The documentary Beware of Mr. Baker traces the life of the extremely volatile legendary rock drummer Ginger Baker (Cream, Blind Faith). Baker is undeniably a musical genius, and the film highlights the stature of his work in both rock and jazz. Unfortunately, the nasty combination of his aggressively anti-social personality and his heroin addiction precluded successful professional and familial relationships. We hear about Baker’s good and bad sides from his former Cream band mates Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, several of his ex-wives and his son, drummer Kofi Baker. And we meet Ginger Baker himself, for better and for worse. At one point, the septuagenarian Baker employs his cane to break the nose of the film’s director, Jay Bulger.
Bulger gets credit for comprehensive research into Baker’s life and times, for his inventive use of animation in depicting stages of Baker’s life and for getting the combustible Baker himself on camera. Beware of Mr. Baker is the skillfully told story of a fascinating life. Beware of Mr. Baker is now available on VOD through Amazon and other outlets.
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