Blind Faith biography

 

Formed in 1969 and one of the earliest conglomerations to earn the dubious tag "supergroup". The band comprised former Cream members Eric Clapton (b. Eric Patrick Clapp, 30 March 1945, Ripley, Surrey, England; guitar, vocals) and Ginger Baker (b. Peter Baker, 19 August 1939, Lewisham, London, England; drums), Steve Winwood (b. 12 May 1948, Birmingham, England; keyboards, vocals, ex-Traffic) and Ric Grech (b. Richard Roman Grech, 1 November 1946, Bordeaux, France, d. 16 March 1990, Leicester, England; bass, violin, ex-Family).

 

The band stayed together for one highly publicized, million-selling album and a lucrative major US tour. Their debut was at a free pop concert in front of an estimated 100,000 at London's Hyde Park, in June 1969. The controversial album cover depicted a topless pre-pubescent girl holding a phallic chrome model aeroplane. The content included only one future classic, Clapton's "Presence Of The Lord". Baker's "Do What You Like" was self-indulgent and overlong and their cover version of Buddy Holly's "Well All Right" was unspectacular. Buried among the tracks was the beautiful Winwood composition "Can't Find My Way Home", never afforded the attention it deserved. Further live Blind Faith tracks can be heard on the Winwood box set, The Finer Things.

The 2001 reissue of Blind Faith's sole album is an excellent closing of the chapter. The band left many feeling cheated that they were unable to stay together long enough to fulfil their own ambition and so denied fans of what might have been. Deluxe Edition contains everything Blind Faith recorded, including the long studio jams which capture the band in a natural and unrehearsed setting.