Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Press

Taking to the stage at London’s Apollo Hammersmithwith last night, Pink Floyd‘s Roger Waters reunited with Eric Clapton to pay tribute to Cream and Blind Faith drummer Ginger Baker.

Appearing on bass, Waters accompanied Clapton and his backing outfit for ‘Sunshine of Your Love‘.

He then stuck around to perform another Disreal Gears number, ‘Strange Brew’ and Wheels of Fire opener ‘White Room‘ with Stevie Windwood.

After exiting the stage, Roger Waters was followed by a succession of other guests including funk legend Nile Rodgers, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, Ginger’s son Kofi Baker, and several others.

The former Pink Floyd visionary later returned for an ensemble performance of ‘Crossroads‘.

“I called him Peter Edward,” Clapton shared with the crowd, referencing Ginger Baker’s birth name. “I think he’s here somewhere and he’ll be playing music for you tonight and we’re going to help him along.”

“He was a scoundrel,” the guitarist then added, making note of Baker’s prickly persona, “but I loved him and he loved me and that was that. I saw some people get the rough edge of his tongue, but I never did and I feel blessed. That’s why I’m doing this. I miss him.”

Baker passed away last October.

Despite the trio’s brief lifespan, Cream was a significant influence on Pink Floyd.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Ginger Baker,” Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who did not perform at the concert, writes in his biography Inside Out. “When the curtain opened at the Regent Street Polytechnic in 1966 and there were Ginger, Eric and Jack I thought, that’s what I’d like to be, and that was it.”

Cream’s third member, Jack Bruce passed in 2014.

The full setlist below.

Ginger Baker Tribute Setlist

01. Sunshine of Your Love – with Roger Waters
02. Strange Brew – with Roger Waters
03. White Room – with Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones and Roger Waters
04. I Feel Free – with Nile Rodgers and Willie Weeks / Paul Carrack (vocal)
05. Tales Of Brave Ulysses – with Nile Rodgers and Willie Weeks
06. Sweet Wine – with Will Johns / Paul Carrack (vocal)
07. Blue Condition
08. Badge – with Ronnie Wood and Henry Spinetti
09. Pressed Rat – with Kofi Baker
10. Had To Cry Today – with Steve Winwood, Kofi Baker and Nile Rodgers
11. Presence Of The Lord – with Steve Winwood, Kofi Baker and Nile Rodgers
12. Well Alright – with Steve Winwood, Kofi Baker and Nile Rodgers
13. Can’t Find My Way Home – with Steve Winwood, Kofi Baker and Nile Rodgers
14. Do What You Like / Toad – with Steve Winwood, Kofi Baker and Nile Rodgers
15. Crossroads (encore) – All