10 Best Drum Solos In Classic Rock
6. Toad - Cream
For all of their brilliant accolades, Cream still don't seem to get the credit they deserve in rock circles. Many just seem to pigeonhole them as "Eric Clapton's old band," but this band was much more than just Clapton's invention. While Slowhand's leads were perfectly smooth, Ginger Baker's maniacal drumming style seemed not of this world.
Most of the band's first records see them trying to find their identity, as they work their way through some of the standard blues rock of the day on tracks like "Spoonful." Once we hit the ending though, it's time for Baker to bring everything home. With the guitar and bass providing an intro, Baker proceeds to assault the drumkit in a way that hadn't been seen in rock before, almost as if he is a madman letting all of his fury out on his kit.
Where some drum solos are just mindless rhythms, "Toad" is incredibly composed, as one drumming theme plays into another like waves crashing on a beach. The studio recording is great, but the live versions of this tune were known for being feats of musical virtuosity, with Baker stretching out the solo for almost 15 minutes. Clapton may have been viewed as God, but Ginger Baker's tremendous performance owes something to divine intervention as well.