The term “legend” is readily applied in rock and roll it but it belonged to James Baker. Drummer, at various times, for the Hoodoo Gurus, Scientists, The Victims, Beasts of Bourbon, The Dubrovniks and The Beasts, James succumbed to cancer at home in Perth last night, aged 71.
Tributes have been flying around the Interwebs all day and two of the best come from Melbourne and Sydney. They bear repetition here.
On stage with Tex Perksin in The Beasts.
Melbourne publicist and Dog Meat Records boss Dave Laing:
“It is with heavy heart that we say that James Baker, the King of the Perth Big Beat, the Godfather of Perth Punk and Australia's Garage Guru passed away around 7:30 last night at home in Perth.
“It was no secret that James had been suffering from terminal cancer for some time, but he did his best to hold it at bay which enabled a final go round from the Victims - the band he formed with fellow Hoodoo Guru Dave Faulkner in '77 - and a couple of last tours as well as a new album from the Beasts, the band he co-founded in '83.
“He also joined the Gurus on stage in Perth in December. He released his first solo 12" record 'Born To Rock' - his first solo release since 1985's legendary "Born to Be Punched"/"I Can't Control Myself" single - in May last year, and a newly recorded single with Dom Mariani as recently as January of this year.
“With a cv that reads like a who's who of Australian rock'n'roll greatness - in addition to the Victims, Hoodoo Gurus and Beasts of Bourbon, James co-founded the Scientists, the Dubrovniks, the Painkillers and more - James was also a genuine tastemaker and style influencer. He was a man who LOVED rock'n'roll, and who shared that love with everybody. And he was loved. He was so loved.
“Coming into the world on March 7, 1954 - appropriately around the same time that rock'n'roll was also busy being born - James caught the bug early. In his late teens he was a member of two short lived bands Black Sun and the Slink City Boys - influenced by the Stooges/MC5/Alice Cooper axis and the New York Dolls respectively - and then in '76, a US and UK sojourn in '76 put James in the thick of punk's early days.
“Having brushed shoulders with various members of the New York Dolls, Ramones, Dictators, Damned, Sex Pistols and the Clash, he returned home to help form one of Perth's original punk bands the Geeks before writing himself into history with the Victims and the rest of it.
“James is survived by his wife Cathy, daughters Lorna and Faye and sister Barbara, and his unborn grandson who will be arriving on the scene in the next week or so.”
From Sydney, Feelpresents promoter and onetime Sydney Trade Union Club booker Tim Pittman had this to say:
“James Baker carried an air of mythology and untouchable cool even as he walked the streets of Surry Hills. He had seen and done all we wanted to do before we had even begun!
“To call him your friend was to claim bragging rights but he was everyone’s friend. No airs or graces, James was extremely humble and happy to see and chat with everyone.
“A great drummer from a plethora of great bands but an even greater human. There will never be another James Baker. Vale.”
