John Mayall, the British blues musician whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, has died. He was 90.
A statement on Mayall's Instagram page announced his death Tuesday, saying the musician died Monday at his home in California. “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,” the post said.
Among this year's new members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, he is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the 1960s. At various times, the Bluesbreakers included Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, later of Cream; Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac; Mick Taylor, who played five years with the Rolling Stones; and Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat.
Clapton and McVie both played on the 1966 release “Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton,” which Rolling Stone magazine has ranked among the 500 greatest albums.
“He was a great pioneer of British blues and had a wonderful eye for talented musicians,” Mick Jagger wrote on X, adding that it was Mayall who recommended Taylor as a replacement in 1969 for founding Stones guitarist Brian Jones, “ushering in a new era” for the band.
Known for his blues harmonica and keyboard playing, Mayall had a Grammy nomination, for “Wake Up Call” which featured guest artists Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Mick Taylor and Albert Collins. He received a second nomination in 2022 for his album “The Sun Is Shining Down.” He also won official recognition in Britain with the award of an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 2005.
