James Baker (musician)

James Lawrence Baker (7 March 1954 – 5 May 2025) was an Australian musician, best known as the drummer of various rock and punk rock groups, including the Victims, the Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, and the Dubrovniks. In 2006, Baker was inducted into the West Australian Music Industry Hall of Fame. The following year, Hoodoo Gurus were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Infobox

Born

James Lawrence Baker(1954-03-07)7 March 1954Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Died

5 May 2025(2025-05-05) (aged 71)

Genres

Rock

Occupation

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Instrument

Drums

Years active

1973–2025

Labels

Red Eye

Formerly of

The Scientists Hoodoo Gurus The Victims The Dubrovniks Beasts of Bourbon

Tables

List of single with selected details · Discography › Singles

Title	Year
"I Can't Control Myself" / "Born to Be Punched" (as James Baker Experience)	Released: 1985
"Friday Night Friend" / "She Said" (as The James Baker Beat with Dom Mariani)	Released: 2025

· Awards › West Australian Music Industry Awards

2006

James Baker

Role(s)

Hall of Fame

Notes

inductee

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2006	James Baker	Hall of Fame	inductee

References

Gorman, Sean; Whish-Wilson, David (2017). Derby: WA Footy Fans on the Game's Greatest Rivalry. Fremantle Press, ISBN 978
Groove Magazine
https://web.archive.org/web/20080720061704/http://www.groovemagazine.com.au/Features/4/james_baker.html
hem.passagen.se
https://web.archive.org/web/20120907181353/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/b/bakerjames.html
perthpunk.com
http://www.perthpunk.com/the-geeks-story/
McFarlane, 'The Victims' entry. Archived from the original on 6 August 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20040806231610/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=762
"'Television Addict' at APRA search engine"
https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020448/https://www.apra.com.au/cms/worksearch/worksearch.srvlt?action=workSearch
McFarlane, 'The Scientists' entry. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20040803152159/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=351
McFarlane, 'Hoodoo Gurus' entry. Archived from the original on 6 June 2004. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20040606094845/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=916
Harp Magazine
https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231138/http://harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=5095
Nimmervoll, Ed
https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120726191200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/14231/20120727-0512/www.howlspace.com.au/en4/monarchs/interview-bs.htm
Passagen.se
https://web.archive.org/web/20121010113559/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/s/shepherdbrad.html
¡Tarantula!
https://web.archive.org/web/20070610003324/http://www.brella.org/sandpebbles/Hoodoo%20Gurus.htm
McFarlane, 'Beast of Bourbon' entry. Archived from the original on 20 April 2004. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20040420012412/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=84
"ARIA Awards 2007: About Hall of Fame"
https://web.archive.org/web/20080202132814/http://www.ariaawards.com.au/about-hall-of-fame.php
"ARIA presents the 2007 ARIA Hall of Fame"
https://web.archive.org/web/20081030023033/http://www.amcos.com.au/news/industry/news/070507_ARIA-HallofFame.pdf
McFarlane, 'The Dubrovniks' entry. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
https://web.archive.org/web/20040419100423/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=298
"Triple Unearthed (talent contest)|Unearthed artist profile"
https://web.archive.org/web/20090117031437/http://triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=6569
"Blazing Strumpet Records"
https://web.archive.org/web/20070703124226/http://www.blazingstrumpet.com/records/index.php?item=bs-12
"West Australian Music Industry website"
https://web.archive.org/web/20181118052802/http://www.wam.asn.au/
The Music
https://themusic.com.au/news/prolific-aussie-drummer-james-baker-dies-aged-71/lvAkiIuKjYw/06-05-25
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-06/james-baker-australian-punk-drummer-scientists-hoodoo-gurus/105260170
the Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/may/07/james-baker-dies-aged-71-death-australian-drummer-hoodoo-gurus
ABC News
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-06/james-baker-australian-punk-drummer-scientists-hoodoo-gurus/105260170