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Noteworthy Then

2/8/1969 Blind Faith forms

 

 

One of the first super groups emerged on this day in 1969 when Eric Clapton and Cream drummer Ginger Baker joined forces with Traffic's Steve Winwood and bass player Ric Grech, who also played violin on the song Sea of Joy, on the debut album the group released in August of that year.  The release included only 5 songs. The nearly 9 minute opening track Had to Cry Today was followed by the biggest but shortest song on the album, Can't Find My Way Home, with a runtime of just 3:16.  Buddy Holly's Well All Right and EC's Presence of the Lord closed out side one.  Side two had just two tracks, Winwood's Sea of Joy and Ginger Baker's track Do What You Like, a free-wheeling 15:18 song.

The notoriety of the lineup made it possible for the band to draw an audience of 100,000 to Hyde Park  and to start a US tour two months before the debut album would get released.   

 

A shortage of new material led to the group including Cream and Traffic songs in the setlists of the 14 concerts.  Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett were tapped to open the concerts and Clapton ended up spending most of his off stage time working with them, a factor that led to  Blind Faith disbanding shortly after the last concert on the US tour. 

 

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on February 8 include...


1961 Motley Crue's Vince Neil born.

1969 George Harrison has his tonsils removed.

1973 Max Yasgur, owner of the Bethel, New York farm where the 1969 Woodstock festival was staged, dies of a heart attack in Florida.

1974 Bad Company makes its live debut in Newcastle, UK.

1980 David and Angela Bowie divorce after 10 years of marriage.

1981 R.E.M. holds the first recording session in Smyma, Georgia..

1988 The Who reunite for a 25th anniversary celebration.

1994 Motley Cure’s Tommy Lee is arrested for carrying a loaded gun at the Los Angeles Airport.

2005 Keith Knudson of the Doobie Brothers dies of pneumonia.

2013 Bruce Springsteen receives MusiCares Person of the Year award in LA.

2013 LA judge dismisses Axl Rose suit against Activision for including images of Slash in Guitar Hero III.  Rose claimed their use of Welcome to the Jungle in the game was conditioned on him not appearing in it. 

2015 AC/DC plays Grammy Awards show with former member Chris Slade (1990-94) on drums in place of Phil Rudd...