[3] Among Baker's other collaborations are his work with Gary Moore, Masters of Reality, Public Image Ltd, Hawkwind, Atomic Rooster, Bill Laswell, jazz bassist Charlie Haden, jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, and Ginger Baker's Energy.

In his early days, he performed lengthy drum solos, most notably in the Cream song "Toad", one of the earliest recorded examples in rock music.

Peter Baker was born in Lewisham, South London; he was nicknamed "Ginger" for his shock of flaming red hair.

[14] Baker then joined the short-lived "supergroup" Blind Faith, comprising Eric Clapton, bassist Ric Grech from Family, and Steve Winwood from Traffic on keyboards and vocals.

[17] The 45 RPM record featured a three-piece drum ensemble and "call and response" vocals, with the song "Atunde!

[18] After many frustrating setbacks and technical hitches, Batakota (ARC) studios opened at the end of January 1973, and operated successfully through the seventies as a facility for both local and western musicians.

Paul McCartney and Wings recorded the song "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)" for Band on the Run at the studio, with Baker playing a tin can full of gravel.

[25] After the failure of the recording studio in Lagos, Baker spent most of the early 1980s on an olive farm in a small town in Tuscany, Italy.

Live material and studio demos from that period which Baker participated in were included on two Hawkwind albums, released later in the 1980s.

In 1985, he worked with producer Bill Laswell on Horses & Trees and then performed as a session musician on Album by Public Image Ltd.[27] Baker moved to Los Angeles in the late 1980s intending to become an actor.

He unsuccessfully auditioned for the part of the Homeless Man in the 1989 "Weird Al" Yankovic comedy film UHF[28] and appeared in the 1990 TV series Nasty Boys as Ginger.

[29] In 1992 Baker played with the hard rock group Masters of Reality with bassist Googe and singer/guitarist Chris Goss on the album Sunrise on the Sufferbus.

The short-lived power trio with the line-up of Baker, Jack Bruce and Irish blues rock guitarist Gary Moore[31] recorded the album Around the Next Dream, released 1994.

[32] His past drug history increasingly caused him problems with U.S. immigration, so in 1999 he sold his property in Parker and moved to South Africa.

On 3 May 2005, Baker reunited with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce for a series of Cream concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Madison Square Garden.

[36] Baker said he had hired Noko as a personal assistant, paying her £7 per day (about R100) for performing various errands, and alleged she used this position to uncover his private banking information and make unauthorised withdrawals.

While he became famous during his time with Cream for his wild, unpredictable, and flamboyant performances that were often viewed in a vein similar to that of Keith Moon from the Who, Baker also frequently employed a much more restrained and straightforward performance style influenced by the British jazz groups he heard during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

[45][47] He recollected that in 1966 he began to adopt two bass drums in his setup after he and Moon watched drummer Sam Woodyard at a Duke Ellington concert.

[48]Baker preferred light, thin, fast-rebounding drum sticks (size 7A), usually held using a matched grip.

[49] Baker's playing made use of syncopation and ride cymbal patterns characteristic of bebop and other advanced forms of jazz, as well as the frequent application of African rhythms.

[51] Baker's style influenced many drummers, including John Bonham,[52] Peter Criss,[53] Neil Peart,[54] Stewart Copeland,[55] Ian Paice,[56] Terry Bozzio,[57] Dave Lombardo,[58] Tommy Aldridge,[59] Bill Bruford,[60] Alex Van Halen,[61] Danny Seraphine[62] and Nick Mason.

[64] AllMusic described him as "the most influential percussionist of the 1960s" and stated that "virtually every drummer of every heavy metal band that has followed since that time has sought to emulate some aspect of Baker's playing".

[74] Baker struggled with heroin addiction throughout his life, having begun using the drug in the 1960s while a jazz drummer in London clubs.

He estimated that he stopped using the drug around 29 times during his life, but was only able to quit permanently after moving to a small Italian village in 1981 where he took up olive farming.

[75] Writing on his blog, he said, "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 ..."[76] In late March 2016, it was revealed that Baker was set for pioneering treatment.

[77] In June 2016, it was reported he was recovering from open heart surgery, but had also suffered a bad fall, which had caused swollen legs and feet.