Australian musician James Baker has died, at the age of 71.
Baker was best known as the drummer for several rock outfits including The Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, the Victims and the Dubrovniks.
News of his death comes just two weeks after Hoodoo Gurus lost founding member Kimble Rendall and manager Dominic ‘Mick’ Mazzone within just days of each other.
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Baker died in his hometown of Perth on Monday, about 7.30pm, according to a statement confirming the death of “the King of the Perth Big Beat, the godfather of Perth Punk and Australia’s Garage Guru”.
“He was a man who LOVED rock’n’roll, and who shared that love with everybody. And he was loved. He was so loved,” the statement said.
The Hoodoo Gurus are yet to comment on Baker’s passing but they updated their Facebook cover photo in tribute, posting a shot of the musician playing the drums.
His death comes 10 years after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. At the time, in 2015, doctors gave the rock star just six months to live but he battled on and continued to tour.
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“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,” the statement said.
“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.”
Last year when Baker released his first – and last – solo record, a mini-album titled Born to Rock, he suggested to fans he wasn’t sure how long he had left but wanted to leave a lasting legacy.
“As you know, I’m heading towards the end of the show but hey I’ve made my music for me and all of you, I really hope and almost know you will all continue to enjoy and love rock ‘n’ roll as much as I have,” Baker said in a statement in March, 2024.
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Born and brought up in Western Australia, Baker was inspired to take up the drums after seeing Ringo Starr play and was part of a Beatles cover band as a 17-year-old.
It wasn’t long before the musician became a part of some of Australia’s most prolific bands and is credited with being a key part of the Perth punk scene.
He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007, a year after being inducted into the West Australian Music Hall of Fame.
Baker is survived by his partner Cathy, daughters Lorna and Faye, his sister, Barbara “and his unborn grandson who will be arriving on the scene in the next week or so”.
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