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mahatmakanejeeves

(64,889 posts)
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 12:39 PM 5 hrs ago

On June 7, 1969, Blind Faith played its only UK concert, in front of 100,000 fans in London's Hyde Park.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (for June 7, 2024)

• 1969 – In their only UK concert, the rock supergroup Blind Faith, featuring Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker, debuted in London's Hyde Park in front of 100,000 fans.

Blind Faith


Members of the band posing in a line for the camera
Left to right: Steve Winwood, Ric Grech, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton

Background information
Origin: Ripley, Surrey, England
Genres: Psychedelic rock, blues rock
Years active: 1969
Labels: Polydor, Atco, RSO, Island
Past members: Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Ric Grech

Blind Faith were an English supergroup that consisted of Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech. They followed the success of each of the member's former bands, including Clapton and Baker's former group Cream and Winwood's former group Traffic, but they split after a few months, producing only one album and a three-month summer tour.

The group originated with informal jamming by Clapton and Winwood in early 1969 following the break-ups of Cream and Traffic. Baker joined them in rehearsals and they decided to form a group. Grech joined as the fourth member from the band Family in May, and they began recording their eponymous debut album. It drew controversy for featuring a photograph of a topless 11-year-old girl on the front cover, and it was issued with a different cover in the United States.

The first Blind Faith concert was on 7 June in front of an estimated 100,000 fans in Hyde Park, London, but they felt that they had not rehearsed enough and were unprepared. They subsequently played concerts in Scandinavia and the US, but the lack of material in the live set led them to play old Cream and Traffic songs which pleased the audience but disillusioned the band. Clapton became increasingly isolated during the tour, preferring to spend time with support act Delaney & Bonnie, and Blind Faith disbanded immediately after their last performance. Clapton and Winwood both enjoyed the music that they played together in the group's limited time, and they have since collaborated on several tours playing Blind Faith material.

{snip}

Touring

News of Blind Faith's formation created a buzz of excitement among the public and press. The group debuted at a free concert at London's Hyde Park on 7 June 1969 in front of 100,000 fans. Capaldi and Wood attended the gig, as did Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull. The setlist contained all six numbers that would appear on the debut album, along with a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb", Traffic's "Means to an End", and Sam Myers' "Sleeping in the Ground". The performance was well received by fans, but troubled Clapton, who thought that the band's playing was sub-par. He spent much of the gig close to his amplifiers and not coming forward on stage; only Baker supplied any showmanship and theatrics during the set.

{snip}

Fri Jun 7, 2024: On this day, June 7, 1969, Blind Faith played its only UK concert, in London's Hyde Park in front of 100,000 fans.
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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On June 7, 1969, Blind Faith played its only UK concert, in front of 100,000 fans in London's Hyde Park. (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves 5 hrs ago OP
Saw them at MSG Henry203 5 hrs ago #1
I still play Blind Faith NBachers 5 hrs ago #2
Me too. Loved this group since childhood. LiberalLoner 2 hrs ago #8
LOVE this group ILikePie92 5 hrs ago #3
I still love their music Lulu KC 5 hrs ago #4
I Still Play A Version Of That ProfessorGAC 4 hrs ago #5
Always remember to put your teeth back in before you sing... rubbersole 4 hrs ago #6
Their music was played on the radio; AM of course. Amazing what was played back then. twodogsbarking 2 hrs ago #7

ILikePie92

(133 posts)
3. LOVE this group
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 01:03 PM
5 hrs ago

Discovered them in 1995. Never grow tired of hearing this album. "Had to Cry Today" was a favorite song to jam along to on my guitar. Loved the dueling guitars of Winwood and Clapton. I've seen EC claim that the reason he started playing Strats wasn't because of Hendrix but because of seeing Winwood jamming in Traffic on one. Baker is the greatest drummer of all time to me.

Lulu KC

(8,116 posts)
4. I still love their music
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 01:09 PM
5 hrs ago

"I Can't Find My Way Home" will be on the playlist for my funeral if I ever get around to making it.

ProfessorGAC

(73,006 posts)
5. I Still Play A Version Of That
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 01:15 PM
4 hrs ago

Harder to sing than it used to be.
That happens when the voice gets old. Not sure how my voice got old. I didn't!

rubbersole

(9,904 posts)
6. Always remember to put your teeth back in before you sing...
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 01:46 PM
4 hrs ago

...I keep my glass of Polident on my amp so I don't forget. Now, where's my amp...🤔

twodogsbarking

(13,899 posts)
7. Their music was played on the radio; AM of course. Amazing what was played back then.
Mon Jun 9, 2025, 03:24 PM
2 hrs ago

FM came along, there were album stations too. Then it all switched.

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