LONDON • Legendary British drummer Ginger Baker, a founding member of British psychedelic band Cream, died on Sunday aged 80.

He was admitted to hospital several weeks ago after becoming "critically ill", according to posts on his Twitter account.

He had previously been known to suffer from breathing problems.

Baker helped to roll out supergroup Cream in 1966 alongside guitarist Eric Clapton and bassist-vocalist Jack Bruce.

He emerged in the 1960s at the same time as other legendary rock drummers – Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones and Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Described by the BBC as "a temperamental and argumentative figure, whose behaviour frequently led to on-stage punch-ups", Baker was considered one of the most innovative and influential drummers of his generation.

He stood out for his endless solo rifts and unique style, which merged the mellifluence of jazz with the harder edge of rock.

After the band's break-up in 1968, he joined another mythical, eRead More – Source