He was called the “Godfather of British Blues”. John Mayall was considered one of the most influential blues musicians. Eric Clapton and countless stars played in his band. Mayall has now passed away.
London – The legendary British blues musician and songwriter John Mayall has died. He passed away on Monday at the age of 90 in his adopted home of California, surrounded by his family, as confirmed by a spokesperson. Since the 1960s, Mayall had shaped the blues like few other British musicians. In the band he founded, The Bluesbreakers, numerous stars played over the decades. Even into old age, the influential British multi-instrumentalist and bandleader regularly gave concerts.
Influential Bandleader and Talent Developer
Although he always operated a bit away from the mainstream, Mayall, who was born on November 29, 1933, in Macclesfield near Manchester, is considered one of the most influential musicians in his genre. His passion for the blues and his effort to experiment and explore musical boundaries defined his long career. The singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and harmonica player also made a name for himself not only as a gifted musician but also as a bandleader and mentor, promoting talents and providing them a platform.
The band he founded, The Bluesbreakers, whose members changed multiple times, became a breeding ground for some of the greatest talents in the British music scene. Later members included Fleetwood Mac musicians Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, who was a guitarist for the Rolling Stones for a few years in the early 70s, and, not least, Eric Clapton, who shone alongside Mayall. The debut album “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton” is considered a classic.
He taught himself to play instruments
Mayall’s father was a guitarist with a passion for blues and jazz and a large record collection, which surely played a role in his development. “I discovered jazz and blues around the same time as boogie-woogie,” Mayall told the “Guardian”, “it all belonged together for me.” At a time when there were no instructional videos on the internet, he taught himself to play several instruments.
However, his professional career only began late. Mayall was already 30 years old when he founded the Bluesbreakers. Prior to that, he had been stationed as a soldier in Korea for three years and worked as a graphic designer after studying art. A practical side effect: Later he designed many of his album covers himself.
Initially, he only played music on the side. His friend Alexis Korner, a blues legend himself, is said to have ultimately convinced the late starter to make music his main profession, providing him contacts in London. From 1963, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers performed regularly at the famous Marquee Jazz Club, where the Rolling Stones had given their first concert a year earlier.
Boost in Popularity Thanks to Eric Clapton
“It was like an explosion,” Mayall recalled in an interview with the music portal “Ultimate Classic Rock” about that time in London. “There was so much energy there because people came from all over the country to make a name for themselves in the London clubs.”
The entry of former Yardbirds guitarist Clapton made the band even more famous. Following the success of the 1966 release “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton,” which reached number six on the British album charts, Mayall followed up the next year with an extensive release schedule, bringing out three LPs in 1967. He released “A Hard Road” and “Crusade” with the Bluesbreakers, as well as his first solo album. On “The Blues Alone,” he played all the instruments himself, with support from drummer Keef Hartley, who also participated in the Bluesbreakers on some songs.
When Mayall Called, the Stars Came
Starting in 1970, Mayall dropped the name Bluesbreakers but continued to perform with former members. On his album “Back To The Roots,” besides Clapton, Taylor, and Hartley, other greats like Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor from Canned Heat or the rock ‘n’ roll violinist and pioneer of the electric violin, Sugarcane Harris, played. When Mayall called, the stars came. This remained the case. His 2001 album “Along For The Ride” featured contributions from Gary Moore, Steve Miller, Chris Rea, and ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons.
It was not until 1982 that he reactivated the Bluesbreakers with the lineup of Mick Taylor, John McVie, and Colin Allen for a longer world tour, which produced a live album. With interruptions, he remained active with the Bluesbreakers. More than 100 different combinations of members are said to have played under the name with Mayall.
With the high number of studio and live albums, it’s easy to lose track. With the Bluesbreakers and under his own name, John Mayall released around 70 albums. His last was “The Sun Is Shining Down” in 2022. Many early recordings no longer exist in their original form, as the original tapes were destroyed in a fire at his home in the Hollywood Hills in 1979. He had moved to the USA in 1970, where he lived until the end.
Farewell from the Stage Two Years Ago
John Mayall was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 2005 at Buckingham Palace and was inducted into the “Blues Hall of Fame” in 2016. His private life was somewhat more stable than the lineup of his Bluesbreakers. Mayall was married twice. He had six children and eventually several grandchildren.
Three years ago, the “Godfather of British Blues,” as he was often called, decided to scale back his performances. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, he announced that he would no longer embark on tours but would only play occasional concerts in his adopted home of California. An appearance in San Juan Capistrano, California, in March 2022 was to be his last.