Director Jay Bulger Shares the Most Outrageous Tales From His New Documentary, Beware of Mr. Baker - Slideshow - Vulture

November 25, 2012 2:18 pm

Jay Bulger on His New Doc, Beware of Mr. Baker

By Eric Benson

Photo: Courtesy of Joe Scarpulla and David Bell

To interview former Cream drummer Ginger Baker for a 2009 magazine piece, director Jay Bulger schlepped all the way to South Africa, where the disagreeable rock legend, 73, had lived as a recluse for a decade. Bulger returned with the inspiration for Beware of Mr. Baker, a new doc that retells Baker’s life story in talking-head interviews and archival footage, and some of his most outlandish anecdotes via striking animation by artists David Bell and Joe Scarpulla. In the slideshow, Bulger explains a few of the latter.

*This article originally appeared in the December 3, 2012 issue of New York Magazine.

“Ginger’s father, who died in World War II, wrote him a letter: ‘Be a man at all times. Use your fists—they’re your best pals.’ If Ginger hadn’t become a drummer, he might have been the middleweight champion of the world,” says Bulger.

“Ginger’s father, who died in World War II, wrote him a letter: ‘Be a man at all times. Use your fists—they’re your best pals.’ If Ginger hadn’t become a drummer, he might have been the middleweight champion of the world,” says Bulger.

“In school, when his teacher left, Ginger drummed on his desk and all the kids would dance,” says Bulger. “When he first played drums, it was like in 2001 when the apes were beating each other and they created fire.”

“In school, when his teacher left, Ginger drummed on his desk and all the kids would dance,” says Bulger. “When he first played drums, it was like in 2001 when the apes were beating each other and they created fire.”

Cream, rock’s first supergroup, split in 1968 owing to Baker’s constant feuding with bassist Jack Bruce. “They tried to blow each other off the stage every night,” says Bulger. “It just reached the tipping point and exploded.”

Cream, rock’s first supergroup, split in 1968 owing to Baker’s constant feuding with bassist Jack Bruce. “They tried to blow each other off the stage every night,” says Bulger. “It just reached the tipping point and exploded.”

“One day he was driving up the California coast with three hot chicks,” says Bulger. “And the radio said he’d died of an overdose. Somebody had been using his name to get laid and died. Ginger said, ‘I must be in heaven, then.’ ”

“One day he was driving up the California coast with three hot chicks,” says Bulger. “And the radio said he’d died of an overdose. Somebody had been using his name to get laid and died. Ginger said, ‘I must be in heaven, then.’ ”

After Cream and Blind Faith dissolved, Baker started an eleven-piece jazz-fusion group called Ginger Baker’s Air Force. “He wanted to be like Gene Krupa and Art Blakey,” says Bulger, “playing African music.”

After Cream and Blind Faith dissolved, Baker started an eleven-piece jazz-fusion group called Ginger Baker’s Air Force. “He wanted to be like Gene Krupa and Art Blakey,” says Bulger, “playing African music.”

To play with Fela Kuti in 1971, Baker actually moved to Africa, where, as “the most famous white guy in Nigeria,” he “single-handedly popularized the Range Rover,” says Bulger. “Then he took up polo.”

To play with Fela Kuti in 1971, Baker actually moved to Africa, where, as “the most famous white guy in Nigeria,” he “single-handedly popularized the Range Rover,” says Bulger. “Then he took up polo.”

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