the godfather of British Blues.
Sad news that one of the last remaining flag bearers of the blues from the 60s British heyday has passed, John Mayall, aged 90.
The godfathers of the British Blues scene, to go with the two fathers, Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies. Through 60 years of changing line ups, millions of miles of tours and countless releases, John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers involved many of the big names in the British music scene and some stone cold classic albums.
The “Beano” album set the blueprint with Clapton playing his Gibson Les Paul into his Marshall Model 1962. It was a tone that would inspire for decades, well still does. Playing bass on the album was one John McVie.
When Clapton went off on his Greek jaunt, Peter Green took over guitar duties. Then Clapton returned, while McVie was replaced by Jack Bruce but then Bruce left and McVie returned. Then Clapton left and formed Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, and Green was back in permanently, well as permanently as any member of the Bluesbreakers ever was.
Mayall told producer Mike Vernon that he’d got someone better than Clapton, when Clapton had left.
The follow up album was to some even better. “A Hard Road” with Green’s searing but beautiful tone, set the tone for what the guitarist would do. After Mayall had given him some money for a recording session Green roped in the rhythm section from the Bluesbreakers, which was still McVie on bass but now Mick Fleetwood on drums, and shortly Fleetwood Mac would be formed as Green left. Though John McVie took some persuading.
The replacement for Green was the 18 year old Mick Taylor. Taylor would last a couple of years and a few albums before he departed for The Rolling Stones gig.
Bluesbreakers name was dropped and members would come and go but Mayall kept going, kept carrying the flag.