Eric Clapton led an all-star tribute to drummer Ginger Baker — his late Cream and Blind Faith bandmate — Monday night at the Eventim Apollo Hammersmith in London.
With his band backing, Clapton was joined by Roger Waters, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Nile Rodgers, Ginger’s son Kofi Baker and others. Proceeds went to Leonard Cheshire, a charity that works to reduce the barriers to independent living faced by people with disabilities. It’s an organization that is close to the Baker family.
The show opened with a video tribute before Clapton stepped forward to say Ginger “here, somewhere. He’ll be playing music for you tonight and we’re gonna help him along. He was a scoundrel, but I loved him and he loved me and that was that. I saw some people get the rough edge of his tongue, but I never did. So I feel blessed. That’s why I’m doing this, because I miss him.”
And, with Waters on bass, they kicked things off with Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” into “Strange Brew,” and with Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones of The Faces, “White Room.”
The set list included:
- “Sunshine of Your Love” – w/Roger Waters
- “Strange Brew” – w/Waters
- “White Room” – w/Waters, Ronnie Wood & Kenney Jones
- “I Feel Free” – w/Nile Rodgers, Willie Weeks & Paul Carrack – vocals
- “Tales of Brave Ulysses” – w/Rodgers & Weeks
- “Sweet Wine” – w/Will Johns & Paul Carrack – vocal
- “Blue Condition”
- “Badge” – w/Ronnie Wood & Henry Spinetti
- “Pressed Rat” – w/Kofi Baker
- “Had to Cry Today” – w/Steve Winwood, Kofi Baker & Rodgers
- “Presence of the Lord” – w/Winwood, Kofi Baker & Rodgers
- “Well Alright” – w/Winwood, Kofi Baker & Rodgers
- “Can’t Find My Way Home” – w/Winwood, Kofi Baker & Rodgers
- “Do What You Like” / “Toad” – w/Winwood, Kofi Baker & Rodgers
- “Crossroads” – All
Baker died October 6th at the age of 80. He is the second member of Cream to pass following Jack Bruce, leaving Clapton as the lone survivor. He is also the second member of Blind Faith to die, after Ric Grech, leaving Clapton and Winwood as that band’s last two survivors.
