, Denny Seiwell, percussionist Pamela Seraphine, bassist Rudy Sarzo, Frankie Banali, …
Posted: July 20, 2015
News: Enter the “White Room??? Video Contest to Win a Spot at the Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp
In commemoration of legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker’s first appearance at the Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, drummers can submit a video of themselves playing “White Room??? by Cream to win a spot at the camp in Los Angeles….
Posted: April 10, 2015
Drummer Blog: Translator’s Dave Scheff Talks Past Influences and Upcoming Shows
Though I’ve drummed my way across the spectrum, with acts as disparate as comedian Jerry Van Dyke, icon Joan Baez, and Dead Kennedys, my one true musical love has always been the band I started with Steve Barton, the ’80s cult fave Translator….
Posted: February 9, 2015
Rock Perspectives: The Mighty Three-Stroke Ruff (VIDEO)
Click here to check out part 1 of a two-part series devoted to ways to practice and perfect three- and four-stroke ruffs….
Posted: October 28, 2014
December 2014 Issue of Modern Drummer featuring Gregg Bissonette
See what’s in the pages of the December 2014 issue of Modern Drummer magazine featuring Gregg Bissonette!
Posted: September 22, 2014
Drummer Blog: Kix’s Jimmy Chalfant on His Early Influences and Approach
Hey there, modern drummers! My name is Jimmy Chalfant, and I play drums for the Baltimore hard-rock band Kix. We released our latest studio CD, Rock Your Face Off, after almost twenty years since our last studio release….
Posted: September 3, 2014
VIDEO! Power Triplets: Putting the Roll in Your Rock (From the October 2014 Issue)
These exercises are inspired by the master jazz drummer Elvin Jones. In Elvin’s world, everything was a triplet.
Posted: June 9, 2014
Win a Ginger Baker Prize Package
To celebrate the release of Ginger Baker’s new CD, Why?, Motéma Records has put together a prize package that all Ginger Baker fans will want to get their hands on….
Posted: February 14, 2014
Ginger Baker to Release A Drummer’s Tale and Photo Album
Ginger Baker to Release A Drummer’s Tale and Photo AlbumTo mark his seventy-fifth birthday, Ginger Baker and his family have joined forces with PledgeMusic to create and release a career-spanning anthology on CD and vinyl, entitled A Drummer’s Tale, and a very personal, limited-edition family album picture book….
Posted: September 19, 2013
Ginger Baker’s Son, Kofi, to Conduct Clinics and Concerts in October
Sons of Cream drummer Kofi Baker’s first live performance was at six years of age with his father, Ginger Baker, on the UK television show, The Old Grey Whistle Test. In the early 1980s, Kofi and his father played drum duets throughout Europe. Kofi has toured with John Ethridge (Soft …
Posted: July 5, 2013
Matt Amadio of the Fleeting Ends
I’m co-writer in my band, the Fleeting Ends, and I have a great love for singing and melody, so it’s difficult to describe myself as just a drummer….
Posted: May 31, 2013
Ginger Baker Coming To the Iridium in NYC
Iconic British drummer Ginger Baker will be performing at the Iridium in New York City this coming October 9 – 13.
Posted: March 18, 2013
Mike Lloyd of Leogun
My earliest memory of wanting to play drums dates comes from when I was ten years old and riding in the back of my dad’s car.
Posted: January 11, 2013
Eric Selby of the Billy Thompson Band
One day I had an epiphany: Why be Ginger Baker? Because Ginger Baker has already been done, and done quite well….
Posted: December 28, 2012

MD Contributor Stephen Bidwell Tackles Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas
We’re quite spoiled as music lovers in Austin, Texas. Touring bands don’t really skip our city, and we’re treated to several major festivals a year. While I enjoy all of them, Fun Fun Fun Fest has become one of my favorites.
Posted: December 28, 2012
MD Contributor Stephen Bidwell Tackles Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas
We’re quite spoiled as music lovers in Austin, Texas. Touring bands don’t really skip our city, and we’re treated to several major festivals a year. While I enjoy all of them, Fun Fun Fun Fest has become one of my favorites.
Posted: August 17, 2012
Gregg Potter on the “You’re No Buddy??? Tour 2012
Hello, Modern Drummer readers. I last spoke to you in January. At that time, I was just beginning this Buddy Rich odyssey. We’re now getting ready to do our first extended tour, starting in mid-August.
Posted: May 16, 2012
Influences: Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins
As Jane’s Addiction continues its successful Theatre of the Escapists tour, a new generation of fans is being hipped to the ecstatic tribal glam event that is a Jane’s show—and to the uniquely galloping drumming approach of Stephen Perkins. In the latest installment of Modern Drummer magazine’s Influences series, we …
Posted: March 19, 2012
Tim Walsh of the Stepkids
I’m Tim Walsh of the Stepkids, and I’m excited to be on here and hope to add to the wealth of knowledge that is MD’s awesome thirty-five-year history…
Posted: March 8, 2012
Ginger Baker Documentary Premieres at SXSW
Check out the trailer for Jay Bulger’s documentary on Ginger Baker, the drummer/leader who’s famed for his work with Cream, Blind Faith, the Baker Gurvitz Army, the Graham Bond Organisation, Bill Laswell, Fela Kuti, and Public Imagine Ltd., among others. The film will be premiering at this year’s SXSW festival …
Posted: February 22, 2012
Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert
The Buddy Rich 25th Anniversary Memorial Concert takes place for the first time in the UK at the London Palladium on 2nd April 2012. The lineup is confirmed as Dave Weckl, John Blackwell and Gregg Potter from the USA and Ian Paice, Ginger Baker, Gavin Harrison and Elliott Henshaw from the UK. Singing supremo Tony Christie will also appear. One of Buddy Rich’s …
Posted: February 22, 2012
Feb Web Update News
Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Hamilton, and Karriem Riggins are on Paul McCartney’s latest, Kisses on the Bottom. Riggins performed with the former Beatle at the Grammys, as did McCartney regular Abe Laboriel. For more, visit www.paulmccartney.com. Speaking of the Grammys, Low Millions drummer/producer Erik Eldenius was in the house band again …
Posted: February 7, 2012
The Forgotten Foot
by Kofi Baker and
Jordan Hill
SubtitledA Guide to Developing Foot Independence and Hi-Hat/Bass Coordination, The Forgotten Foot shines a light on the hi-hat’s overlooked potential.
Posted: February 2, 2012
Alex Van Halen: The Hard-Rock Archetype
After changing its name from Mammoth, Van Halen strutted a glam-punk attitude when it burst onto the national scene in 1978 with its self-titled debut album. Featuring the template-smashing talent of the whammy-bar-happy, two-hand-tapping guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his percussive-dynamo brother, Alex, Van Halen the band, to many, became …
Posted: December 28, 2011
Marky Ramone: Punk Legend
Marky Ramone held the drum chair with legendary punk pioneers the Ramones longer than anyone else. But there’s much more to his story…
Posted: October 18, 2011
Tony Allen: Afrobeat Innovator
Tony Allen, who along with vocalist/activist Fela Kuti created one of groove music’s most glorious subgenres, Afrobeat, deserves a place on the list of the greatest funk drummers of all time. For more than forty years he has been honing a distinctive style that crackles with vitality, pulsates with rhythmic …
Posted: July 1, 2011
MD Readers Poll 2011 Results
Welcome once again to the MD Readers Poll, where the greatest drummers on the planet are honored by the most educated drum fans around. Let’s get right to it: the envelope, please….
Posted: January 20, 2011
Jason Ganberg of Purple Melon
I’m Jason Ganberg of the British rock band Purple Melon. Just dropping you guys a few lines about what I’ve been up to out in L.A. and how everything has developed for me since I started drumming back in England fifteen years ago!…
Posted: December 17, 2010
Jimmy Bralower: Web Exclusive
Jimmy Bralower was born to make records. The drummer started playing at a very young age, and by the time he was in his early teens, his first band, the Young Ones, had signed a deal with a major label. In the ensuing years Bralower worked his way from clubs …
Posted: December 6, 2010

David Phillips: "A Drummer’s Perspective???
Photo by Marc Rouve You can probably guess I dabble a bit on the old drumkit myself, and it is always difficult trying to explain to someone what it looks like sitting on that throne—the best seat in the house. With my images in the book I try to give …
Posted: December 6, 2010
David Phillips: “A Drummer’s Perspective???
Photo by Marc Rouve You can probably guess I dabble a bit on the old drumkit myself, and it is always difficult trying to explain to someone what it looks like sitting on that throne—the best seat in the house. With my images in the book I try to give …
Posted: September 27, 2010
The Drummer: Classic Rock
An educated, entertaining, essential addition to every drummer’s library—and to the history of modern drumming—The Drummer: Classic Rock Collector’s Edition magazine builds on content from Modern Drummer’s Top-selling The Drummer book with expanded coverage of drumming royalty from the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll.
Posted: May 8, 2010
Bill Laswell: Famed Bassist/Producer
Famed bassist/producer/remix engineer Bill Laswell on Ginger, Tony, Elvin, Zigaboo, and more…
Posted: May 6, 2010
Jim Archer of The Art Of Shooting
Greetings, Modern Drummers! My New York City band the Art Of Shooting has recently released our first full-length album, Traveling Show, and we’re excited about hitting the road to play for a bunch of new faces. I’d like to tell you a little about myself, our album, and a few …
Posted: March 22, 2010
Eric Singer: Just Being Himself
For eighteen years, Kiss’s drummer has helped his world-famous band stay in our hearts and on the radio by doing what he does best—being himself. In this special online extra from his May 2010 MD cover story, we begin by asking Eric about…The Band’s Younger Fans. In 2004 we did …
Posted: March 12, 2010
The Greats: Ginger Baker
Ginger gained fame as a member of Cream, featuring Jack Bruce on bass and Eric Clapton on guitar.
Posted: April 23, 2009
Mick Fleetwood
Decades after helping Fleetwood Mac become the biggest pop phenomenon of the ’70s, Mick is still keeping time like only he can.
Posted: February 19, 2009
Mitch Mitchell: Drummers Weigh In
Mitch Mitchell was not alone in blending jazz and rock drumming styles, but he may have pushed the combo further than anyone who came before him. Here a number of noted drummers provide further insight into Mitch’s influence….
Posted: January 12, 2009
Great Drum Parts = GENIUS
The March issue of MD (out now) features Billy Ward’s fascinating conversation with Simon Phillips, Doane Perry, Marco Minnemann, Thomas Lang, and Jerry Marotta about the grooves that inspired them to play drums early on, and that continue to today. It seemed to make perfect sense for MD’s editors to …
Posted: June 5, 2008
Chris “Gartdrumm” Gartmann
The resurgence of progressive rock has opened the door for younger drummers to rediscover the more technically challenging aspects of this classic art rock culture….
Posted: May 1, 2008
Chad Smith: Web Exclusive Interview
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith takes a much-needed rest—for a minute—and fills MD in on the many cool side projects he’s involved in…
Posted: January 15, 2008
Alex Van Halen: Bashing and Crashing In the Here and Now
Practically joined at the hip to his brother Eddie, nephew Wolfgang, and David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen has finally returned to the road with the band that bears his name….
Posted: October 19, 2007
Max Roach
Simply put, Max Roach brought jazz drumming into the modern age. Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell revolutionized jazz with new melodies and concepts; Max matched these musical geniuses with startling rhythms and reactive, action-packed drumming that still influences drummers on a profound level today….
Posted: October 1, 2007
The Return of Double Drumming’s Greatest Hits
In the February 2007 issue of Modern Drummer, we ran a feature called “Double Drumming’s 25 Greatest Hits.??? At the time we asked MD readers to submit their own favorite double-drum performances, which we’d post online at a later date. Well, the time has arrived, double-drum fans—the floor is yours!
Posted: September 19, 2007
Tony Allen: Afrobeat Legend
As the most important drummer in African music, Tony Allen provided the Afrobeat pulse for Fela Kuti’s Africa ’70s band and recorded a clutch of solo albums. Currently Allen works for UK supergroup The Good, The Bad, And The Queen, which features Blur’s Damon Albarn and The Clash’s Paul Simonen….
Posted: July 20, 2005
Tony Thompson
Not many drummers dictated the sound of the 80’s like Tony Thompson. That big, huge drum sound was everywhere: on classic recordings like Power Station’s “Some Like It Hot,” David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love,” the list goes on.
Posted: July 19, 2005
Drumming With the Velvet Underground, Part 2: Maureen Tucker
In Part 2 of our interview with the drummers of The Velvet Underground, we talk to Maureen Tucker, the player most often associated with the group….