Beware of Mr Baker 15

Ginger Baker looks back on his musical career with Cream and Blind Faith; his introduction to Fela Kuti; his self-destructive patterns and losses of fortune; and his current life inside a fortified South African compound.

A marriage of the film and music worlds told through the life of one of the most unforgettable and controversial musicians. He was there the night Jimi Hendrix died, shared the drugs, the music. Beware of Mr. Baker catapults the viewer into his beat – with every smash of the bass drum there is a man behind it smashing his way through life.

The documentary includes stories from his ex-wives, children, and musicians including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Charlie Watts, Mickey Hart, Carlos Santana, Max Weinberg, Chad Smith, Femi Kuti, Neal Peart, Simon Kirke, Marky Ramone and many more.

Born in South East London the same week the Nazis began bombing, Ginger Baker’s first memory was running after a train that carried his father off to death in WWII.

Though best known for his work with Eric Clapton in Cream and Blind Faith, the world’s greatest drummer did not hit his stride until years later in 1972 when he drove the first Range Rover ever produced from London to Nigeria in pursuit of the African rhythms and musical icon, Fela Kuti. There he found his Mecca of drumming, introducing the African beat and “world music” to the West, years before any other musicians in the field.

He currently resides in South Africa where he lives inside a fortified compound with his 29-year-old internet bride and 39 polo ponies. Chain smoking and ingesting copious amounts of morphine while sitting in his leather recliner, the 73-year-old reflects on his life.

Everyone with a Beware of Mr Baker ticket for Friday 17 May is invited to join Sheffield Doc/Fest for....

THE DOC/FEST 20 LAUNCH

FRIDAY 17 MAY / 17:15 / CREATIVE LOUNGE, THE WORKSTATION

Before the 18:30 screening of Beware of Mr. Baker, join Sheffield Doc/Fest in the Creative Lounge for the lowdown on the biggest ever Sheffield Doc/Fest: Doc/Fest 20, 12-16 June 2013. Includes exclusive film clips and special guests. Just show your ticket on the door.

PLUS: Join us in the Showroom Bar after the screening from 20:00, with Sheffield Doc/Fest, Now Then, and Sheffield’s finest, partying Ginger Baker style!

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