British blues legend: “Godfather of British Blues”: John Mayall is dead

The legendary British blues musician and songwriter John Mayall has died. He died on Monday at the age of 90 in his adopted home of California surrounded by his family, a spokeswoman confirmed. Since the 1960s, Mayall had shaped the blues like few other British musicians. Over the decades, many stars played in the band he founded, The Bluesbreakers. The influential British multi-instrumentalist and bandleader gave regular concerts well into old age.

Influential bandleader and talent promoter

Although he always moved a little outside the mainstream, Mayall, who was born on November 29, 1933 in Macclesfield, near Manchester, England, is considered one of the most influential musicians in his genre. His passion for the blues and his desire to experiment and explore musical boundaries defined his long career. The singer, guitarist, keyboardist and harmonica player made a name for himself not only as a gifted musician, but also as a band leader and mentor who promoted talent and gave them a platform.

The band he founded, The Bluesbreakers, whose members changed several times, became a breeding ground for some of the greatest talents on the British music scene. The later Fleetwood Mac musicians Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, who was the guitarist for the Rolling Stones for a few years in the early 70s, and last but not least Eric Clapton shone alongside Mayall. The debut album “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton” is considered a classic.

He taught himself instruments

The fact that Mayall’s father was a guitarist with a passion for blues and jazz and a large record collection certainly played a role in his development. “I discovered jazz and blues around the same time as boogie-woogie,” Mayall told the Guardian, “for me it all belonged together.” At a time when there were no instructional videos on the Internet, he taught himself to play several instruments.

His professional career, however, began late. Mayall was already 30 years old when he founded the Bluesbreakers. Before that, he had been stationed as a soldier in Korea for three years and, after studying art, worked as a graphic designer. A practical side effect: he later designed many of his own record covers.

At first he only played music on the side. His friend Alexis Korner, himself a blues legend, is said to have finally convinced the late starter to make music his main career and put him in touch with contacts in London. From 1963 onwards, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers performed regularly at the famous Marquee Jazz Club, where the Rolling Stones had also 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 this time in London. “There was such energy there because people were coming from all over the country to make a name for themselves in the London clubs.”

The arrival of former Yardbirds guitarist Clapton made the band even more famous. After the success of “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton” released in 1966, which reached number six in the British album charts, Mayall followed up the following year with three LPs in 1967. He released “A Hard Road” and “Crusade” with the Bluesbreakers and also his first solo album. On “The Blues Alone” he played all the instruments himself, only being supported on a few songs by drummer Keef Hartley, who was also with the Bluesbreakers.

When Mayall called, the stars came

From 1970 onwards, Mayall dropped the name Bluesbreakers, but continued to play with former members. In addition to Clapton, Taylor and Hartley, his album “Back To The Roots” also features other greats such as Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor from Canned Heat and the rock’n’roll violinist and pioneer of the electric violin, Sugarcane Harris. When Mayall called, the stars came. It stayed that way. His 2001 album “Along For The Ride” featured Gary Moore, Steve Miller, Chris Rea and ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons, among others.

It was not until 1982 that he reactivated the Bluesbreakers with Mick Taylor, John McVie and Colin Allen for a long world tour, which produced a live album. He continued to be active with the Bluesbreakers with interruptions. Over 100 different combinations of members are said to have played with Mayall under the same name.

With the large number of studio and live albums, it is easy to lose track. John Mayall released around 70 with the Bluesbreakers and under his name alone. His last was “The Sun Is Shining Down” in 2022. The original tapes of many earlier recordings no longer exist because they were destroyed in a fire at his house in the Hollywood Hills in 1979. In 1970 he moved to the USA, where he lived until the end.

Farewell from the stage two years ago

John Mayall was awarded the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace in 2005 and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2016. His private life was a little more stable than the line-up of his Bluesbreakers. Mayall was married twice, producing six children and eventually several grandchildren.

Three years ago, the “Godfather of British Blues,” as he was often called, decided to slow down a bit. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, he announced that he would no longer tour, but would only play occasional concerts in his adopted home of California. A performance in San Juan Capistrano, California in March 2022 would be his last.