What was Neil Peart’s opinion on Ginger Baker and Cream

Considered one of the greatest drummers of all time, Neil Peart was extremely influential especially for Progressive Rock bands that appeared after he joined Rush in the mid-70s. Not only as the incredible drummer he was but also for the incredible lyrics he wrote for the Canadian band, becoming their main lyricist.

He is certainly up there alongside the best ones, just like the late legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker. But what was Peart’s opinion on Baker and Cream?

What was Neil Peart’s opinion on Ginger Baker and Cream

Like many musicians who were starting their careers in the late 60s and early 70s, Neil Peart was heavily influenced by Cream. The British power trio inspired Rush in their early days, and since Peart was a fan of the band, his influences aligned closely with those of Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson when he later joined Rush.

In an interview for “Beware Of Mr. Baker” (2012), the documentary about the life and career of the legendary Cream drummer, Neil Peart praised the musician. He even said that Cream was the first Prog Rock band and also that Baker probably made the first Rock drum solo in history.

(Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage): “When an atomic bomb went off like that (The band), I think Cream really represented, it overwhelmed everything. He was really at the forefront of a complete revolution of Rock. It’s hard to find fault with the notion that he was the pioneer of a Rock drummer. There was no context for him, there was no archetype, he is the archetype.”

Neil Peart continued:

“Cream absolutely might be called the first Progressive band. They were breaking out of the chains of Pop. Ginger Baker’s most notable achievement that should be recognized is the first Rock drum solo. Me as a 15 year-old kid at the time, I was ‘yeah, yeah. That’s the Rock drummer I wanna be,” Neil Peart said.

It wasn’t the first time that Peart praised Baker. He also already talked about his fellow drummer in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2009. He noted that every Rock drummer was somehow influenced by the Cream members.

“His playing was revolutionary – extrovert, primal and inventive. He set the bar for what rock drumming could be. I certainly emulated Ginger’s approaches to rhythm – his hard, flat, percussive sound was very innovative. Everyone who came after built on that foundation. Every rock drummer since has been influenced in some way by Ginger. Even if they don’t know it,” Neil Peart said.

Ginger Baker passed away in October, 2019, only three months before Neil Peart. The 80 year-old musician died from complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Besides his work with Cream, he had been previously part of bands like Graham Bond Organisation. After Cream he was part of the supergroup Blind Faith, which also had Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech. Then Ginger also had success with his own band Ginger Baker’s Air Force and then in 1993 he was part of the album BBM, which was a short lived supergroup. The group was formed with his ex-bandmate Jack Bruce and the guitarist Gary Moore.