John Mayall died on the 22, July 2024, aged 90 years, at his home in Los Angeles. He was not concerned with fame or celebrity status, and was content performing clubs and smaller venues. He continued to perform until his last live performance in March 2022, at The Coach House, Concert Hall in San Juan Capistrano, California.
John Mayall, the godfather of British Blues, was a true performer, working with some of the best musicians in the business. I was fortunate to have seen John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers when Peter Green was lead guitarist.
He was born into a working class family in Macclesfield, just outside Manchester, on Nov 29, 1933. After he finished his national military service in 1955, he studied art and graphic designer at the Manchester College of Art. Later on he would design the covers of his albums. From a young age he became interested in blues, forming one of his first groups in college before moving from Manchester to London. It was here, Mayall became involved with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, an event that would forever change the British music scene. In 1962 he formed the first Bluesbreakers with a line up which included future Fleetwood Mac bass guitarist John McVie.
Mayall rose to national fame with the release in 1966 of the classic album Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, regarded as the first British blues album. It’s worth recalling that Clapton left with Jack Bruce in 1966 to form the rock band Cream. Clapton’s replacement was Peter Green who departed with John McVie in June 1967 to form Fleetwood Mac, along with former Bluesbreakers drummer Mick Fleetwood.
Importantly, in 1968 ,The Bluesbreakers recorded the hugely popular Bare Wires album with a line up that included Mick Taylor who would join the Rolling Stones in 1969. Maylla’s Bluesbreakers were a breeding ground for talented young musicians as can be seen by other bands with former Bluesbreakers members: The Jeff Beck Group, Frank Zappa, Free, Manfred Mann to mention just a few.
