Cream Drummer Ginger Baker Recovering From Heart Surgery

Cream drummer Ginger Baker is recovering from open heart surgery and a fall, The Mirror reports. The 76-year-old underwent the surgery in mid-June, around the same time he also suffered an unspecified bad fall.

In a recent post on the drummer’s website, Baker’s daughter Leda wrote, “He called the day after his surgery to say he was OK. Albeit a rather disoriented and unintelligible conversation he was at least awake and aware. The fall has resulted in swollen legs and feet which he is seeing his doctor about in the next day or so.”

Baker was forced to cancel a tour with his band Air Force in February after being diagnosed with “serious heart problems.” Baker shared the news on his site, writing, “Just seen doctor … big shock … no more gigs for this old drummer … everything is off … of all things I never thought it would be my heart.”

While the drummer will likely aim to return to the stage at some point, Leda cautioned fans, “Although he is recovering, any performances in the near future seem overambitious.”

In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, Baker admitted that his health at the time was “not good.” “It’s troubling. At the end of the gig I’m absolutely exhausted,” Baker said. “I’ve got degenerative osteoarthritis, which is extremely painful and I’m on a regiment with a health service pain management control. Apart from that I’ve got COPD from smoking.”