The family of Cream drummer Ginger Baker has revealed the 80-year-old rock legend has been hospitalized and is in poor condition.
"The Baker family are sad to announce that Ginger is critically ill in hospital,” they posted on social media. “Please keep him in your prayers tonight."
No further details regarding his illness have been disclosed.
Rolling Stone notes that Baker has suffered a number of ailments in recent years; in 2016, the drummer underwent open heart surgery after being forced to cancel a tour with his band Air Force earlier in the year when he was diagnosed with “serious heart problems.”
In 2013, the rocker revealed that his health was “not good” and that performing left him exhausted.
“I’ve got degenerative osteoarthritis, which is extremely painful and I’m on a regiment with a health service pain management control,” Baker told Rolling Stone at the time. “Apart from that I’ve got COPD from smoking.”
Baker cofounded Cream in 1966 with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce and released four albums before they disbanded in 1968; he went on to form the short-lived Blind Faith with Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ric Grech before launching his band Air Force in 1970.
The drummer has also released numerous solo albums, and was the subject of the 2012 documentary “Beware Of Mr. Baker.”
Cream bassist Jack Bruce died of liver disease in 2014 at the age of 71.
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
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