Blind Faith

Blind Faith were an English rock supergroup comprising Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech. Formed in early 1969, the group united musicians already renowned for their work with earlier successful bands such as Cream, Traffic, and Family. Despite exceptionally high public expectations, Blind Faith existed for only a few months, producing a single studio album and undertaking a short summer tour before disbanding. Their brief career remains notable for its musical experimentation, its supergroup status, and the controversies and pressures that surrounded their formation.

Formation and early development

The origins of Blind Faith lay in the dissolution of Cream in late 1968. Cream had achieved remarkable commercial success, selling millions of records and securing international acclaim, yet internal tensions—especially between Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker—led to the group’s demise following two farewell concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Eric Clapton, increasingly disenchanted with the commercial pressures associated with Cream’s blues-rock sound, sought a more exploratory and less restrictive musical environment.
Steve Winwood experienced similar artistic frustrations during his tenure with the Spencer Davis Group. Preferring a more progressive, jazz-influenced direction, he left to form Traffic in 1967. When Traffic went on hiatus at the end of 1968, Winwood began informal jam sessions with Clapton at the latter’s home in Surrey. These sessions revealed a strong musical rapport, encouraging thoughts of a new collaborative project.
Clapton and Winwood relocated to Traffic’s rehearsal cottage in Aston Tirrold in early 1969. Ginger Baker joined them unexpectedly during rehearsals, leading to discussions about forming a new group. Clapton hesitated because of his promise to Bruce and his reluctance to recreate the interpersonal challenges of Cream so soon after its breakup. However, Winwood argued for Baker’s inclusion, citing his unique musical strengths. Traffic was temporarily suspended while Winwood committed to the new venture, and both musicians’ managers—Robert Stigwood and Chris Blackwell—expressed interest in representing the group. This sparked early conflicts: the musicians wanted time to develop organically, whereas the management favoured swift commercial exploitation.
Ric Grech of Family was recruited in May 1969, leaving his previous band mid-tour. Clapton coined the name “Blind Faith”, believing it captured the untested assumption that the group would succeed based purely on its members’ reputations.

Recording and album release

Because Winwood was signed to Island Records, special permission had to be secured for him to record with Clapton and Baker, who were contracted to Polydor. During sessions at Olympic Studios, Island released a promotional single to announce its change of address; the record featured an instrumental jam by Blind Faith, although the band was not named on the label. Only around 500 copies circulated, making it a notable collectors’ item until its official release as a bonus track in the 2000 deluxe edition of the Blind Faith album.
The group’s self-titled debut album, released in July 1969, immediately topped the UK charts and the US Billboard pop album listings. Within its first month, it sold over half a million copies and renewed interest in earlier work by Cream. The album cover, designed by photographer Bob Seidemann, generated significant controversy. It depicted a topless eleven-year-old girl holding a stylised silver spacecraft, and while approved by her parents, the image provoked public criticism. The US edition replaced it with a photograph of the band. The 2000 remastered edition expanded the album with outtakes, alternate versions, and rehearsal recordings.

Touring and public reception

Blind Faith’s formation attracted considerable attention from both the press and fans. Their debut performance, a free concert in Hyde Park on 7 June 1969, drew approximately 100,000 spectators. The setlist centred on material from their forthcoming album, supplemented by covers of Rolling Stones and Traffic songs. Although the audience responded positively, Clapton felt the group were under-rehearsed, remaining close to his amplifiers throughout the performance while Baker delivered most of the on-stage dynamism.
Despite the band’s reservations, management pressed for a tour to maximise early momentum. After completing recording sessions, Blind Faith performed in Scandinavia, where smaller venues allowed them to refine their sound. Their American debut at Madison Square Garden in July 1969 highlighted a persistent challenge: the group had too little original material to sustain a full concert set. Clapton disliked lengthy improvisational jams—an approach strongly associated with Cream—yet without them the band relied heavily on older Cream and Traffic songs. Although audiences welcomed the familiar repertoire, this reliance frustrated Clapton, who had hoped for a fresh musical direction rather than a continuation of past supergroup expectations.
The American tour also coincided with the emergence of Delaney & Bonnie, who served as a support act. Clapton gravitated toward their soulful and folk-influenced style, spending increasing amounts of time with them, while Winwood shouldered more responsibility within Blind Faith’s performances. Internal dissatisfaction grew, and the band declined to appear at the Woodstock Festival despite its cultural significance.

Dissolution and legacy

Blind Faith disbanded immediately after the conclusion of their US tour in late 1969. The pressures of public expectation, the shortage of original material, and differing musical priorities among members contributed to their rapid collapse. Clapton soon joined Delaney & Bonnie and later formed Derek and the Dominos, while Winwood returned to Traffic. Baker and Grech likewise moved on to other projects.