RIP JOHN MAYALL 1933-2024 | The Godfather of Blues Rock 

I just put on my 2 John Mayall and the Bluesbreaker albums when Mayall did not use a drummer. First was The Turning Point (1969): Jon Mark on finger style acoustic guitar; Steve Thompson on Bass; and Johnny Almond on sax and flute. The following year was USA Union: Harvey Mandel on lead guitar; Larry Taylor on bass; and Don Harris violin. Most agree they are surprisingly good, not dull, and the drum beat not being there is hardly noticeable. The album that turned me into a fan (resurrecting my vinyl collection) was Jazz Blues Fusion Live from Boston and NY (1972): Clifford Solomon and Blue Mitchell on sax and trumpet, respectively; Larry Taylor on bass: Freddie Robinson on guitar; Ron Selico on drums. Flawless record. Also, of note I own 2 CD's Live in Germany from the late 80's that introduced me to lead guitarists Walter Trout and Coco Montoya. Thanks again John for the festival-marathon of music I am currently partaking in. RIP. You improved the listening habits of many Blues-Rocknroll musicians and patrons of the art. Great video. Well deserved tribute for Mayall and accolades for Andy's effort

Got to chat with him at the Dallas Forth Worth airport. That "Beano album" is such an essential record.

Some of the first LPs I owned were Blues Breaker albums, including the one pictured. Hard to come to grips that he is gone.

Such a great awesome musician, REST IN PEACE JOHN MAYALL, thank you for your music

I cut my teeth on that Blues Breakers album with Clapton. RIP Mr Mayall.

RIP Mr. Mayall and thanks for the great music.

John Mayall was in the same league as Miles Davis and Frank Zappa in the sense that every musical virtuoso wanted to play in their band. John was a TRUE musical pioneer.

I was in high school when Beano came out (14). And one minute into All Your Love I became a guitar player!!! And I agree it’s still the best white blues album! And Clapton’s work on it is genius! Recently I got to play a 59’ LP through a Marshal and I had reached the promise land! Thank you John for changing my life! 💜

Well done, Andy. Passing of a great, influential figure especially in the British blues/blues rock scene. When I was first really getting into Eric a long time ago I went back before Cream to learn more and was told that the Yardbirds are legendary, but if you really want to hear what first blew everyone away about EC was the John Mayall Blues Breakers album, which I immediately bought and listened to over and over.

Great rememberance for a great man and musician Andy. I have seen him live twice and one of the occasions I called him from the front stage while he was packing his keyboards, yes he was doing his job himself, he waved at me that he was going to come down after he finished his packing and he did. We had a little chat and he signed my cd's and left. Such a great guy and such a loss RIP.

“Now the Blues has lost a king 🎶...” As a 40-yo Brazilian who, finally this year, has “discovered” the music of Jack Bruce, Jeff Beck and last week... John Mayall, once again I learn that all I’m left with is his recordings and videos. It is oddly wonderful to know that John too left so much for me and you to learn from and appreciate. Feels like a relief and a task to honor his work by enjoying it for good and sharing it to others, so we keep his memory and his art alive. Rest In Peace, John

THANK YOU for that tribute to one of Britain's most significant musicians. Never a household name, but to music fans, John was an absolute legend. I saw him and his band, in many different incarnations, literally dozens of times, and met him on, I think, four occasions. I believe he should be remembered with a tribute gig at the Royal Albert Hall. Are you reading this, Eric?

Saw Mayall playing with an unknown kid named Mick Taylor. Stunning show. Like Miles, he’s to be thanked for the younger talents he fostered. The sign of a true gentleman.

Oohhh sad night. Goodbye John and Thank You for it all, especially for Peter Green.

I'm glad to say, that I saw him twice - live on stage. But he has always been with me through my entire musical life

He was a genius, I have a lot of albums by him and haven't played them in a while, so to honour this great man I will play nothing but John Mayall for a few days out of respect for what he gave us. RIP to the great man the godfather of British blues and more.

Sorry to hear of this great man's passing. I know what I'll be listening to and appreciating over the next few days.

I believe his place in British music history and the world has been greatly underrated. Been following since the mid sixties….what a loss!

Lovely tribute 😊

Excellent tribute. I listened to the ‘beano’ album daily through 67/68. Can play hideaway note for note (learnt the hard way on vinyl). It’s impossible to overstate his influence in the evolution of rock music.

The producer Mike Vernon was integral to those two landmark Bluesbreaker albums (Beano & Hard Road); helped Peter Green get the tone that was part of his legend (All My Love on Beano seems to have inspired Green's Black Magic Woman); a couple of other Mayall records to check out...Blues From Laurel Canyon - a quintessential blues rock album w/ Mick Taylor & Turning Point - an experimental, acoustic-based, drummer-less album that features maybe his only radio hit "Room To Move"

What a guy! Responsible for so many careers of great guitarists and that period of albums 1966-71 were essential and again with his albums from 1990 to 1997, including all these great Silvertone label releases. Loved his music and always will.

John Mayall introduced me to the blues back in sixties at Bluesville in London . A great musician. Sail on . 😊😊😊

Thank you John Mayall. The Turning Point was one of my favourite albums between a lot "heavy stuff" I had

I’ve got several albums and 3 or 4 cds of John Mayall. I actually just picked up last month a very early rare record of his, stumbled on to it. I started with the Blues Breakers while a teen decades ago. He helped build my love and journey to collecting the blues along with Clapton, Beck, and so many others. RIP Mr Mayall.

The first JM album I ever bought was in 1967 and it was The Blues Alone on Ace of Clubs label. Also got a second hand copy of A Hard Road but it was not until I started work in 1970 that I could afford to buy albums such as Blues From Laurel Canyon etc. Loved the guy's music, RIP JM.

A band leader, ideas man, immense knowledge of styles, a good player of many instruments. As an example - his creation of the solo blues piano 'Marsha's Mood' absolutely delicious.

Very sad loss. He has been there since before I got into music in 1969. A hugely important figure in the development of British music.

Nice tribute Andy. I got to see John Mayall with his 1980's Blues Breakers in Toronto. As per Andy's partial list, he always had great guitarists. The band I saw had Coco Montoya on lead guitar. The man was on fire that night garnering several standing ovations. John Mayall obviously had a great sense for picking blues guitarists. RIP.

Saw him in Perugia, Italy, in the early 80s, he was great! So influential, played guitar, had a full blues band, he used a super long cord and walked out into the audience, had a big neck mounted harmonica holder with mic, played guitar and harp together, great harp player, too!

I heard the "Blues Breakers" LP here in the US when first released -- 1965 or 1966. Certainly intense. And I have a John Mayall LP from 1972-ish -- when he was doing all acoustic. A song title on it -- this is an approximation -- is something like "Holding is Against the Law," apparently about drugs.

Still have all the early albums on vinyl

R.I.P Mr. Mayall. He was the godfather of the blues rock that so many of us grew up with.

My wife informed me of John Mayalls passing this morning, and I almost fell down, because I had just watched, a few days ago, a couple of his live videos. I mean it just kind of threw me. Beautiful tribute and yes, of course Mr. Mayall will be missed, he was the original bluesbreaker. I saw him in 1973.

RIP Mr Mayall

Well said. Great tribute to an outstanding & legendary musical pioneer. RIP JOHN

The brilliant John Mayall, fantastic bluesman, Godfather of British blues, will be greatly missed by worldwide blues community!!!

My father introduced me to him with Bare Wires and Jazz Blues Fusion. It was just incredible.

Any 60s band leader who can champion Clapton, Green and Taylor in their early years is a legend. He's now taking over the house band upstairs.

A great musician a great band leader and a great man RIP Mr John Mayall

Had the pleasure of seeing John with a few of his different bands over the years, including the "Beano band", always a huge fan of his music. R.I.P John.

I remember seeing John and the Blues Breakers in a bar in New Jersey late seventies. Wonderful harmonica and I think the band had a kid and a guy even older than John who was the first rocker I had seen with grey hair, he looked and sounded like the old Jazz guys, definitely my dads generation but playing rock. They sounded exactly like mid sixties british blues rock and I remember thinking Wow so this is what that is. Thank You John Mayall, unforgettable. The real deal. Rest In Peace

I really had to comment, John Mayall had an incredible time here in California, I think it was his second home. Growing up with his harmonica playing - he was the guy to learn from, you could feel his passion. Laurel Canyon- Wow !!! I was 15yrs. old and I was hooked, and you're right look at the line of music and people he inspired !!!! We celebrate His Life !!!

Mayall was the incubator for so many amazing musicians. What an influential musician!

best friend to British Blues r.i.p. John Mayall alongside someone I am reminded how much we would miss down the long years, Alexis Korner.

My dad is really into the blues, Clapton, blah blah, so I grew up listening to John Mayall and his later solo stuff. Quite liked it. I don't share all my dad's tastes, but Mayall was very good. Witchdoctor is probably my favourite track! RIP sir.

John Mayall, the Brian Clough of the Blues. As you say, what a life! The Beano album certainly changed my life. Thanks for the tribute. Mayall was the greatest ambassador for the blues EVER!

RIP to a legend. I had the pleasure of seeing him, with Mick Taylor and John McVie when they toured Aus many years ago. Also thanks for your comments about Eric - totally agree. I also think EC returned to form in the 90's with "From the Cradle" and "Rush" and as the recently release live album from that time indicates (Nothing But The Blues).

A towering figure in British blues. His imprint was deep and wide. Not only was he himself important but the members of his bands went on and created the whole rock and blues scene in London. He had slowed down in recent years but that in no way diminshes his impact. RIP Mr Mayall.

Very sad to hear of his death. By coincidence for the past week I’ve been playing in the car the 1993 album ‘Wake Up Call’ with Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Mick Taylor and Mavis Staples guesting on some of the tracks. As everyone knows he played an absolutely pivotal role in the development of the British Blues scene. RIP John Mayall.

Great loss may he rest in peace been a fan since the late 60s everybody who was anybody played with him my two favorite albums by him is jazz blues Fusion and the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton my prayers and heartfelt to his family rest in peace John

I learned to play harp listening to the Beano album, Paul Butterfield and Seigel Schwall records. Mayall will be missed by a whole generation of blues players influenced by Beano RIP

RIP John Mayall. Can't thank you enough for the gifts you shared.

My first rock concert in the old world : John Mayall at Quartier Latin , Berlin winter 1988.. unforgettable !

Love your thoughts on Eric Clapton--I agree and so does Steven Van Zandt (among others)--here is a quotation from him about the influence of EC that appeared in Rolling Stone: “Eric Clapton is the most important and influential guitar player that has ever lived, is still living or ever will live. Do yourself a favor, and don’t debate me on this. Before Clapton, rock guitar was the Chuck Berry method, modernized by Keith Richards, and the rockabilly sound - Scotty Moore, Carl Perkins, Cliff Gallup - popularized by George Harrison. Clapton absorbed that, then introduced the essence of black electric blues: the power and vocabulary of Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin and the three Kings - B.B., Albert and Freddie - to create an attack that defined the fundamentals of rock & roll lead guitar. Maybe most important of all, he turned the amp up - to 11. That alone blew everybody’s mind in the mid-Sixties. In the studio, he moved the mic across the room from the amp, which added ambience; everybody else was still close-miking. Then he cranked the fucking thing. Sustain happened; feedback happened. The guitar player suddenly became the most important guy in the band.” - Steven Van Zandt in Rolling Stone Magazine

Back to the Roots is my favorite John Mayall album. There are so many great tunes that are vastly underrated I only recently added the whole album to my playlist after years of not listening to it, Thanks to you John Mayall for your contribution to music and life of entertaining us.

Saw him and the band in '69 with Mick Taylor. Sad news indeed, but what a cracking innings. RIP John.

RIP John Mayall. Such an important figure in British music.

Beano album. Parchment Farm led me to Mose Allison. Thank you. And Beano is a great album.

Very good video you put together for John never to be forgotten. R.I.P. John

RIP Mr Mayall, your music will live in our heart and soul forever....

Thanks, Andy.

Every British artist I liked always seemed to be a former Bluesbreaker. R.I.P.

Rip grew up listening to John mayall and literally just bought my dad 2 of his albums

Sorry to hear this. A great player with a great place in music history R.I.P John (Paul)

Yes, I'm with you. I am 66 years old and wore out this record when I was a kid...

Sadly I never saw John Mayall but I did see so many of the big hitters that went through the swinging doors that was the JM blues academy. I agree with everything you said Andy. RIP John and thankyou

I'm a German and I went to two of his concerts in Germany ( in the sixties) my favourite Albums are "Blues from Laurel Canyon" and "The Turning Point"

R.I.P John Mayall.He lived a full life and played with so many great musicians.Going to drag out that Beano album play it.I was playing Rush’s Jacobs Ladder when I read the news

Thank you Andy - I appreciate you doing this, and thankyou Mr Mayall for the music

R.I.P John Mayall. What an amazing figure in the blues scene

I only saw him once live, with Mick Taylor on the Blues from Laural Canyon tour at Liverpool Empire. A wonderful show. I loved all his harmonica's in a cowboy gun belt. We also share the same birthday which I thought was pretty cool as a young teenager discovering the blues live. RIP.

RIP John Mayall. You were an inspiration to me during the 70's especially. Great music!!

He's gone? Sad. Great artist. And that album in Andy's background is my favorite Clapton album ever. RIP John.

Very sad news indeed. RIP The father of British Blues. So many great musicians been through his mentorship.

R I P, JOHN. One of my favourite album's is The Blues Alone. A tribute to Sonny Boy Williamson .

Followed John and the Blues Breakers way back in the early days. Big big loss! RIP John

YOU BLUE US AWAY. R.I.P. John.

Great tribute and history lesson, John Mayall was for sure one of the greats and pivotal figure in the UK music scene. Check out the ‘Live in London’ 1967 bootleg tapes featuring a fiery 19-yr old Peter Green and the rest of Fleetwood Mac (minus Jeremy Spencer) backing Mayall, astonishing, despite being recorded by someone in an overcoat with a reel-reel tape recorder under it!

Thanks for the great tribute, RIP John Mayall.

I saw John M in Sydney about forty years ago. It was obvious that he was having a whale of a time on stage, and his band was fantastic, with Soko Richardson killing it on drums. I'm glad he had a good, long innings. Especially love Moving On and Jazz Blues Fusion.

Very sad when we lose such a talent, but what a legacy to have left behind, he will never be forgotten ❤

Bluesbreakers changed my life .. RIP John

R.I.P. John Mayall, a true legend ❤❤❤

The only old guy we trusted in the 60-70...i saw him in the seventies in a cinema in MTL. One of the best musician of that era. RIP Mister Mayall !

Sad news, the legendary blues musician John Mayall has passed away. Their will be many muscians of the sixties era who are still here with us that will be devastated at hearing the news this morning. He was the intersection connecting so many established careers. I wish that he was much more feted particularly in this country, by the music industry. However, he now passes into history where he will be featured in many music documentaries on the British blues boom of the 50s and early sixties. At 90, he had a jolly good innings, pardon my cricketing meterfor.

Well said Andy. Beautiful tribute. I was lucky enough to see John Mayall in Melbourne sometime in the middle of the 1990's. Vale.

This is a very sad day but John Mayall accomplished so much with so many great people. Totally passionate to play music and provide a starting point for so many now well known legendary musicians. So many performances on disc and live that reached an incredible amount of people over the years. The absolute pinnacle of a "lifer" musician. From day one he was a full on lover of Blues music and all the time digging in deeper. Always evolving with new people, never stopping, always supportive, giving his all to people through his art. A total hero who is appreciated and will be missed.

He was kind of like the Miles Davis of the Blues,with many great players passing through his band ,because of his great ear for talent .RIP John.

I first heard this album when I was around 12. In my ignorance at the time I didn’t think I was a blues fan. But I loved this. Turns out I love BRITISH blues and some of its hybrids emerging in the 1960’s. I saw John Mayall around 2010 at a small venue in Albany NY, blew me away. I am so glad that I had the chance to see him live.

The first gig I went to was The Bluesbreakers with Peter Green in Southport. I was 14 and it literally changed my life. I started playing guitar and played the Beano album to death learning the solos note for note; now the album cover takes pride of place on the bathroom wall! RIP John, and Andy you're spot on about the importance of Mayall in the development of rock music worldwide not just the UK 😢

My first live concert ever in Athens..💜🔥🎹💯RIP John Mayall

More sad news......The Beano album is one of my all time favourite albums!!!

Thank you Andy for this lovely tribute. If he had only sung one song, The Death Of J.B. Lenoir, i would have loved him. Such a heartfelt song about a very beautiful soul. It takes one to know one, as they say. To anyone reading this, please see amazing live footage of J.B. in Wim Wenders absolutely wonderful, film, The Soul of a Man. It's free on RU-vid.

I was a regular at the Flamingo Saturday all-nighters in the 60s, and when Mayall was booked, I would always make a point of seeing who was in his line-up. Every up and coming musician wanted to play in Mayall's band as if you did, that was like a seal of approval, or stamp of quality on your CV.

Andy thanks for making this video. Saw Mayall's band just once, over 50 years ago, here in the States.

Excellent tribute Andy. Thanks.

Hi Andy, Rest in Peace Mr. Mayall. Despite the tremendous importance of the Beano, and probably for the age gap, I'm 59 now, for me it was the Jazz Blues Fussion live album which really gave me the real dimension of this amazing musican who brought us that incredible amount of great music.. He'll be missed for sure.

Always saw Mayall as the Art Blakey of rock. Brought along so many great players who went on to form their own vision. He’s vastly underrated and will be missed. RIP Mate.

Soosorry to hear of this passing -Mayall is the ‘godfather of British blues rock’, soo influential-ihave a few of his records including’Turning Point’, , where I believe he actually played without drums, right?!!I absolutely love Clapton , inCream,, and with Blindfaith, ,,,,rest in peace -GREAT JOHN MAYALL !!!!!