I was just listening to Blind Faith's one and only album. (And what a shame there weren't more!) I particularly love Clapton's song "In the Presence of the Lord." Gorgeous song! For those who don't remember, Blind Faith (born and died in 1969) was made up of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker (the drummer for the just-broken-up group Cream), Stevie Winwood (child prodigy from the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic), and Ric Grech, who was not well-known outside of local musician circles, but who was with later a member of the Buddy-less Crickets. Anyway, I had read in a few places that shortly after the breakup of the group, Clapton "recanted" his Christianity. Strange, I thought, because I'd always believed that his faith had gotten him through the tragic death of his son. So I looked all over the internet to see if he was ever asked about it, but I can't find anything definitive. I could find no interviews about it, so I figured maybe he wasn't anymore. Then, I came across a concert in 2007, Clapton and Winwood reunite to sing "Presence of the Lord," and both he and Winwood seemed pretty into it. (Link to the video at the bottom of this post.) So, my questions are: 1. Is Eric Clapton "still" a Christian? 2. What do you think of this song? 3. Do you have other thoughts about Blind Faith, any of the musicians in it or any of their other songs?
Michelle, I don't know if EC is still a Christian or not, but I came across this article written about him, and I feel that he probably still feels he is... https://spokanefriends.com/2017/11/26/spirituality-of-eric-clapton-part-i/ I've always been a Clapton fan, know Windwood etc.. but never heard of Blind Faith tbh... but I enjoyed that tube link ...so I may explore more. I've always loved Gospel music, but can't say I've ever specifically sought out Christian rock music per se...
I really don't have an answer about Eric Clapton's faith. You also asked about the musicians and to that I can give my take on them. Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are two of my favorite musicians. First heard EC when he played with the Yardbirds and then joining John Mayall's Blues Breakers. Loved what he did with Cream and Blind Faith. My introduction to Steve Winwood was with the Spencer Davis Group and then the great work with Traffic. I still crank up 'Mr. Fantasy' and 'The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys'! Sadly, that type of creativity in rock is very hard to find today.
What a great article! In fact, the Part II was also great! Lots of insight there. Thank you! You probably hadn't heard of Blind Faith because they existed in 1969, which was the same year they broke up. They recorded one album. I think "Can't Find My Way Home" would have been the most famous. But I think every song on the album is above average. But I'm also pretty sure that their fan base were mostly Cream, Spencer Davis, and Traffic fans.
They are two of my favorites as well. Of course, I don't think you could have attended of of their concerts and not have them among your favorites! I still call Steve Winwood "Stevie Winwood" out of habit. Amazing voice at an amazingly young age!! "Low Spark" and "Mr. Fantasy" should be played no other way. But I have to add "John Barleycorn Must Die" to that list. You're right about rock today. But actually, rock music -- like Motown music -- is simply no longer played, other than on oldies stations. Oh, you can hear some of them in hiphop kind of songs. I've heart Bruce Hornsby's voice on "The Way It Is" in a 2pac song and Iron Butterfly, the Beach Boys, Isaac Hayes. That's the closest I've seen to "creative," and that's something to think about: the most creative thing is something from the 1960s stitched into music that's generally unlistenable.
To me, the only true guitarist was Lester Pollfus (known worldwide as LES PAUL!), the inventor of the Electric Guitar and the developer of Sound-on-Sound Recording, the Echo Chamber, and many innovations that came about before anyone like Eric Clapton or any other rock guitarist was ever thought of. Give a listen to some of Les Paul's classics, along with his wife Mary Ford, who provided great harmony. On YouTube, listen to "Les Paul, Live and Magnificent" Hal
Les Paul was without doubt a great guitarist... many more tho' too... Chet Atkins, John Williams, Julian Bream, etc...
I'm a big fan of Chet Atkins work... he could play everything from country, and pop to the most intricate classical work... and so modest with it...
I think the only one who really knows if Eric Clapton was ever or still is a Christian is God. Yet Eric did surrender to God according to the article below...and I believe the Bible when it says we cannot lose our salvation. We may lose our faith at hard times in our lives like when his son died but not our salvation. And even when we surrender our lives to Jesus and become Christians we don't become perfect because of that....Jesus stands in perfection before our Father for us. And the Holy Spirit living within us starts growing us more like Jesus on a daily basis....but it's process that will not be completed until Jesus comes back for us and finishes His work in us. http://www.reallifestories.org/stories/eric-clapton-no-longer-a-blind-faith/ As for the song I thought it showed he was a baby Christian being fed on milk and not the meat yet. But I heard his love for our Lord in the music and his voice. I don't really know much about Blind Faith but from the songs I listened to on youtube I feel like their Blind Faith was started to have vision.