Tributes For John Mayall, British Blues Legend, Dead at 90
by Best Classic Bands Staff
John Mayall (Photo: David Gomez)
John Mayall, the British blues legend who mentored such future stars as Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor, died July 22, 2024. The news of his passing, at age 90, was announced on his Facebook page the following day. “It is with heavy hearts that we bear the news that John Mayall passed away peacefully in his California home yesterday, surrounded by loving family. Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors. John Mayall gave us ninety years of tireless efforts to educate, inspire and entertain.”
Mayall announced in 2021 that his touring days were over. On a post on his Facebook page that Sept. 22, the musician cited “the risks of the pandemic and his advancing age.” He turned 90 on Nov. 29, 2023. In October 2019, he had cancelled the remaining dates of his European/U.K./Ireland tour, citing “health issues.” But age hasn’t stopped him from doing great things: he released a new studio album in 2022.
Mayall was an appointed OBE (Officer of the British Empire), 2x Grammy-nominated artist and was selected as an inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 in the Musical Influence category.
In an emotional tribute, Eric Clapton talked about the man he referred to as “my mentor.” (Watch it below.)
In 2018, Mayall had to cancel shows “due to needing continued medical care after a bout of pneumonia.” He returned with a full European tour in February 2019. Moving forward, the musician says he’ll continue to perform locally near his California home.
At the time of his 2021 cancellation, Mayall wrote:
“I have decided, due to the risks of the pandemic and my advancing age, that it is time for me to hang up my road shoes. As a result I will be radically reducing my touring schedule and will be limiting my performances to local shows near my home in California, and the occasional concert further afield. My epic road dog days however have come to an end. I want to thank my audience for all the wonderful decades of shows, your infectious enthusiasm for my music and for your support throughout my many musical incarnations.
“It has been a privilege to have spent my life doing what I love and having you along for the ride with me through all of it. I may not be travelling to your location, but I do want to continue to share my love of the Blues with you. I have a new musical offering coming your way in the form of my album, The Sun is Shining Down [released Jan. 28, 2022 via Forty Below Records], featuring my long-time rhythm section of Greg Rzab and Jay Davenport as well as some exciting special guests [including the Heartbreakers’ Mike Campbell]. I’m proud of what we came up with and excited to share it with you. I look forward to seeing those of you who can attend my local shows, and I will miss all of you who cannot, but as always, keep loving the Blues!” In Nov. 2022, the album earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album.
Listen to “I’m as Good as Gone” from his 2022 album
Clapton’s tribute to Mayall…
— Eric Clapton (@EricClapton) July 24, 2024
Mick Fleetwood paid tribute to Mayall, writing, “The news of John Mayall’s passing …. in many ways hit me as losing a musical father!! John Mayall was a guiding light to so many of us young English players! To have spent time as part of his band the ‘Blues Breakers’ led the three of us, Peter Green, John McVie, and myself to form Fleetwood Mac back in 1967!! He is owed much gratitude from so many in the musical world.”
Dave Mason called Mayall “a true pioneer. He was all about the Blues. Thank you for the music, we’re going to miss you my friend.”
From Ronnie Wood: “I’m sad to hear about the death of my friend John Mayall. John was historically such an important figure in the English Blues scene. He nurtured the talent of many great guitarists including Peter Green, Eric Clapton and Mick Taylor. He was a walking encyclopaedia of American and English blues and a musical trailblazer for all of us. Thank you John, God bless.”
So sad to hear of John Mayall’s passing. He was a great pioneer of British blues and had a wonderful eye for talented young musicians, including Mick Taylor – who he recommended to me after Brian Jones died – ushering in a new era for the Stones. pic.twitter.com/mn0sAu4oI3
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) July 24, 2024
A few days later, on July 26, Paul McCartney paid tribute. “In the 1960’s we would meet at one of the late-night music clubs and often go back to his house where he had a huge and glorious collection of records. During these moments he became a mentor and would educate me on a lot of the blues guitarists playing at the time.
“I would lounge back in the armchair, and he would play tracks by people like BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King and many other great players. He would then play me tracks by Eric Clapton who was later in his band The Bluesbreakers. The more he played the more I could see the links between all these great guitarists. Besides being very entertaining, it was a great education noticing the similarities between these stunning players.
“John was a lovely, down to earth man from the North of England so we found it easy to relate to each other and I will always thank him for his love of music, the blues and his willingness to turn others on to what he knew.
“Thanks John, love you!”
Mayall was also the subject of a massive 35-disc boxed set, First Generation 1965-1974, the first set of this size to be released documenting his early years.
When his 2019 concerts were cancelled, his social media team noted, “Though John is upset about disappointing his loyal fans, we all feel that it is most important to protect his health so he can be well and continue doing what he loves for many years to come.”
Mayall’s 2019 tour schedule was particularly arduous. He had a concert on Oct. 23 in Dresden, Germany, followed by consecutive performances through Nov. 1. The tour was scheduled through November 24 with only five days off.
Among the many classic rock guitarists who played in Mayall’s early bands were Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor.
Mayall had a 2019 autobiography. Blues From Laurel Canyon – John Mayall: My Life as a Bluesman was written with author Joel McIver. It’s available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
In Best Classic Bands’ 2017 interview with Mayall, the musician was asked “You’re still so active, especially onstage. What do you do to keep yourself in such great shape?”
“I think it’s my obligation to give the audience a full-on show with all the energy I can muster,” he said. “I don’t really have a clue why it happens but I’ll just keep on doing it. For me it’s a big thrill to communicate with audiences and give them what they expect.”
Watch Mayall perform in Paris on April 11, 2019
Born on November 29, 1933, Mayall became enamored of blues and jazz early in his life, and he was already performing blues in public by the late ’50s and early ’60s. The singer/songwriter/guitarist/keyboardist and harmonica player released his debut album, John Mayall Plays John Mayall, in 1965, but it wasn’t until Mayall hired a young guitarist named Eric Clapton away from the Yardbirds that his own band, the Bluesbreakers (sometimes spelled Blues Breakers), began getting noticed on a larger scale.
Watch Mayall and Clapton perform in 2003
Mayall’s recordings, are available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
Related: Our Album Rewind of Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton
5 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSAD SAD NEWS 4 ME! I was very slow to understand him and his sound, and talent; was no fan of 1st Blues Breakers album and hate to admit, his appearance put me off…It was a few years later hearing BLUES FROM LAUREL CANYON and TURNING POINT that turned me into a big fan and sent me back to HARD ROAD, BARE WIRES, EMPTY ROOMS and USA UNION [saw him & band in live concert supporting this album..] I have ‘listened’ to many of his albums/cds of his, and have my favorite tracks from them. I used to go to sleep listening to BARE WIRES, going on a kind of shamanic journey with him..(and of course followed his great guitarist, Peter Green with him and FLEETWOOD MAC thru all of their albums…) I listen to the albums mentioned very often, like they are ‘positive’ musical/spiritual/emotional/artistic/nutritional food 4 me…
I close by sending my condolences to his family, his other fans, surviving musicians, and hope younger upcoming blues fans find him and his music…and get into it upon 1st notes…
The best white blues performer in the world.
Absolutely. Just watched the music on this page and it brought me to tears.
My spouse saw John Mayall in the early 70’s in Laurel Cyn. in CA; We saw him live 6X in Eugene, OR, always enjoying his shows. We had tea with him pre-show in 2017, also got his autograph on his new CD, & taking pics. He was a very, very nice man, very talented, & surely will be missed. RIP, John!
He served the music and brought so many important musicians to recognize their own value.
He was a high priest of the Blues.
We are all the better for his commitment.
Thank You John.