Ginger Baker: ‘Gary Moore Needs A Psychiatrist’
Legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker says playing with Gary Moore “finished rock’n’roll for me”.
In an interview in the latest issue of Classic Rock, Baker calls Moore “the Pampered Pompadour Of Pop”, reckons his playing is “contrived” and says he once recommended that the six-stringer should see a psychiatrist.
In 1994, Baker linked up with Moore and Cream bassist Jack Bruce to form a band called BBM. (See what they did there?)
“The sessions we did delighted everyone,” Ginger recalls, “even though he [Bruce] was acting like my boss again and treating me as a session player.
“A tour was suggested; I’d get £50,000 a gig. What I didn’t realise was that Gary Moore was playing so loud that he blew his ears – just as Jack had done to me. More gigs were cancelled than played. And they were awful anyway.
“Unlike Cream, everything with Gary Moore was contrived. Every solo he played was the same. I like to improvise.
“Unbeknown to me they organised a rehearsal at Brixton Academy, and when I got there I could hear Gary Moore’s guitar outside on the street. We played it note-perfect, as usual – should have been the fucking gig.
“The next day his manager phones me and says Gary’s blown his ears again and they’ve taken him to the doctor. I said: ‘Why don’t you take him to a fucking psychiatrist, cos that’s what he needs.’ That wasn’t the right thing to say to Mr God Almighty.”
Fifteen years later, the BBM experience still throws Ginger in a rage.
“That was a terrible time, playing with the Pampered Pompadour Of Pop. One gig was cancelled when he [Moore] cut his finger opening a fucking tin. Eric [Clapton] would have put a plaster on and played. Oh no, not Gary.
“And, again, it was so loud I had to have baffle boards on either side. I hate volume. Why does rock music have to be so loud? That was rock’n’roll finished for me.”
* For more grumblings from the irascible drummer, check out the March edition of Classic Rock (issue 142), on sale now.
I wonder what Gary Moore will have to say about this? No doubt Ginger will have an opinion on WSC and Oswald! Claw Hindenburg is a better drummer than Ginger although not so good at support.
A classic drummer he maybe but looking like Albert Steptoe from Steptoe and Son doesn’t help when he’s constantly moaning. ‘AROLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you know what you´re problem is Ginger ? , you´re just a miserable old bastard who has never accepted the fame and fortune of Jack Bruce and Eric clampton ! Yes , you like to drop Claptons name when you see fit but it´s more out of spite than love .
Gary Moore has nothing to prove to you or anyone else for that matter , it´s kind of strange though that , it´s taken you 16 years to get it off your chest ! Have you told Gary that ?
What an utter Knob ! Obviously doesn’t know thing about guitar strings and finger cuts, especially on the tops of fingers. Ouch !
Gary Moore is a perfectionist, a tone monster and one of the most influential Rock & Blues guitarists there is (notice – not “has been”).
I believe Gary Moore still gets on with Jack Bruce who funnily enough Baker doesn’t like either…wotta suprise. The ‘Pampered Pompadour Of Pop’? !
The Baker article goes on about other drummers? Talk about rating yourself highly – a golden 10?
More like zero on this showing – Mitch Mitchell would play rings round him nuff said. This makes me not want to like Cream.
Ginger’s an ornery old man for sure but I think Gary’s a tasteless wanker so I quite enjoyed the article.
I agree with all of the above posts, but we’ve grown to expect this kind of vitriol from GB (let’s hope his middle name is Oliver – GOB). Gary Moore is probably as amused by this as we are. Moore is possibly the most technically gifted guitarist in the world (really), so Baker is scraping the barrel to criticise him. Relax. We’re talking about a serious misanthrope here! Laugh at the old git.
Well now everyone knows that Moore is as boring in real life as in his records…
what a miserable fkg arse!!!!!!!…….AROLD indeed!!!!
Saying that, did once speak to Tony Mills from Shy after they supported Gary Moore, and they said he was a bit of a prick…wouldn’t talk to them…wouldn’t let them have a proper rehersal etc. This was back in 89/87 i think…maybe old Gazza has mellowed since then
Ginger Baker – decent drummer, absolute miserable opinionated cunt.
Ive got loads of bootlegs from the BBM-tour and Moore´s solos are different every night! So Ginger, You are full of it!
Who cares? Gary is still bigger than those schoolboys all together!
Alaways remember buying a ticket for the Ulster Hall in Belfast for BBM and gutted to turn up to find it cancelled on the night. Then found out the previous gig they played was so awful that they cancelled the tour. The reason – the drumming was so terrible !
Hey Ginger…Nice name. LOL! Why don’t you take a Viagra and stick a drumstick up your arse. Gary Moore has more talent in his bleeding finger than you have in your entire miserable old body ~ 10 times over. Why don’t you do us a favor and put yourself out of your missery. Once upon a time you may have been a “drummer” but now you sound like an old gossiping woman at a tea social. What have you done lately anyway? Complain how life is supposed to owe you something. You are a disgrace to yourself and your fans. “If it’s too loud, you’re obviously too old.”
And to all you no talent pricks talking shit on Gary Moore… A big Fuck you!
Two words: “The Loner” Listen to it and I challenge you to come up with anything as emotionally stunning. Good Luck!
I agree with Ginger, Gary Moore sucks… his fuzz box tone is awful and he overplays everything, not a hint of finesse, ever. Saw him once with Greg Lake and he overplayed everything.. it ruined the show. Contrived is the best way to describe his pseudo-blues garbage. I never could understand why anyone ever liked this guy nor why Bruce & Baker ever teamed up with him. Just awful and an insult to the greatness that was Cream
ginger baker wow theres a man with a cause to complain , dude gary moore rock and rolls you just roll in a old folks home, besides you are bum and was always a bum on the drums take your geritol
ginger baker,wot a childish old knobhead,an fuck me ugly old at that,loser,wots up ya jealous that the guitar god made ya realise ya shitter than ya thought ya wa? piss off ya old fart,mite get a job in the new steptoe an son!!!!!! u dirty old man!!!!!!
Really, Gary Moore sucks donkey crack.
Ginger Baker! My man! Aside from being the best jazz drummer since Buddy Rich, he’s one of the FEW people in the business who isn’t afraid to tell like it is. Oh, a lot of people don’t like that, to be sure. Too frackin’ bad, grow a pair, will ya, because YOU’RE not qualified to carry his friggin’ stick bag!! As for Gary Moore, I’ve had the same opinion of that constipated dweeb (watch him!) since I first heard him. He thinks he’s a pop star, but he’s not – and he’s damned sure not a real musician. I agree, get the lad to a shrink! Right on, Mr. Baker!
GINGER BAKER – DE LENDÁRIO À MÚMIA.
GINGER BAKER – LEGENDARY DRUMMER OR A MUMMY?
O velho, ou melhor, o “lendário” Ginger Baker foi muito infeliz em suas críticas contra Gary Moore, por vários motivos. O primeiro motivo é que com esta atitude o velho Baker deixou de ser lendário e está se tornando uma múmia e como tal vai morrer também e talvez seja embalssamado e sepultado dentro de um baú que vai ficar algumas centenas de metros abaixo da terra, esperando quem sabe a ressurreição dos reis do nada.
Ler o que ele disse a respeito de Gary Moore em sua entrevista dá vontade de rir, não do grande Gary Moore que sempre teve personalidade forte, postura e hombridade desde o tempo do Thin Lizzy, Collesseum II, Skid Row, e em sua carreira solo, mas dá vontade de rir do próprio Baker, pois o que ele fez foi um papel ridículo.
E vou explicar por quê!
Segundo, se não fosse a atitude de Gary Moore em convida-lo para fazer parte do BBM, o velho Baker ainda estaria esquecido dentro de um baú mal cheiroso, cheio de teias-de-aranha vivendo de lembranças do passado.
Terceiro, talvez Gary Moore tenha sido mesmo um garoto mimado e topetudo, mas isto não se deve a quem tem poder nas mãos, mas sim autoridade! Geralmente quem tem autoridade nas mãos tem que ser muito bom naquilo que faz, e Gary Moore sabia muito!, muito mesmo!. Gary Moore sabia tudo sobre uma guitarra, sobre música e um pouco mais. Não foi a toa que ele conseguiu sozinho se manter de pé por mais de 40 anos de dedicação à música.
Quarto, talvez Gary Moore fosse mesmo um guitarrista que tocava muito certinho e alto e nesse caso prevalecia então o PODER que ele tinha de não errar uma nota sequer.
Engana-se quem pensa que Gary Moore foi apenas um mero tocador de guitarra inspirado pelo Blues e seus seguidores.
Gary Moore foi muito mais do que “O maior Guitarrista do Mundo dos ultimos 40 anos”
Ele simplismente ultrapassou a fama de muitos guitarristas que chamados de Deuses da Guitarra.
Moore conquistou seu espaço com anos e anos de trabalho duro, dedicação, batalha e acompanhando todas as transformações do seu tempo, sendo sempre fiel à sua música de maneira eclética como somente os “genios” conseguem fazer.
Infelizmente, o velho Ginger Baker foi infeliz ao dizer que Gary Moore era um “garoto mimado, que tocava muito alto e certinho sua guitarra”. Porque em minha opinião também se o Cream (grupo de Ginger Baker e Jack Bruce) dependesse dos seus irritantes e longos improvisos musicais que nunca passavam de ensaios entediantes feitos somente para preencher tempo e espaço de um Disco/Album para vender depois nas lojas, quer seja com o Cream, Blind Faith, ou outra banda deles talvez hoje o velho Baker estaria falido ou morrendo de fome junto com seus lendários amigos, mesmo sendo eles inegavelmente bons no que faziam.
E Eric Clapton se não tivesse tirado sua máscara de “Deus da Guitarra” à tempo e assumido uma postura moderna e sensata como Gary Moore inteligentemente fez ao longo de sua carreira, estaria ele (Clapton) tocando sua guitarra com um chapeuzinho na mão em alguma praça do mundo também.
Na verdade eu acho que Ginger Baker é um mal agradecido pois Gary Moore deu a ele a oportunidade de reacender a velha chama do que ele foi no passado, sem que ele precisasse ficar vivendo de Shows beneficentes como muitos bons artistas do passado são obrigados à fazer hoje.
Talvez o velho Baker continue sendo hoje o ótimo baterista que sempre foi, mas como crítico é uma negação. E está passando de lendário para um velho rabujento, que arrota e cospe no prato que come.
Quanto ao som alto gerado por Gary Moore, que tanto incomodava Baker, o problema de Baker deve ser cêra nos ouvidos, pois quando eles estão à muito tempo sem utilidade qualquer zumbido fica infernal. Mas acho que o problema de Baker não está nos ouvidos e sim na língua.
Finalizando: O artista que chama um show de “maldito” onde ele é o prestador de serviços e o público é quem paga para vê-lo tocar, não tem o minimo respeito para com o seu público. Afinal, nós fãs ou público não pagamos por coisas “malditas”, mas Baker deve pagar por coisas mal faladas, sendo criticado também. Pois aqui no Brasil costumamos dizer que “Pau que desce lá, também desce cá”. E não são baquetas.
A carreira musical de Gary Moore assim como sua vida particular eram e serão por muito tempo NOBRES.
E nobre foi tudo o que o grande Gary Moore fez para o seu público, por isso ele tinha autoridade para ser exigente até com seu melhor amigo Phil Lynott mesmo dentro da banda dele. E tinha carta branca, para entrar e sair a hora que quisesse do Thin Lizzy. Porque Gary Moore era assim “QUERIDO” por seus amigos e por seus fãs.
Sinceramente, espero que isto seja apenas um excesso de crítica não do velho Baker mas sim da mídia sensacionalista, caso contrário, vou começar a pensar que o velho Baker está ficando gagá e rabujento.
Wilson Alexandre.
Dj e Fundador da Fofinho Rock Club desde 1971.
from Brazil.
Anyway Gary will remain in History like
Gary Moore , and i don’t give a shit for your Ginger Baker -(who I don”t know…)
DON’t talk if you DON ‘T the PLAY THE GUITAR !
PS … drumers are …….. drummmmers…
I don’t speak english very well, but I want to translate part of my e-mail from portuguese to english.
GINGER BAKER – LEGENDARY DRUMMER OR A MUMMY?
Or
From Legendary to Mummy (Mummified).
The Oldman, what I means The Legendary Drummer Ginger Baker was unhappy on his commentaries against the great man and musician Gary Moore.
First, The Baker’s bad posture shows he left to be a great legend of rock and now he is turning into a mummy, (a decrepit oldman, a Gaga man, a driveller man) such as he will die too one day. It means embalmed like a mummy inside of glass box to waiting re arise together of kings of nothing.
Gary Moore was a great man and professional musician. He was the best guitarrist of the world by last 40 years. Gary Moore was a strong personality musician and he always had fine posture and manliness since Thin Lizzy, Collesseum II, Skid Row time. So Mr.Baker, lent himself to ridicule.
Mr. Baker is a bad grateful to Mr. Moore, because if Gary Moore didn’t accepted to play and replaced Eric Clapton on BBM (Cream), maybe Baker still were frozen deep inside of a stinking chest surviving of the past.
Maybe Gary Moore has been a exquisite guy yeah, but Gary Moore has authority in his hands and his fingers to play guitar and to comand a band. Gary Moore was the master. Gary Moore was a great! Gary Moore was the best.
Over 40 years he dedicated to the music that he always love it.
Gary Moore played his guitar and his music so right, because he was so good and he didn’t get to miss a note.
Yes, Gary Moore played loud, he didn’t know Baker suffer of ears, and Moore didn’t know Baker has a bad tongue.
Stop!
Gary Moore’s career was noble, beautiful and great!
Gary Moore’s dies like a heroe and he is a winner.
I always said to my friends “Gary Moore was the heroe of Guitar as Airton Senna was heroe of Racing Car F1.
We missed a great guitarrist, We missed a brother but his music stay inside our hearts forever.
Long live Gary Moore forever!
To all of those people who are slagging off Gary Moore – get stuffed ! He was brilliant and leaves a legacy of brilliant rock & blues music. Contrived – never. As for ginger – obviously an a**hole. I remember watching Cream at the Albert Hall on their last get together and witnessing some great music interspersed with one of the most dreadfully unimaginative & dare i say ‘contrived’ drum solos ever. Mr Baker was a good drummer in his day but who will lament the ginger hobgoblins passing when he finally does the world a favour and f**ks off for good. Gary Moore – Legend. Ginger Baker – twat!
The guy who aid Ginger Baker was the best Jazz drummer since Buddy Rich better listen to a few more jazz drummers. Rich and Baker should never even be said in the same sentence.Baker once said that Buddy was all hands. Meaning what? Baker needed 2 bass drums to do what Buddy could do with one foot.There were countless drummers of Baker’s era that would wipe up the stage with him. Rush’s drummer,Hendrix’s drummer,Carl Palmer and a shit load of others. Nuff Said!
What Ginger Baker says about Gary Moore says nothing about Gary, and everything about Ginger. After all the majority of us live in a democracy, with freedom of speech. Again, what was said were only words, we put the meaning to them. Gary’s music will continue to be listened too, his memory will live on. Yes, Gary was a great guitarist, a wonderful singer but’ non the less a human being with frailties, issues,and moods. R.I. P. Gary, you are missed by many. The sky is crying, and so am I.