From the September 24, 1971 issue of LIFE
THE ROCK FAMILY AFFAIR
Photography by JOHN OLSON
GINGER BAKER
Ginger Baker, 32-year-old English super-drummer (Cream, Blind Faith, Airforce),
was christened Peter, nicknamed Ginger because of his red hair and took it as
his stage name. But he is still "My Pete" to his mother, and his music is "his
job." Mrs. Ruby Streatfield (widowed in World War II and remarried to a garage
mechanic) runs a hairdressing salon that Ginger helped her buy. Although he has a
reputation for difficult behavior, she manages to keep her son in cheerful,
sensible perspective. "I never wanted him to be a drummer, I thought he needed a
trade to fall back on," she says. "But whatever the bakers turn their mind to,
they are really good at. Pete's father was a bricklayer and he ended up a master
bricklayer. And Pete was a boy that tapped a lot, pickle jars, marmalade dishes,
sauce bottles.... It just didn't occur to me he was musical or had real talent.
He would bring people home and they would say, ÔYou realize your son is
brilliant,' and I'd say, ÔIs he? I wish he were a bit more brilliant at keeping
his room tidy.' " Proud of her son Mrs. Streatfield has developed a point of
view to cover all contingencies. "I think it would have been a very square person
if it had not been for him. He lives an upside-down life to us. But when I read
about all the pop stars, I have a little insight into what it's all about. I
can't identify myself with Ginger Baker at all, thought. Just as well, because if
he ever gets up to anything terrible I can think, ÔThat's not my son.' "
In
his incarnation as Ginger Baker, Pete posed with his mother outside her house in
Bexley, southeast of London, but, characteristically, refused to talk about his
family.
Click on a name below and see these rock legends with their parents back in 1971
FRANK ZAPPA ELTON JOHN ERIC CLAPTON
THE JACKSON FIVE GINGER BAKER JOE COCKER
GRACE SLICK DAVID CROSBY RICHIE HAVENS
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