Ginger Baker & Fela Kuti: How Two Neurotic Musicians Made The Best Music Nobody Heard
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- čas přidán 5. 07. 2019
- In the 1970s, English Drummer Ginger Baker drove across the Sahara Desert to meet Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. What followed were some of the most incredible jazz & rock recordings of all time, as well as some heartbreaking setbacks.
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7:09
"...nearly beating Fela to death..."
Well, you left out the craziest part. Not only did the soldiers have Fela beaten to an inch of his life, but they actually THREW HIS MOTHER OVER THE TWO-STOREY BALONY OF THEIR HOME - KILLING HER EVENTUALLY.
To get the full picture of how dark this incident was, you need to know who Fela's mother was - Olufunmi Ransome-Kuti. She was one of the handful of Nigerian legends who earned Nigeria her independence. As far as amalgamated Nigeria is concerned, it really wouldn't be farfetched to call her the nation's mother. That was the woman Nigerian soldiers saw fit to toss over a two-storey balcony like a ragdoll.
ALBIONS suffer the DELUSION of thinking their "OPINES" carry "WEIGHT" NOTHING can be Farther from the TRUTH!! LOL!!
NOOOooo...his mum died months later.
LOL OLD PEOPLE ARENT REAL
“In 1978 Ransome-Kuti was thrown from a third-floor window in her son Fela's compound, a commune known as the Kalakuta Republic, when it was stormed by one thousand armed military personnel. She lapsed into a coma in February of that year, and died on 13 April 1978 as a result of her injuries.”
John The King Robinson nah. but you do.
Moral of the story: Never let a drum full of weed get you down.
Or maybe, never let a drummer full of weed plan anything? After he lost Paul McCartney which doomed the studio in a struggling to find their own identity former British colony he decided to um...take up polo? Fucking unbelievable. Organized a tour from Africa to Europe but relied on a drum full of smuggled weed to finance it? Oh. My.
Hats off to him for reaching out and helping to bring the beauty of African music to the attention of the western world, but he really should have made room for a manager on that Land Rover.
Or never get down with a drum full of weed.
it was a bongo not a drum
Man...That's the name of your first album right there
@@wolfganginvasion a bongo is a type of drum
More than a generous dose of “artistic license” has been applied to this piece. 😂😂😂
For starters, Fela who was classically-trained at the Trinity College of Music in London had already toured the US and recorded an album at EMI’s Abbey Road studios in London before hooking-up professionally with Ginger Baker in Nigeria. Furthermore, Fela was already an EMI artiste with several albums under the label (such as “Open and Close” and the epic “Shakara”) before a public falling out (reportedly over the length of Fela’s songs and new equipment for an upcoming tour, among other related issues), following which Fela then signed on with Decca (WA) Records under its Afrodisia label. Meanwhile, the tale that Fela never played his recorded music in concert is entirely a MYTH. He did - not just on tour, but at the weekly “jumps” at the Shrine.
Fela was not some “local” musician waiting/hoping for “discovery”. Rather, many of the world’s best musicians (from Stevie Wonder to James Brown) beat a furious path down to the Shrine.
And that's the reason why Ginger Baker traveled to get to know him
This. Pretty sure there’s a video of Paul McCartney on YT talking about going to the Shrine.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Ginger Baker was actually related to Rasputin.
You are too kind, this video feels like a buzzfeed article tbh, as in, a load of unresearched bollocks.
Fela is one of the most influential and powerful artists of all time. Wildly under appreciated
My Nigerian friend got up and started dancing when I told him I stumbled upon Fela Kuti
Man, I feel so fortunate to have seen Fela once. It was 3 decades ago. Still the best concert I've ever attended.
They lived a life that sounds like a movie.
I think it will happen.
Excuse me, but someone DRIVING from Europe to Nigeria could be it's own video entirely, holy shit.
If I was Land Rover I'd pay them and use that fact in advertising.
You haven't seen the film?? It was reissued sometime in the early 2ooo's (?) On DVD format
Mark Arandjus that's what Rovers do. Nothing special about that really... 🙂
@@thewhat531 to be fair, that's what SOME rovers do. MOST Rivera are mall crawlers now, and would lose their electrics and be inoperable within a week of hard use. In fact. Even the "good" ones break down. They were just easier to fix with simple tools on the side of the road, or middle of the desert, as it were.
It is its own video. It's called Ginger Baker in Africa.
It's more common than you think.
Ginger Baker as a close approximation I can make is the musical Hunter S Thompson. A truly undomesticated individual. A true free spirit, and a force of nature.
It's important for parents to socialize their children at the earliest opportunity. Or is that dogs?
And a dick
@@robertbrowne7880 if you ask a sociologist and/or many "psychologists", they would look at humans just as if they are animals as children.
And a little wanker.
Mirokuofnite and a damn fine drummer throughout his life!!
The album they did together is fantastic.
Damn straight it is. I play it at work sometimes and it's universally enjoyed
I remember first learning about Fela in a music class in college. What a badass
RIP Ginger Baker - October 6. 2019
Mathew McConaughey needs to play Ginger Baker when they make a bio movie.
alright alright alright
Perfect.
And dave chappelle could play fela kuti
Christian Bale could do a decent job of portraying Baker - and, unlike McConaughey, Bale's an asshole. So he would easily get into character.
@@smoog yeah christian bale could do as he is already familiar with wearing capes and waving his hands
This is a biopic waiting to happen.
Micaiah von Walter they go into greater detail in the Ginger Baker documentary
‘Beware of Mr Baker’ 2012
Ginger only cared about one thing: drums. He was totally dedicated to the drums even above his own children. I think he could have played for 24 hours straight if he put his mind to it. If you haven't seen "Beware Mr. Baker" you should watch it. Ginger was the best drummer I ever saw in my 70 years and he was definitely one of a kind.
Probably why as a Fela Kuti devotee and Tony Allen feign I love the Ginger Baker album the best. Ginger’s jazzy skip style on that record drives me wild. Ye Ye De Smell sends me in a 60s teenager frenzy. Dem drums are AAAAAHHHH!!!
Dude, Fela Kuti is a musician I've been trying so hard to remember the name of
If you haven’t heard the album “Zombie,” I strongly recommend it. Afro-pop, Jazz, and funk come together in a masterpiece of grooves, rhythm and virtuosity. What they didn’t mention is Fela’s incredible talent on the saxophone and his skills as an improvisational musician. Cool stuff.
We have known about Fela for about 15 years but thank you for introducing us to Ginger, it is good to spread the knowledge, his sons Seun and Femi are still really doing it.
Fela Kuti & Ginger Baker’s Africa 1970 has been one of my favorite albums of all time.
“Nobody” is a stretch. Western music press doesn’t constitute the entire Universe of music listeners. Fela was huge here. In his lifetime. Going to guess from the video title that this is an American channel.
In Europe Fela Kuti is enough known, at least by over 40, also if he never had a large auduence here.
Everyone knows him here in Accra too! But that's not what he said. He's talking about the collaborative album, not Fela.
@Thomas Farrell she said "western music press"?!
@Thomas Farrell The amount of ignorance that goes into a statement like this is unfathomable.
@Thomas Farrell you're so irrelevant, nobody cares about your opinion. You should isolate your ass and let ppl live without the irrelevance of your existence
I was lucky for to see CREAM last concert. R.I.P Ginger.
I listen to Fela Kuti all the time.
I saw a documentary back in 1975 entitled "Ginger Baker In Africa" which was telecast on a non profit TV network. (I know the year because of whom I was with at the time) Shortly after I bought two albums "Ginger Baker in Africa" and Afrodisiac" by Fela Ransome Kuti and the Africa 70. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them and I may still be able to find them somewhere in my basement. Baker's involvement with Kuti and African music was not a secret at the time. There were articles and reports written about it in music magazines and newspapers. The records were not difficult to find.
Joni Haastrup ( the keyboard player pictured in the Ginger Baker Proto Salt/Airforce Jam with the Lijadu sisters)- confirmed to me that the reason McCartney was confronted was merely to ensure that all the equipment stayed in Lagos after he left. That he should advocate for more African artists getting air play and exposure in England. The message being that since the Nigerians had been in England since the early late 1950's/1960's helping the jazz/ rock scene with both sonic and herbal inspiration, with songs like Ob- la di - Ob la Da etc. that the Favor should be returned. McCartney apparently readily agreed. There was a boom in AfroRock in England with Ginger( as Salt and the airforce, Osibisa ( with Remi Kabbaka - a co-investor in Arc studios) ( on Sympathy for the Devil) and the Funkees headlining at Roni Scotts famous club in the early 1970's. We can only surmise why the sound and artist didn't get more exposure. Let's bear in mind that Afro centric musical influence had steadily grown in both English and American jazz and rock scenes since the late 1950s through artists like Guy Warren, Olatunji, MustaphaTetty Ade, and permeated into Hendrix's music and that of Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder and a host of others. Time and again big labels from England would tap these players as session men - for Grace Jones, Sunny Ade, and Paul Simon continuing onward through sampling today. My personal belief and hope is that with more research like yours the names of these great artists will get to fresh ears. One must concede to educational and cultural myopia of American and English views which puts the known Artists in advance of the innovative African artistry and sounds, but clearly upon listening this is backwards. Since those artists were literally in the very same studios and night clubs from LA to London this view has no substance.
Fela is very well known in Ireland.
Interesting video! Baker is a legend 😄
Fancy seeing you here.
They both are. That's kind of the point.
And fela's not?😂 wow..ok!!
Baker isn't a very good drummer.... Tony Allen is on another level.
I would have never heard of gb if it wasn't for FELA😂
Ginger and Fela together is acid heaven.
This would make a good movie :)
They did some great work together. There was a band when I was in college called "Chicago Afrobeat Project" or something like that, and I discovered Fela through them. (weirdly enough I had already been listening to his son, Femi Kuti, for years prior as he was on the Jamband circuit for a while in the late 90's/early 00's, never knowing that his father was essentially the Marley of Africa, lol)
Went to my local record store and could only find a few Fela recordings on vinyl, the live album with Baker, Zombie, and a few other Africa 70 and one Egypt 80. I don't think they knew what they had as I was able to get them all, like 5-6 albums for about $50. Now they're $30-50 a piece for the Japan releases (which is what I found). Been a big fan ever since, though I really need to be in the right mood for Fela. Spring-boarded off Fela into Ali Farka-Toure and various Zam-Rock groups. Amanaz's "Africa" now being one of my favorite albums ever. Would love any suggestions of African rock/funk/jazz/blues as I'm always down to discover new artists.
How u gonna go from playing Afro Beat music to playing Polo? Madman😂🔥
MsBizzyGurl True...
MsBizzyGurl Just saw an interview with ginger practically on his deathbed. He said "losing all that" was a really painful thing. Kinda feel bad for him now.
He sucked at Polo ...and that was just the mint with the hole !
That's Baker for ya😂
This could be a Oscar-winning movie
Thank you, Peter Edward Baker...!!! RIP
Ginger turned me onto Fela. Been a fan ever since.
Funny, it was exactly the opposite with me.
Dude this video was fantastic, keep making more of these not enough content like this on CZcams.
Ohhhh a film must be made.... not the typical Hollywood garbage but those rare jewels that come along here and there that always manage to withstand the test of time.....
Awesome video! I hope you keep on sharing these amazing stories- I really enjoyed watching this. Thanks for putting it out there for us!
Fela Kuti reminds me of Tyler Durden in Fight Club. He "stood against" this oppresive social hierachy but he treated his bandmates as less than human becoming a walking contradiction.
oh shit someone on the internet actually understood fight club
@@man.6618 what do you mean?
You just said complete rubbish....dont speak about an artist you do not know anything about...
@@Ebilehita Did you watch the video?
@@tangerinesarebetterthanora7060 I'm telling you its false
I never heard of this collaboration. Then I go to listen to this music.
Thank you for this. Excellent work.
Beautiful video, thanks for sharing.
"If truth be known," he continues, "I was the Stones' first drummer. We used to do the interval for Alexis Korner with Mick Jagger, who was like Korner's protege, and Brian Jones. I got on very well with Brian, so we formed a band. Then Charlie [Watts] left Alexis Korner so I could join, and I got Charlie into the Stones. But it was Brian who set the Stones on its path."
I'm kinda happy to hear about the very early stages of the stones were brought together due to circumstances surrounding ginger baker, cool stuff
@Ricardo D'Arcivar Does "everyone" know this? Or did you just make it up?
I can listen Tony Allen and Ginger Baker drum jam from that album like everyday
Thanks for making this! Great information about two of my musical heroes.
Make some more videos! I really enjoyed this 🙌🏻
the cover of Band on the Run has actor Christopher Lee, who played Saruman in LoTR. The reason the picture is like that is that they couldn't keep still long enough because they were laughing too much at being serious. They got this picture when they told them to just hold onto each other for a second
Great story. Goes to show how far musicians will go to make music. RIP Ginger.
I’m really happy I found your channel. I have a strong taste for obscure music and history so this is right up my alley.
This is spectacular. Such good stuff. Such bad breaks. I had forgotten about lots of this stuff having happened.
"Fell-ah" and "Lay-gos" but great video.
Two of some of my favourite artists and I never even realised they collaborated, thank you sir
Very entertaining, Well made and informative take on music history.
This is gold. Thank you.
He didn't fly down. He drove to Africa in a Jensen.
I thought it was a Range Rover?
Jack Stone The first time?
I think it was a Range Rover... The Jenson was flown to Jamaica (Yep... Flown in a cargo plane ^-^) and he drove it off a cliff, surviving only because he wedged the car in a tree growing out the side of the cliff.
Allegedly :)
"...raw musical passion....?" Adventure perhaps. He was a scoundrel, Baker, that looked for the next wall to break down.
Thank you for this, it was a big learning experience. A great little documentary.
🎼🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Thanks for posting
Ginger Baker was very open minded. What a great musician
"Hard to imagine a band today dragging their van across the Sahara desert." You did an amazing piece on soviet music - check out Gazelle of death and Denis Alekseev. For 10+ years he drives bands to do gigs in the most remote places on earth
This is awesome, thanks
Excellent! More please!
This was great storytelling. A video on the very similar antics of Captain Beefheart might be cool.
Someone have to make a movie about them!
Already done.
Beware of Mr. Baker.
Also, Fela had way bigger balls than James Brown. The allegations of fining musicians are wrong. When Brown showed up and Fela found out about Browns policy of fining musicians for getting high and playing wrong notes, he sent James to bed and forbid him from playing with Baker and the band.
I listen to this album like twice a month I just love it.
Dude I love this idea as a channel! Keep it up, keen to see the next one.
This was both interesting and enjoyable. Keep em comin and i'll keep watching
True story!
I hope that will make people listen to their music : )
Afrobeat is kept alive by Fella's sons : )
And baker was an excellent drummer.
@Tom Pryor So right . and Femi helped a lot of musiciens to keep their job (and keep up the flamme )after his dad"s too soon death . ...:
Seun & Femi Kuti.
Love the way this is narrated.
Great video with fantastic stories. Nicely done my friend
Nice video, keep it up 👍
Music does surpass everything else.
After watching the video and reading some comments providing greater details, it sure makes me appreciate how difficult it is to synopsize a life--especially this relationship, and Fela Kuti most of all! I have to doff my hat to the fact you bothered to tackle it, and am very happy you did. Down the rabbit hole I go!
Wow. Thanks for this.. New music for me.
This is such a well made video, makes me want to look more into Fela and Baker's work. (I'm into Cream, Blind Faith, and Airforce. Trying to explore more of Ginger's career.) Hoping your channel blows up!
Check out the album "Sunrise on the Sufferbus" by the Masters of Reality. Ginger played drums on that album and my god is it class, wish he made more music with them but I guess it wasn't his style to stick with any group for too long.
You have low standards I guess.
RIP Ginger 🙏
Cool Video, please keep them coming!
This channel is great. So glad it popped up in my CZcams algorithm today. I subscribed a few minutes into watching.
If you enjoyed this Watch beware of Mr Baker, a great insight into a crazy guy who Will be missed
We all have ya DICK
Ginger played with more bands than just Cream and Blind Faith before he headed to Nigeria.
He even joined the air force!
So cool! I knew about Paul recording band on the run in Nigeria but great video! Learned a lot more!
This is the channel I needed.
damn ginger baker lived a full life!
Great video essay! Would love to see a channel cover lesser known stories in music history like this. No shade to some other channels but im not really interested in a video essay like 'How the strokes were influential.' These are the kindve stories that are actually fascinating! Certainly not clickbait crap!
Fela kuti was well-known in the caribbean part of colombia (mainly Cartagena) at that time, people age 50-80 years old today were hit by the African music wave during the 60-70-80's making Shaka Shakalo a big hit in the pick-up's dancing floor arena.
Fela & Ginger Baker live 71 and Shaka Shakalao are part of my personal Lps collection.
I saw Fela in San Diego, 1985? It was one of the best concerts I have ever seen.
This video should have 50 million views....
Two true music legends, who people hardly know, even today.
Many people know the band Cream, but few know it was Ginger who founded that powerhouse trio.
And many people know the song ITT (International Thief Thief) without knowing that song, is by Fela....
I happen to own that Fela and Ginger live album, its one of my most priced possessions for sure, and very hard to come by these days, if you are lucky, you find it in a second hand record store, but i wouldnt get my hopes up too much, people who own this album, dont sell it.
Ty for highlighting this cooperation between these legends in music in this video, so happy i ran into this.
Purr african talents...the great fela kuti made thr whole eager to his creativity..such a powerful intertpretation of the actual suffering in post colonial africa...rise on mama africa..shine on....
Wow. Great video!
Very well done mini documentary.👍
Another amazing video. You have introduced me to so much. Please keep this stuff coming. The diversity of what you cover is very appealing and appreciated!
Say it with me Lay-Gos. Lay-gos
It’s actually Lay - Gus
Lahghost
@@gloriboigaming7583 Lay gus
@@gloriboigaming7583 but if I pronounce ASK as AX, you loose your mind.
Despite some obvious missteps (which he attempted to address in one of the comments) I appreciate the effort it took to create this vid. Hope you keep at it.
Great video
I lived in Nigeria that whole time, met Fela once in 1977
What was it like??
@@ezthejedi meeting Fela? I was young, 18, and he was older. I didn't like him. He was at my school to recruit me after a friend and I played a blues tune on Nigerian National Television.
I refused.
Monkey 420 there’s so much more to this story you’re not telling.
@@ezthejedi it was post-Biafra War, of which I went through its entirety as well.
There was a Nigerian military presence in most towns and all cities, frequent temporary and permanent checkpoints on the roads. Fuel was often scarce and extremely expensive for the area. There were no longer any military skirmishes or ethnic cleansing by the north.
It was "relatively peaceful" with a new military government lasting about 3 years until another coup would dictate a new military country leader until the establishment of a new constitution and government structure and formal democratic elections.
Bribes were a way of life for those in charge.
@@gxtmfa sorry, I felt a little a bit like if I started playing for him i would be little more than a body. I was wise to those who used positions of power for their personal gain to the sometimes detriment of others.
It was a quick call, I had just his demeanor, slight impatience. He was accompanied by Sonny Okun who did most of the speaking. I was slightly flattered but skeptical.
RIP Ginger
great video, thanks!
Thank you
Some may say that he had no one but himself to blame, but it's hard and sad seeing someone, in this case poor Ginger, in the happy enthusiastic vital prime of his youth, become an embittered angry physically deteriorated man before his death.
The hypocrisy and double-standard we used to have for famous people’s shitty behaviour is crazy.
d0y0uwantm0re yup. Trump.
We still have it
You talk like this behavior has gone extinct 🤨, why?
Someone needs to make this into a movie!
Thank you, very interesting!