The rock scene wouldn’t be what it is without him—fans mourn iconic drummer’s (71) death
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Legends of the music world often leave more than just records behind—they shape entire scenes and generations of sound.
One iconic figure from Australia's punk and garage-rock movement has passed, sparking reflection on a career that influenced countless artists and fans.
This is the story of a drummer whose style, swagger and sound became the heartbeat of an era.
James Baker, the drummer whose thunderous presence helped define Australia’s punk and garage-rock movement, died on Monday night aged 71.
He was best known for his work with bands like the Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, the Scientists, the Dubrovniks and the Victims.
But Baker’s legacy extended well beyond his credits on some of the most influential records in the country’s rock history.
With his signature bowl cut—equal parts Brian Jones and Ramones—Baker was a living symbol of rock’n’roll defiance and individuality.
In 1976, he travelled to New York and London to witness the punk explosion firsthand, long before the movement made its way to Australian shores.
He saw seminal acts up close and even spoke with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, who told him their new band, the Clash, were seeking a drummer.
It was the only time his confidence failed him, and he declined to pursue the offer.
Instead, he returned to Perth full of inspiration, determined to spark a revolution in one of the world’s most remote cities.
His first band was the Geeks (also known as the Beheaded), but it wasn’t long before he co-founded the Victims with Dave Faulkner and the Scientists with Kim Salmon.
The Victims’ 1977 single ‘Television Addict’ mocked the idea that a child’s bad behaviour stemmed from watching ‘too much sex and too much violence on the idiot box’.
Behind Faulkner’s snarling vocals, Baker pounded out what resembled a caveman stomp—simple, primal, and unforgettable.
Following the Victims’ split, Baker joined Salmon again in the Scientists, producing a handful of releases including a self-titled album and making an unlikely appearance on Countdown before disbanding in 1981.
As the key figures of the Perth punk scene relocated to Sydney, they became central to a burgeoning garage-rock revival clustered around the Strawberry Hills and Hopetoun hotels, later shifting to the Trade Union Club.
Salmon rebuilt the Scientists while Baker rejoined Faulkner to launch Le Hoodoo Gurus alongside Rod Radalj and Kimble Rendall.
Their first single, ‘Leilani’, opened with Baker’s pounding, tribal rhythm, a clear nod to Suzi Quatro’s ‘Can the Can’.
His blend of glam and garage drumming became the driving force behind Stoneage Romeos, the Gurus’ celebrated 1984 debut.
But following the album’s release, Baker was let go from the band.
The bad news was delivered by then-manager Stuart Coupe, who later wrote in Shake Some Action: ‘With [Baker’s] departure went a big part of the spirit and soul of what made them great in the first place’.
While the statement may have seemed unfair to the rest of the group—especially Baker’s replacement, Mark Kingsmill—it reflected the sentiment of many fans.
Baker was beloved not only for his drumming but for his look, charm and laid-back attitude that embodied the band’s early, cartoonish vibe.
But the Gurus were maturing, preparing for a US tour, and Baker didn’t make the cut.
By then, he had already begun playing with Beasts of Bourbon, a band that included Salmon, Spencer P Jones, Tex Perkins and Boris Sujdovic.
Their first album, The Axeman’s Jazz, became a cult classic and was recorded in just eight hours with the help of VB and amphetamines.
It featured the Salmon-Baker co-write ‘Drop Out’, one of the group’s enduring songs.
Baker went on to form the Dubrovniks with Sujdovic and Radalj, releasing several albums while continuing to influence the garage-rock scene.
His novelty single Born to Be Punched, a tribute to the New York Dolls, was also the first release on Sydney’s Red Eye Records.
In 2007, Baker was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame as part of the Hoodoo Gurus.
He was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2015 but defied expectations, continuing to perform and record throughout his illness.
He reconciled with Faulkner and toured again with the Victims, receiving a hero’s welcome during the Perth stop of the Gurus’ 40th anniversary tour for Stoneage Romeos.
In his final year, he released Born to Rock with a new group, the Groundbreakers, and Ultimo with the renamed Beasts.
That album included one last co-written track with Salmon, ‘The Ballad of the Battle of Rock’n’Roll’.
Baker’s final appearance was a single released in January titled ‘Friday Night Friend’, a collaboration with the Stems’ Dom Mariani.
He is survived by his wife Cathy, daughters Lorna and Faye, sister Barbara and an unborn grandson, due in two weeks.
His influence wasn’t just heard—it was felt in every beat that helped define a rebellious new era of Australian music.
Watch the clip below to see the raw energy that made his work unforgettable.
Source: Youtube/The Victims
James Baker’s legacy lives on through the music, memories and spirit he helped ignite in Australia’s rock scene.
His rhythm was more than just a beat—it was a battle cry for a generation.
May he rest in peace.
One iconic figure from Australia's punk and garage-rock movement has passed, sparking reflection on a career that influenced countless artists and fans.
This is the story of a drummer whose style, swagger and sound became the heartbeat of an era.
James Baker, the drummer whose thunderous presence helped define Australia’s punk and garage-rock movement, died on Monday night aged 71.
He was best known for his work with bands like the Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, the Scientists, the Dubrovniks and the Victims.
But Baker’s legacy extended well beyond his credits on some of the most influential records in the country’s rock history.
Influential Aussie punk drummer dies at 71. Image source: Instagram/jacksmusicshop
With his signature bowl cut—equal parts Brian Jones and Ramones—Baker was a living symbol of rock’n’roll defiance and individuality.
In 1976, he travelled to New York and London to witness the punk explosion firsthand, long before the movement made its way to Australian shores.
He saw seminal acts up close and even spoke with Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, who told him their new band, the Clash, were seeking a drummer.
It was the only time his confidence failed him, and he declined to pursue the offer.
Instead, he returned to Perth full of inspiration, determined to spark a revolution in one of the world’s most remote cities.
His first band was the Geeks (also known as the Beheaded), but it wasn’t long before he co-founded the Victims with Dave Faulkner and the Scientists with Kim Salmon.
The Victims’ 1977 single ‘Television Addict’ mocked the idea that a child’s bad behaviour stemmed from watching ‘too much sex and too much violence on the idiot box’.
Behind Faulkner’s snarling vocals, Baker pounded out what resembled a caveman stomp—simple, primal, and unforgettable.
Following the Victims’ split, Baker joined Salmon again in the Scientists, producing a handful of releases including a self-titled album and making an unlikely appearance on Countdown before disbanding in 1981.
As the key figures of the Perth punk scene relocated to Sydney, they became central to a burgeoning garage-rock revival clustered around the Strawberry Hills and Hopetoun hotels, later shifting to the Trade Union Club.
Salmon rebuilt the Scientists while Baker rejoined Faulkner to launch Le Hoodoo Gurus alongside Rod Radalj and Kimble Rendall.
Their first single, ‘Leilani’, opened with Baker’s pounding, tribal rhythm, a clear nod to Suzi Quatro’s ‘Can the Can’.
His blend of glam and garage drumming became the driving force behind Stoneage Romeos, the Gurus’ celebrated 1984 debut.
But following the album’s release, Baker was let go from the band.
The bad news was delivered by then-manager Stuart Coupe, who later wrote in Shake Some Action: ‘With [Baker’s] departure went a big part of the spirit and soul of what made them great in the first place’.
While the statement may have seemed unfair to the rest of the group—especially Baker’s replacement, Mark Kingsmill—it reflected the sentiment of many fans.
Baker was beloved not only for his drumming but for his look, charm and laid-back attitude that embodied the band’s early, cartoonish vibe.
But the Gurus were maturing, preparing for a US tour, and Baker didn’t make the cut.
By then, he had already begun playing with Beasts of Bourbon, a band that included Salmon, Spencer P Jones, Tex Perkins and Boris Sujdovic.
Their first album, The Axeman’s Jazz, became a cult classic and was recorded in just eight hours with the help of VB and amphetamines.
It featured the Salmon-Baker co-write ‘Drop Out’, one of the group’s enduring songs.
Baker went on to form the Dubrovniks with Sujdovic and Radalj, releasing several albums while continuing to influence the garage-rock scene.
His novelty single Born to Be Punched, a tribute to the New York Dolls, was also the first release on Sydney’s Red Eye Records.
In 2007, Baker was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame as part of the Hoodoo Gurus.
He was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2015 but defied expectations, continuing to perform and record throughout his illness.
He reconciled with Faulkner and toured again with the Victims, receiving a hero’s welcome during the Perth stop of the Gurus’ 40th anniversary tour for Stoneage Romeos.
In his final year, he released Born to Rock with a new group, the Groundbreakers, and Ultimo with the renamed Beasts.
That album included one last co-written track with Salmon, ‘The Ballad of the Battle of Rock’n’Roll’.
Baker’s final appearance was a single released in January titled ‘Friday Night Friend’, a collaboration with the Stems’ Dom Mariani.
He is survived by his wife Cathy, daughters Lorna and Faye, sister Barbara and an unborn grandson, due in two weeks.
His influence wasn’t just heard—it was felt in every beat that helped define a rebellious new era of Australian music.
Watch the clip below to see the raw energy that made his work unforgettable.
Source: Youtube/The Victims
James Baker’s legacy lives on through the music, memories and spirit he helped ignite in Australia’s rock scene.
His rhythm was more than just a beat—it was a battle cry for a generation.
May he rest in peace.
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Condolences to his loved ones 
