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In 1969, Traffic looked like the next big thing. Then a haunted studio caused them to split: “There was something evil”
Traffic were regarded as a talented, experimental British band whose early albums hinted at greater success to come. A brief split in 1969 interrupted that rise, and drummer Jim Capaldi later blamed the unsettling atmosphere of the isolated farm where they recorded their debut, *Mr. Fantasy*.
The band recorded at Sheepcote Farm, a 19th-century property in Aston Tirrold, Berkshire, without electricity or running water. Capaldi recalled unexplained footsteps and said the cottage had “something evil” about it; Steve Winwood spoke of a mystery in the landscape, while Dave Mason dismissed the ghost stories. Winwood also wondered whether drugs shaped some of the experiences, and the article notes the band went on to release acclaimed albums in the early 1970s.
In short
- Traffic paused in 1969 after recording at an isolated Berkshire farm.
- Jim Capaldi blamed the cottage’s sinister atmosphere.
- Winwood was unsure whether unusual experiences were linked to drugs.
Explained simply
Traffic were a British band formed in the late 1960s, known for blending rock with blues and other musical styles. The group included singer and keyboard player Steve Winwood, drummer Jim Capaldi and guitarist Dave Mason, whose different approaches sometimes led to disagreements.
They recorded their debut album, Mr. Fantasy, at Sheepcote Farm, an isolated Berkshire property with few modern comforts. The band members later described contrasting impressions of the place, and those accounts became part of the story of their short split in 1969.
Traffic reunited and released several well-regarded albums in the early 1970s. The episode matters as part of the band’s history and shows how its members remembered the same period differently.
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