JOHN MAYALL (1933–2024)
Anniversary of the passing of John Brumwell Mayall
Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom, on November 29, 1933, he was a British blues rock singer, instrumentalist (especially keyboardist and guitarist), and composer. A pioneer of the English blues invasion along with Alexis Korner.
In 1955, he founded his first group, The Powerhouse Four, and later his most famous band: The Bluesbreakers, which featured collaborations with guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor. His band was the breeding ground for various later formations. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie were part of the band and participated in the recording of A Hard Road, along with guitarist Peter Green; after leaving the Bluesbreakers, they formed Fleetwood Mac.
The Bluesbreakers managed to produce magnificent albums in the 1960s, including the famous album Bluesbreakers, whose cover features Eric Clapton reading a copy of the Beano comic. After Clapton left to form the blues-rock trio Cream, Mayall looked for a new guitarist and found Peter Green. After recording A Hard Road with Green, Green left to form Fleetwood Mac. In Mayall’s own words: “One day, we had a concert and no guitarist, then Mick Taylor showed up.” Mayall was greatly impressed by the young guitarist, but Taylor left at the end of the concert. After an intense search, John tracked down Taylor and offered him the guitarist’s spot in his band. He and Taylor recorded together the legendary Crusade, where Taylor shines brilliantly, and in 1969, the psychedelic Bare Wires. Taylor would later leave to replace Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones.
From 1969 onward, Mayall recorded albums under his own name. However, he occasionally added and The Bluesbreakers to credit his backing musicians on albums and live performances.
The band officially ceased to exist in 2008, so Mayall began working with other musicians.
John Mayall died at his home in California on July 22, 2024, at the age of 90.
