Yeah, he was pretty much considered GOD among rock drummers at the time. Are you surprised that you forgot how good Baker was, or did you just find out about him after all these years? Don't forget his stint with Blind Faith. Of drummers from popular bands from that era I am also fond of Mitch Mitchell of the Experience, Densmore of the Doors and a big-time fav: Keith Moon of the Who. I adored his style. Cream, the Doors and Hendrix were before my time, though I listen to them plenty thanks to that new thing, FM Progressive radio. Bands putting out records and touring are the ones that make the biggest impression when kids get into music. So, my early favs when I first was into rock music in the mid 70's were Keith Moon, John Bonham of Led Zepplin and no. 1, Neil Peart of Rush. One of the first rock Albums (yes, a real-live long-play vinyl record) I purchased was A Farwell To Kings by Rush. I listened to it most every night for a year. Peart is outstanding on that (and other albums, assuming you like progressive rock - if you don't like progressive rock you will hate it). Moon and Bonham became rock cliches, with their lifestyles and deaths, parodied mercilessly on Spinal Tap. Peart, at least, proved you don't have to be a buffon to be a great drummer.
I found this to be quite clever. Anagram for Mongo Lyrics by Neal Peart There's a snake coming out of the darkness Parade from paradise End the need for eden Chase the dreams of merchandise There is tic and toc in atomic Leaders make a deal The cosmic is largely comic A con they couldn't conceal There is no safe seat at the feast Take your best stab at the beast The night is turning thin The saint is turning to sin Raise the art to resistance Danger dare to be grand Pride reduced to humble pie Diamonds down to sand Take heart from earth and weather The brightness of new birth Take heart from the harvest Shave the harvest from the earth Reasoning is partly insane Image just an eyeless game The night is turning thin The saint is turning to sin Miracles will have their claimers More will bow to Rome He and she are in the house But there's only me at home Rose is a rose of splendor Posed to respond in the end Lonely things like nights, I find, end finer with a friend I hear in the rate of her heart A tear in the heat of the art The night turns thin The saint turns to sin
Great feedback. Thanks for all of that! On that note, I happened to watch a Zep movie, The Song Remains The Same, last night on (again) Palladia. Kinda weird cinematography, but the live music segments were cool enough. Heh, one thing's for sure, Plant sure did like to "flaunt" himself, didn't he? Thanks again.......
Man, talk about blast from the past. As kids, my cousin & I took in all the great bands. We had second row seats for Cream and they totally rocked, although my ears rang for days afterwards. I used to do wild things with my hair when I went to rock concerts. But my cousin has lost his hair but gained a husband.