UKC

An absolutely crucial figure in the British Blues boom of the 1960s, with his band the Bluesbreakers. I shall be giving a spin to two of my favourites of his early albums, the "Beano" with Clapton and Laurel Canyon with Mick Taylor.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jul/23/john-mayall-blues-die...

The stars aligned for that Beano album didn’t they? Andy Summers bought one of the very few ‘59 Sunburst Les Pauls in the country from Rose Morris, and told Eric they had another which Eric bought. He wasn’t getting enough stage volume so went to up and coming Jim Marshall to build him a JTM45 combo which would fit in his car. He took the Gibson and Marshall into the studio with, I think, a Dallas Rangemaster treble boost, and the sound of hard rock and blues was invented with the Marshall turned up to 11!
Eric’s Les Paul was subsequently stolen, and he bought Andy Summers’ off him for £200!

Yes, hard to over-estimate the significance of that album in the development of rock. Within a month or so Clapton was joining Cream and within a year or so they were headlining in the States. According to Wiki, Joe Bonamassa says that guitar is now in a private collection in the US.

ETA: I hope Cerys will have time to put together a memorial Blues Hour before the show goes out on Monday. JM certainly deserves it.

Don't forget that Peter Green was with the Bluesbreakers as well.

John Mayall's influence on British music is immense.

There are a couple of  other lead guitarists in later years who went on to have significant solo careers, namely Coco Montoya and Walter Trout. And if you start thinking about the drummers and bassists the list is incredibly impressive.

Check out Room to Move (Turning Point album) for one of the most epic harmonica / mouth percussion solos you are ever likely to hear.

"Eric’s Les Paul was subsequently stolen, and he bought Andy Summers’ off him for £200!"

There were rumours circulating earlier this year that Joe Bonamassa had heard of it's whereabouts, but since then just silence. It is estimated to be the most valuable guitar in existence (although unknown whereabouts) . The next one is Jimmy Page's 59 LP - estimated between $20 and $25 million if it came up for sale, but would probably go for over double that and disappear into an oligarchs collection if ever sold.

I still dream of finding one at a boot sale, but only 600 odd made in 1959 so think more chance I will win euro millions Re the JM Bluesbreakers and Eric Clapton, I have a pre Murphy Lab , Tom Murphy aged heavy relic 2014 R9 with Wizz Beano Bluesbreaker pick ups. Beautiful sounding guitar.

And played on Laurel Canyon without them.

a real legend,many 60/70 s bands owe him a lot

rip

Another piece in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/jul/24/john-mayall-obituary

Been doing a bit of reading today and discovered two other great guitarists who made (admittedly fleeting) appearances in the Bluesbreakers: Davy Graham and John McLaughlin. It's quite a roll call!

The Beano album was my first ever LP. Great music. Pity there is too little Blues played in the media these days.

John Mayall was my introduction to the blues. Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters and everything else followed from that. What an amazing tapestry of music to discover.

I guess some of the British guitarists had OK careers too

if there is a radio tribute session to john mayall coming out i would be eager to tune in

"Hommage à John Mayall" on France Musique with some 10 tracks

https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/podcasts/retour-de-plage/breve-tra...

Thanks.

Any programs coming up in the next week on BBC ?

I'm hoping Cerys Matthews will make her Blues Hour (9pm tomorrow on BBC Radio 2) a memorial show. I guess it depends when she records it. She's live on 6Music this morning, so I'm sure she'll play something in tribute and say whether she's also doing a special show. 

Cerys announced on this morning's 6M show that she will be doing a special Mayall tribute tomorrow night on R2.

Thank you Andy.

Rob

Andy Edwards always worth a listen..

youtube.com/watch?v=Uew7_APVolU&

thanks. i will be tuning in