Support Act launches Help a Mate appeal for James Baker, legendary drummer for The Victims, The Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, The Dubrovniks and more

Support Act launches Help a Mate appeal for James Baker, legendary drummer for The Victims, The Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, The Dubrovniks and more

Support Act, the Australian Music Industry’s charity, has launched a ‘Help A Mate’ appeal on behalf of iconic Perth-based punk/garage-rock figure and drummer James Baker, founding member of legendary outfits The Victims, The Scientists, The Hoodoo Gurus, The Beasts of Bourbon, The Dubrovniks and more.

James was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer 9 years ago and now requires constant care which meant his partner Cathy had to give up full-time work in order to provide this care. James and Cathy have been working with a specialist medical team to keep James around for as long as possible. A target of $50,000 has been set to assist with medical and household expenses associated with James’ palliative care.

For further information, and to donate, please go to https://help-a-mate.supportact.org.au/

Tex Perkins has some kind words for his long-time bandmate and dear friend:

“James Baker is one of the finest humans this country has ever known!

For nearly 50 years A creator of some the greatest rock n roll I’ve ever heard!

A leader, a teacher, a living inspiration, a kind and gentle soul that has rocked hard and given so much, it’s time to give some back to him!

If ever there was someone that deserves support at this time in his life, it is the one and only James Baker.”

James Baker & Tex Perkins

Support Act provides crisis relief and mental health & wellbeing support to musicians, managers, crew, and music workers in crisis, across all genres of music.

Support Act’s Help A Mate program provides an opportunity for friends, family and/or work colleagues to raise money for an artist, crew or music worker who is in need or suffering hardship or distress. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. 10% of the money raised by Help a Mate appeals is retained by Support Act to help them continue their charitable objectives.

James in The Scientists, 1978

“…When I first met James in 1977 I knew immediately that here was a stylish person with impeccable taste. He just had an aura about him. 45 years later and my opinion hasn’t changed one whit.” – Dave Faulkner – Hoodoo Gurus / The Victims

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James Baker, the legendary Perth punk pioneer, is a founding member of The Victims, The Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, The Dubrovniks, The Painkillers and more.

With his unrecorded early ’70s bands, the Stooges-inspired Black Sun and New York Dolls-inspired Slink City Boys, and his 1976 travels in the US and the UK – where he saw the Ramones and Johnny & the Heartbreakers and met a pre-Sex Pistols Sid Vicious, Joe Strummer & Mick Jones of the fledgling Clash, and members of the Damned – James Baker is Perth’s ultimate punk tastemaker. Having formed one of Perth’s first two punk bands, the Geeks, upon his return home from those travels, he then connected with a fledgling punk singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Faulkner to form the Victims in 1977. The Scientists, with Kim Salmon, followed in 1978.

Baker saw the ’80s in with an appearance on Countdown with the Scientists before following Faulkner to Sydney, where they formed what was originally called Le Hoodoo Gurus in 1981. A couple of years later, together with members of the Scientists and the Johnnys and a teenage frontman named Tex, he formed what was only meant to be a short-lived muck-around band, the Beasts of Bourbon.

Some forty years later and having completed one last go around with the Victims late last year, James had a final run with the Beasts in April of this year.

Prior to that, in March, James released a new 6-song mini-LP on esteemed Los Angeles label In The Red (Kid Congo, Dirtbombs, Jay Reatard, Reigning Sound, Osees etc) to mark his 70th Birthday, which was on March 7.

The new magnum opus Born To Rock is only the second solo release by the man who has played such an important role in so many pivotal Australian bands, following his 1985 Red Eye Records solo single “I Can’t Control Myself”.

Recorded with backing band The Groundbreakers (aka guitarist and co-writer/producer Wayne Smith), the record’s half a dozen tracks beat not only with the man’s thumping drums, but with his rock’n’roll heart. Loud and primitive, it contains echoes of all of James’ old bands, along with those of old favourites like the Troggs and the New York Dolls.

In the tradition of previous Baker classics like the Geeks’ “I Like Iggy Pop” and the Painkillers’ “Rock’n’Roll Heart”, the album is a love letter to the glam, garage and punk rock that James has always listened to and played, from a one-time teenage dreamer who has seen it all come true.

‘Wow, 70 years on Planet Earth, 54 years committed to Rock & Roll. I bought my first drum kit when I was 16 years old.

I’m really happy to Present in my 70th year, my first Solo Album – Born to Rock. I think Rock was always what I was meant to do. As many of you know it’s not the easiest path, but I’ve had a blast and that will be my way till the very last. 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 & Roll as much as I have.

The support my friends, R&R Family and the Industry have shown during this chapter of my life and career in the Australian Alternative Music Industry is truly incredible. I will never have enough words to thank you all.”

– James Baker

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