On February 8th, 1969, the world was introduced via press release to rock’s first true supergroup, Blind Faith
Featuring Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood–and, a few months later, Ric Grech–the band had all the eyes of the music world squarely on them, as Blind Faith’s debut was easily one of the most anticipated moments in the then-young history of commercial rock and roll. At the time, no one would know how quickly the promise of magic to come would turn into a tale of wasted potential, even though the writing was on the wall from the beginning.
Eric Clapton would eventually come to be deified as one of the most celebrated rock guitarists of all time. His insane focus on practice caused him to get kicked out of school, forcing him to earn a living by busking for change on the streets at age 17. Around that time, he joined his first band, and barely two years later he joined what was to be the band for British blues guitar players, The Yardbirds. His brief tenure in the band preceded Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page‘s stints playing the six-string in the band, but it made it clear Clapton was a guitarist to watch.
Clapton left The Yardbirds the day “For Your Love” was released, quickly joining, quitting, and subsequently rejoining John Mayall‘s band The Bluesbreakers. It was fairly obvious to sharp-eyed members of the music scene at the time that Clapton was not one to put down roots in any single musical situation. He wanted to play the blues, to follow the muse that drove him, and was dead set on doing it his way. When drummer Ginger Baker invited him to join his new band, Cream, with former Bluesbreaker cohort Jack Bruce lined up to play bass, he quickly agreed.
Baker had gained fame through his explosive gigs with The Graham Bond Organisation. A student of one of the great British jazz drummers, Phil Seamen, Baker brought aggressive energy, a rarely-seen double bass drum setup, and an ability to blend genres. The Graham Brand Organization was a hit on the club circuit, as fans returned nightly just to see what fresh hell Baker was going to unleash from his drum stool.
Eventually, Baker tired of the interpersonal politics in The Organisation and began to think about forming a band that was comprised of only the best possible players. Though he often quarreled with his bassist in the Brand Organization, Jack Bruce, he recognized his immense talent on his instrument and his confident and powerful singing voice. A plan began percolating in Baker’s mind, and a search for a guitarist who fit his vision began and ended with Eric Clapton.
