Blind Faith

Blind Faith was a band with a lot of potential that didn't last very long. Eric Clapton was tired of Cream, and wanted to try something different. He invited Stevie Winwood (who was getting tired of Traffic) over to jam and see what developed. Ginger Baker (also of Cream) showed up shortly after that and just assumed that he would be part of the new band. And no one ever told him otherwise. After playing a while, they decided that while Stevie Winwood could play the keyboards and bass parts, a bass player made more sense. So Rick Grech (Family) was asked to join. Rick was on tour with Family, but he quit while in the middle of the tour, as he thought the chance to play with Clapton, Winwood and Baker was too good to miss out on.

Some folks may wonder if Blind Faith was the first recorded band with Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood playing together. It was not. Back in February 1966, while Eric Clapton was still a part of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and before Cream, and Steve Winwood was still a part of Spencer Davis Group and before Traffic, they were briefly in a band called Eric Clapton and Powerhouse:

   Stevie Winwood - vocals
   Paul Jones - harp
   Eric Clapton - guitar
   Ben Palmer - piano
   Jack Bruce - bass
   Peter York - drums

that managed to record three tracks (I Want To Know, Steppin Out, Crossroads) for a compilation album.

Unfortunately, Blind Faith wasn't given a chance to develop and find out what they might have been capable of. The press and public had visions of a new supergroup. So Blind Faith started out playing arenas, and became too big, too fast to really have a chance.

June 7, 1969 Hyde Park, London, ENG (Blind Faith's first public performance)

June 12, 1969 Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, FIN (2 shows) June 14, 1969 Konserthuset, Stockholm, SWE June 16, 1969 Njaardhallen, Oslo, NOR June 18, 1969 Konserthallen Liseberg, Liseberg Nojespark Goteborg, SWE June 19, 1969 KB-Hallen, Copenhagen, DEN

July 11, 1969 Newport, RI July 12, 1969 Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY (supported by Free & Delaney & Bonnie & Friends) July 13, 1969 Kennedy Bridgeport Stadium, Bridgeport, CT (Supported by Taste) July 16, 1969 Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA (Supported by Taste) July 18, 1969 Varsity Stadium, Toronto, ON (Supported by Taste) July 19, 1969 Forum, Montreal, QC July 20, 1969 Civic Center, Baltimore, MD (Supported by Taste) July 23, 1969 War Memorial Stadium, Kansas City, MO July 26, 1969 State Fair Park, Milwaukee, WI (Midwest Rock Festival) July 27, 1969 International Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL (Supported by Taste) August 1, 1969 Sports Arena, Minneapolis, MN August 2, 1969 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI (Supported by Taste) August 3, 1969 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, MO (Supported by Taste) August 8, 1969 Center Coliseum, Seattle, WA (Supported by Taste) August 9, 1969 PNE Coliseum, Vancouver, BC (Supported by Taste) August 10, 1969 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR (Supported by Taste) August 14, 1969 Almeda County Coliseum, Oakland, CA August 15, 1969 Forum, Los Angeles, CA (supported by Free, Taste & Delaney & Bonnie & Friends) August 16, 1969 Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, CA August 19, 1969 Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, TX August 20, 1969 Hemisfair Arena, San Antonio, TX August 22, 1969 Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, UT August 23, 1969 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ August 24, 1969 HIC Arena, Honolulu, HI August 26, 1969 UCLA Pavley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA