James Baker (musician)
| James Baker | |
|---|---|
James Baker, Beaufort Street Festival, Perth, November 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Lawrence Baker |
| Born |
7 March 1954 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | Red Eye |
| Associated acts |
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| Notable instruments | |
| Black Pearl SLX drumkit with a custom brass snare and Zildian cymbals | |
James Lawrence Baker (born 7 March 1954) is a rock musician from Perth, Western Australia. He has drummed with several bands including the Scientists (1978–81, 1995), Le Hoodoo Gurus (1981–84), Beasts of Bourbon (1983–85, 1988–90), and the Dubrovniks (1986–94). In 2006 Baker was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Hall of Fame. Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame.
In May 2003 Baker told Sylvester Fox of Groove Magazine about his first drumming gig, "I was in a Beatles covers band. I saw Ringo Starr and I said I want to do that." Baker named Ronnie Bond of the Troggs as his main drumming influence. He then drummed for Black Sun (1973–74), which played original material. He followed with the Slick City Boys (1974–75). In 1976 he travelled to the United States and then England, where he saw early live performances by the Ramones, Flamin' Groovies, the Dictators and Johnny Thunders. Baker described a chance encounter:
"I met Sid Vicious on a bus in London in September 76. My first day in London. I had a New York Dolls t-shirt on and he came up and sat next to me and said how much he liked the New York Dolls. I told him I'd just seen Johnny Thunders in New York and he told me Johnny Thunders was apparently thinking of coming to England. Which he did. So he got that one right. He introduced himself as John Richie, which was his name not Sid Vicious." – James Baker
Baker considered auditioning for the Clash:
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Wikipedia