Fenster writes:
Blowhard Esq. did a very nice job recommending recent documentaries about pop music. Here’s another: Beware of Mr. Baker, available on Netflix Streaming.
“he personally is what drums are all about” (Stewart Copeland) . . . . “the world’s greatest drummer” . . . “he’s a rogue, a lovable rogue” (Eric Clapton) . . . a force of nature” (Carlos Santana). . . “he is certifiably nuts” . . . “I think he was fairly consistently horrible to people and to himself” . . . .”he pulled a knife on me and said ‘you’re fired'” (Jack Bruce) . . . “Ginger Baker just hit me in the nose” (the film’s director).
Blowhard, Esq.
Callowman
Sherbrooke
Eddie Pensier
Enzo Nakamura
Epaminondas
Fabrizio del Wrongo
Fenster
Brundle Guy
Glynn Marshes
Paleo Retiree
Atypical Neurotic
Question Lady
Sax von Stroheim
Sir Barken Hyena
The Mistaken
Uncouth Reflections 
That was a fun trailer. I don’t generally watch documentaries about rock stars, though, because beyond their music I don’t much care. And when they are life-long assholes I REALLY don’t care.
That said, no freaking way was Baker better than Keith Moon. Ginger was a good drummer, but Keith was there before him and was clearly the better rock drummer. Though if you like some jazz in your drumming, Baker had that. Though if you want jazz-influenced rock drumming there’s always Mitch Mitchell’s work with Hendrix, which I don’t think gets the recognition it deserves because Hendrix was such a monster star. But Mitchell is blasting away behind him like a second lead instrument.
Anyhoo, don’t want to slag off Baker at all, because “Disraeli Gears” is one of my favorite albums of all time, and Baker is a critical part of it. Though it really helps to hear the mono version so the drums aren’t all coming out of one speaker! (especially maddening in the car)
LikeLike
Baker just snorts at the idea that Moon was better or even in his league. Baker is a nasty asshole, as you write, but that opinion is no doubt heartfelt. I agree with you though that if you are looking for a rock drummer and not a jazz, or jazz-inflected one, Moon is hard to beat.
LikeLike
I liked this too. I didn’t really know that much about Baker prior to watching it. What an intriguing guy.
LikeLike
Yeah go to his house and call him intriguing . . .
LikeLike