John Mayall

From Wikipedia:

John Brumwell Mayall OBE (29 November 1933 – 22 July 2024) was an English blues and rock musician, songwriter and producer. In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, a band that has counted among its members some of the most famous blues and blues rock musicians. A singer, guitarist, harmonica player, and keyboardist, he had a career that spanned nearly seven decades, remaining an active musician until his death aged 90. Mayall has often been referred to as the “godfather of the British blues”, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the musical influence category in 2024.

I showed Paul my hollowbody guitar that I’d bought when I was in the army in Japan in 1955. When people get together and listen to records, they talk about all kinds of things related to the music, so obviously we must have touched upon the instruments and it struck home. He got a hollowbody after to get that tone.

John Mayall – From Facebook

You’d go back to his place and he’d sit you down, give you a drink, and say, ‘Just check this out.’ He’d go over to his tape deck, and for hours blast you with B.B. King, Eric Clapton… he was sort of showing me where all of Eric’s stuff was from. He gave me a little evening’s education. I was turned on after that, and bought an Epiphone. And if I had to pick one electric guitar, it would be this.

Paul McCartney – From Facebook

John Mayall, the great British blues pioneer, has died aged 90 and I thought a couple of words from me would be appropriate.

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!

Paul McCartney – From Facebook, July 26, 2024