John Mayall, pioneering figure of British blues, dies aged 90

John Mayall, the key figure in the British blues world who provided opportunities for some of the most influential rock musicians of the 20th century such as Eric Clapton and members of Fleetwood Mac, has passed away at the age of 90.

An announcement was made on Mayall's Instagram page that he passed away at his home in California on Monday. The statement shared that health issues had caused John to stop his touring career, and now he has found peace.

Mayall was born in Macclesfield in 1933. As a young person, he started exploring his father's jazz and blues records and taught himself how to play piano, guitar, and harmonica in his own style. After serving three years in the military in Korea, he attended art school and worked as a graphic designer, all while playing music with the band Blues Syndicate on the side.

He also resided in a treehouse located in his parents' backyard. He reminisced, "During my teenage years until I got married at 30, I stayed in a treehouse because our home was small and my room was up in the trees."

At the age of 30, in 1963, he relocated to London to pursue a career as a musician. This was during a time when rhythm and blues music was popular, giving rise to bands such as the Rolling Stones, the Spencer Davis Group, and the Animals.

He told the Guardian in 2014 that in America, there was racial segregation, with black and white communities rarely interacting. However, in Europe, including England, the blues music of black musicians like Elmore James, Freddie King, and JB Lenoir began to resonate with audiences who had not paid attention to them in America. These musicians connected with their emotions and life experiences, and he became captivated by their music.

Mayall was a talented musician who sang, played guitar, and keys. He brought in other musicians, like John McVie, to join his ever-changing band, the Bluesbreakers. The group released their first single in 1964 and also backed up John Lee Hooker that same year. Mayall performed alongside famous blues artists such as Sonny Boy Williamson and T-Bone Walker. He used his band to spread the word about blues music in the UK, playing both classic songs and their own original material.

In 1965, Eric Clapton became a member of the Bluesbreakers after leaving the Yardbirds, who had a changing group of musicians. The initial recordings with Clapton were overseen by a new and upcoming producer, Jimmy Page, who later joined the Yardbirds and went on to create Led Zeppelin.

Clapton was replaced for a short time by Peter Green, who would later become a member of Fleetwood Mac, and Jack Bruce took over on bass temporarily. When Clapton came back, the band recorded their first successful album, Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton, in 1966.

After Clapton left to start Cream, Mayall wasn't too surprised since he was always restless. Green came back to the Bluesbreakers, and even Mick Fleetwood briefly joined the band. Eventually Green left for good, and Mayall brought in Mick Taylor, who later joined the Rolling Stones. The Bluesbreakers had three more albums that reached the UK Top 10 during this time, with Bare Wires reaching as high as No. 3.

This album marked the end of the Bluesbreakers era for 17 years. After Taylor left, Mayall changed the band's name and moved to California in 1969. For the entire 1970s, he surprised the blues-rock world by moving away from the loud and energetic music he was known for in the UK. Instead, he began experimenting with recordings that did not include a drummer and featured acoustic instruments like woodwind, saxophone, and fingerpicked guitar. However, he did return to his original style on the 1971 double album Back to the Roots, which featured guest appearances from Clapton and Taylor.

In the 1970s, he took his music in different directions, experimenting with jazz and funk in various American bands. He later reunited with Taylor, McVie, and drummer Colin Allen in 1982, although this lineup didn't last long. Despite this, Mayall continued to release albums under the Bluesbreakers name. He collaborated with artists such as Mavis Staples, Buddy Guy, and John Lee Hooker, with whom he had toured in the past. In 2001, Mayall released "Along For the Ride," which featured former Bluesbreakers as well as other notable guests like Steve Miller, Chris Rea, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. The album showcased Mayall's ability to attract top talent and collaborate with a diverse range of musicians.

In 2008, John Mayall decided to stop using the Bluesbreakers name so that he could collaborate with different artists. He even welcomed Carolyn Wonderland as his first female lead guitarist in 2018. Mayall performed many live shows every year and kept touring until 2022.

Mayall had four kids with his ex-wife Pamela: Gary, Jason, and Tracey, and adopted son Benedict. In 1978, Mayall started a relationship with blues musician Maggie Parker, who was over 20 years younger than him – she became part of his band and they eventually got married. They had two sons together but ended up getting divorced in 2011.

Their house in Laurel Canyon caught on fire in 1979 and was eventually reconstructed. Maggie recounted the terrifying experience, stating, "We managed to survive, but we lost everything except what we were wearing... John abandoned the garden hose and we fled rapidly, driving through the flames in our friend's Chevy Suburban."

Mayall will be officially recognized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, receiving the Musical Influence award alongside two other legendary blues artists, Big Mama Thornton and Alexis Korner.

Artists honoring Mayall included Joe Bonamassa, who wrote: "Rest peacefully, my friend."