Brit Vet John Mayall, 90, passes
John Mayall may not be a household word like many of his contemporaries, but trust me on this, he influenced your life.
Seems like at his age he would have long retired from the rock and roll scene, but his last concert was in 2022 at age 88. And you thought Skinny Mick and Keith Richards were old.
John led the British Blues revival in the ’60s. Even great bluesmen like BB King and Buddy Guy credited them with rescuing blues from obscurity.
The blues star BB King is said to have remarked that if it had not been for Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, “a lot of us black musicians in America would still be catchin’ the hell that we caught long before.” The Telegraph
John wasn’t the “let’s be notorious and trash the place” kind, rather a hard-driving perfectionist, which probably helps explain the high turnover of supporting musicians in his bands.
And John had an eye for talent – noted artists like Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce,John MacVie, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Mick Fleetwood, and Jimmy Page played with him (moving on to other groups like Cream, Fleetwood Mac, Free, and Led Zeppelin later.) It almost seemed a rite of passage to play with John back then.
Musicians attested to what it meant to play with Mayall. “As far as being a blues-guitar sideman, the Bluesbreakers gig is the pinnacle. That’s Mount Everest,” said Walter Trout. “You could play with B.B. King or Buddy Guy, but you’re just gonna play chords all night. This guy features you. You get to play solos. He yells your name after every song, brings you to the front of the stage, and lets you sing. He creates a place for you in the world.” Variety
Remember when I said he was a vet? He was drafted in the early ’50s and went to Korea.
After training at art college, Mayall did his National Service with the Army in Korea, where he managed to avoid frontline duties by learning to type. On his return he found work as a graphic designer and his music took a back seat while he established a home for his wife and three children.
After teaching himself piano, harmonica, and guitar, I suspect typing was a breeze.
Try to think of music uninfluenced by the British Invasion and/or blues – and realize that pretty much no matter what you listen to, somehow Sir John (he was awarded the OBE in 2005) touched your life.
Sharp-eyed readers will note the Stones’ Mick Taylor in the second clip.
Non-vet, but ’60s related, Jerry Miller,81, the lead guitarist for Moby Grape, passed on. Notably, no less than Eric Clapton once described him as “the greatest guitarist in the world”. If you are not familiar with the group, check ’em out, especially their early work.MSN
Category: Society
I’ve heard the typing legend many times from many different veterans, enough times to say that it’s almost certainly true.
That first album that he did with Eric Clapton, was one of the greatest of all time.
My grampa went from buck-ass private to SGM in about 2 years in WW1. He could read, write, type, was an excellent bookkeeper, and apparently knew how to organize and lead people. You know, skills nobody in the Army had at the time and apparently, no one has has anymore.
Very true. Most Zoomers and up have the same chance of being able to write cursive as they do Sanskrit
As an aspiring guitarist I can attest that the world lost another great guitar player whose influence outside the music world was virtually unknown. Sad day for sure. I did not know he served just raises him up a peg on my ladder 🙂
Definitely remember Mayall. Every blue fest I went to as a kid they talked about him. Never got to see him in person that I can remember but definitely wanted to.
He will be missed!
“On his return (from Korea) he found work as a graphic designer and his music took a back seat while he established a home for his wife and three children.”
Not just a great musician and a veteran, but a man with his priorities straight. May he rest in peace.
TNX the links. That was great.
Rainy day here so I think I’ll crank the stereo with some blues.
Muddy Waters up next.
Rest Easy, Good Sir. Your music always struck a chord with me. And anytime I had The Blues, spinning your tunes would chase them away. Skills AND a decent Human Being. Rare to find these days.
Sad news for sure. I’m off to Sirius blues channel to listen for John Mayall tributes. I wasn’t aware of his veteran status either.
This sucks! I only found out a couple of years ago that he lives about 50 miles from me. Was hoping to see him play, but shit happens. Best of the British bluesmen.
Another musical legend passes.
Time to re practice my typing on my Smith Corona Galaxie model portable typewriter. Last practice was during the Chi-Com virus. Found the box of Etons typewriter paper but practiced on similar paper. Started on Monarch typing for beginners 1968. $1.95
Also have monarch Mastering typing to brush up $1.95. Took typing in Junior High School. Checks are typed out and the Money value is put on my mechanical Paynaster 8500 series check writer. And NO, I do not use a feather Quill pen like a commentor replied to me a number of years ago.
In that case he is not a knight and could not use the style “sir;” he was Mr. John Mayall, OBE.
In order to be styled “sir” he would have to receive either a
knighthood in one of the British Orders of chivalry [e.g., Knight Commander of the British Empire],be invested as a Knight Bachelor (unattached to an Order) orinherit a baronetcy (then he’d be Sir John Mayall, Bt.”)Yeah …. I’m a bit of a pedant.
My mistake, thanks for clarifying.
The Brit invasion was what killed street corner vocal group harmony street corner singers and American R&R…
Kind’a ended the Doo-Wop era from main stream radio.
I was very much into Soul music and Blues in the 60s, still am to this very day. Never liked the Stones, still don’t. Didn’t care for the Beach Boys, either.
Mayall was a workhorse in a time when that was the only way to make a go of it. He really got my attention when he decided to not have a drummer in the band.
I always wanted to play in a soul band, still do. Can’t sing but can carry my own on sax, bass, drums, organ. After dentures, trumpet is over but I still have a tuba and a trombone.
Good night Sam & Dave, wherever you are!