Cream legend Ginger Baker critically ill in hospital
Legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker is ‘critically ill’, according to his family.
A post on Ginger's official Twitter account shortly before 9pm last night broke the sad news. It read: “The Baker family are sad to announce that Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers tonight.”
> The Baker family are sad to announce that Ginger is critically ill in hospital. Please keep him in your prayers tonight > > — Ginger Baker (@GingerBDrums) September 25, 2019
80-year-old Ginger has suffered a number of health setbacks in recent years.
In the summer of 2016, Ginger’s daughter Leda revealed he had a “bad fall” and also underwent open heart surgery.
She told the Daily Mirror at the time that the fall resulted in “swollen legs and feet” but despite his grim predicament he was “miraculously” recovering well.
In February of that year, Ginger axed all upcoming dates with his titular band, Ginger Baker’s Airforce 3, after being diagnosed with “serious heart problems.”
Ginger wrote on his official blog in February 2016: “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.”
Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2013 about his health, Ginger said it was “not good.”
Commenting on performing live, Ginger said: “It’s troubling. At the end of the gig I’m absolutely exhausted. I’ve got degenerative osteoarthritis, which is extremely painful and I’m on a regiment with a health service pain management control. Apart from that I’ve got COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) from smoking.”
Everyone at Planet Rock's thoughts are with Ginger and his family.