Courtesy
of Bobbie G of Smiling Phases.
All
dates refer to 1969; the entire history of the band can be encompassed
in this one year.
February
8
Eric
Clapton and Ginger Baker, remaining together after the demise of Cream
in Nov 1968, join with Steve Winwood, who has just quit Traffic, at the
Berkshire Downs cottage at Aston-Tirrold for preliminary jams and rehearsals.
(Clapton, according to another source, was ‘induced in a moment of weakness’
into joining the group. Winwood himself recalls that he and Clapton rehearsed
together for 2 weeks at Clapton’s house in Surrey before Baker was invited
to join; and Baker was invited over Clapton’s objections.)
May
3
Ric
Grech joins the still-unnamed group, leaving the group Family during their
US tour to do so.
The
name “Blind Faith” is announced. The music press dubs the line-up an ‘instant
supergroup’; their name is apparently an anticipatory response to this.
June
7
After
recording an album, the band makes its live debut in Hyde Park, London;
a crowd estimated at 100,000 - 150,000 watch for free. (Tapes of this show
are in circulation.)
June
22
The
group’s one and only album, Blind Faith, is released on the Polydor label
in the UK and the Atco label in the US. It includes the songs Had To Cry
Today, Can’t Find My Way Home, Well All Right, Presence of the Lord, Sea
of Joy, and Do What You Like. The original UK sleeve with a picture of
a nude 11-year-old girl holding a ‘phallic’ model airplane is considered
too controversial for use in the US and is replaced by a group photograph.
(Please see the Discography for more information.)
July
11
The
US live debut at Madison Square Garden, NY, is the start of a sell-out
two-month US stadium tour, once called ‘one of the tackiest rock circuses
of all time’, which earns a fortune, yet convinces band members that Blind
Faith is musically unsatisfying. Winwood later describes the tour as “vulgar,
crude, disgusting” and “lacking in integrity”.
September
19
Blind
Faith is awarded a Gold Album.
September
22
Blind
Faith hits #1 on both the US and UK pop charts and stays there for 2 weeks.
September
29
The
band completes the US tour in Hawaii.
October
8
It
is announced that Clapton, having already lost interest, will carry on
touring with Delaney and Bonnie. Grech will stay with Baker in Airforce
at the end of 1969, while SW will work solo before re-forming Traffic early
in 1970. Blind Faith does not play together again.
Thanks
to Bobbie G webmaster of Smiling
Phases for Bio, Discography, and member information.
