Ginger Baker takes the Pledge

Ginger Baker has launched a Pledge campaign to fund the release of a career-spanning double-disc anthology and an exclusive photo book.

The Cream icon and his family aim to mark his 75th birthday this year with the launch of A Drummer’s Tale, with pledge points starting at £8 and running up to £95, and offers including signed books, drumsticks and VIP access to a London concert.

Baker says on his Pledge page: “Stand by your beds everyone! It’s been over thirty years since the RSO launched The Best Of Ginger Baker anthology – without consulting me about the content!

“This time I’m in charge, with no label. I’m ready to release A Drummer’s Tale and there will also be a book full of very rare, family-owned photos and memorabilia.

“With PledgeMusic the plan is to give you something very exclusive. I know you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for your support throughout the years – and remember: ‘Don’t cheer, throw money!’”

The Baker family explain: “Reaching seventy-five is a milestone for any working musician – but in the case of Ginger it’s truly worth celebrating.”

Details of Baker’s 75th birthday concert will be announced in due course, along with details of a run of exclusive drum clinics.

The Pledge campaign has reached 13% of its goal with 97 days to run.

source:  classicrockmagazine.com

Sabbath worried over Baker ‘problems’

Tony Iommi has offered a little more insight into how the band went about replacing Bill Ward for the making of 13 – their first album with Ozzy Osbourne since 1978.

They chose Rage Against The Machine drummer Brad Wilk to take the stool for recording sessions after Iommi’s concerns over time, dictated by his cancer treatment, prevented him from continuing talks with Ward over his contract.

Before Wilk was chosen, producer Rick Rubin put Cream icon Ginger Baker forward for the role.

But Iommi tells WWeek.com: “We put a stop on. We didn’t think Ginger would have been… we didn’t want to go into the studio and have, um, problems.

“We did try some big name drummers – some very big name drummers. They were great, but Rick particularly suggested Brad. He did work hard; he was thrown into the deep end and he was very nervous. He got used to us, our jokes, the way we prank around.”

ELP and Asia sticksman Carl Palmer recently revealed he was consulted about playing with Sabbath, but had to turn it down.

And while bassist Geezer Butler believes the band could be playing their final tour, Iommi hasn’t given up hope on another record. “It all depends on my health – but I don’t think it would be hard to do,” he says. “I’ve got plenty of ideas and stuff, but we’ll have to see what happens after the tour.”

Meanwhile, big-name drummer Mike Portnoy has claimed Sabbath’s current incarnation shouldn’t be regarded as a reunion.

He tells Energize With Lonn Friend: “I have no issue if Bill Ward is not fit to plat, as they’re saying. I have no issue if they’re having problems and couldn’t agree on something that was fair.

“My issue is that they’re calling it a Black Sabbath reunion. It’s not without the four of them – it’s now just the latest Black Sabbath lineup.

“Why is this Black Sabbath, but Heaven And Hell wasn’t Black Sabbath? If they need to do it without Bill, don’t call it a reunion.”

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Cream to Release Live Triple Vinyl Set for Record Store Day

Cream have become the latest classic rock act to announce that they will be celebrating Record Store Day on April 20. The famous supergroup will release a three-LP of ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall’ in an extremely limited run of only 1,500 copies.

Originally released on CD and home video in October 2005, ‘Live at the Royal Albert Hall’ chronicles the band’s reunion concerts at the historic London venue on May 2, 3, 5, & 6, 2005. The shows were the first time Cream had performed together – with the exception of their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – since their 1968 farewell concert on Nov. 26, 1968, which also took place at the Royal Albert Hall.

Mastered at half-speed by noted mastered engineer Stan Ricker, the records were pressed, fittingly, onto cream-colored vinyl. The box set includes a book commemorating the historic reunion of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

Also of note on the same Warner Bro. press release, the Stooges have contributed ‘No Fun’ to a split single with the Black Keys‘ 2002 version of the same song on the other side. The orange-and-red sunburst vinyl is limited to 7,500 copies.

Record Store Day was created in 2007 to celebrate independent record shops in an era of declining sales. Many artists release limited edition vinyl exclusives for the occasion. David Bowie and Bob Dylan also have products coming out on April 20. Check Record Store Day’s website for more information.

source: ultimateclassicrock.com