Page 63 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2017

recognized song and received extensive crossover airplay on
rock radio. The 1970s were a time when John experimented
more with jazz, blues and rock innovations. The structure of
the Bluesbreakers was left in England, and John went to a
more free-form style of band collaboration for both touring
and recording. Notable band members during this time
included Canned Heat’s guitarist Harvey Mandel and bassist
Larry Taylor.
In 1982, John reformed the more classic Bluesbreakers
lineup: himself, Mick Taylor, Colin Allen and John McVie. He
took a brief hiatus in late 1983, playing solo with a revised
version of Canned Heat. Through the ‘80s and ‘90s, the
Bluesbreakers had a powerful lineup; notable members during
this time included guitarists Walter Trout, Coco Montoya and
Buddy Whittington, bassist Bobby Haynes and drummer Joe
Each of John’s shows is an original, not to be repeated Photo by Mike Shivvers Yuele. Not always using the Bluesbreakers name, a number of
his classic albums released during this time include Chicago
The first incarnation of the Bluesbreakers came in January Line, A Sense of Place and Wake Up Call. In 2008, John
1963, and they signed their first recording contract in early decided to permanently retire the band and the name. After a
1964 with Decca, releasing the single “Crawling Up A Hill” short break from the road, John formed a new band featuring
a year later. The Bluesbreaker lineup from April 1964 to guitarist Rocky Athas, bassist Greg Rzab and drummer Jay
April 1965 was Mayall, John McVie, Hughie Flint and Roger
Dean on guitar – who was replaced by Eric Clapton in April
1965, after departing from a two-year stint playing with the John Mayall on the Road
Yardbirds. In July 1966 – just as Clapton was leaving the As an avid blues fan and freelance videographer providing
Bluesbreakers to form Cream – the Bluesbreakers released an video services for blues performers, I’ve had the opportunity
album which was to become a landmark release, not only in to go on the road with John a bit and gain some insight to
John Mayall’s career, but in the electric blues genre: The Blues the “Godfather of British Blues.”
Breakers – John Mayall with Eric Clapton. This album, released
on Decca, rose to #6 in the U.K. album charts. It contains blues You might not expect it from a man we revere as a living
standards such as “Parchman Farm” and “All Your Love,” and legend, but without exception at each show, John will set
is affectionately referred to by John as the “Beano album” up and man the merch table himself. When the main door
because of the newspaper title that can be seen being read by opens, he talks with everyone who takes the time to say
Clapton on the front cover. Many of the tracks from this classic “hello,” poses for photos and signs autographs – he’s
album continue to be part of John’s live shows today. In these good with it all. Nowadays, many artists treat the “meet
early days of his career, John also backed blues greats touring and greet” as an add-on to the ticket price. Not John. He
in England such as John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Eddie genuinely appreciates the people who come to see him
Boyd and Sonny Boy Williamson. and the band, and goes that extra step every time.
Between January 1963 and the summer of 1970, the If you’ve been fortunate enough to have seen John perform
Bluesbreakers went through no less than 15 personnel multiple times, you will know that the same show is never
changes. Many who played with John went on to become repeated from one night to the next. John has such a deep
successful stars, aided by his support and leadership, including catalog of music to pull from that he meticulously plans his
John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, Andy Fraser, Coco shows. Like most bands, he writes a set list for the show,
Montoya and Walter Trout. which sits on top of his keyboard. Early on in my time with
The album The Turning Point the band, I asked his road manager if I might be able to
was released in 1969 before have the list after the show, as it is common practice for
John made his permanent bands to give these away. But no – I was told that John
move from England to keeps every set list and puts them in a book, chronicling
California in 1970. It includes each of his shows. I don’t know the count, but he probably
the track “Room to Move,” has thousands of these set lists saved to hand down to his
which is arguably John’s most children and grandchildren – preserving a small piece of
his legacy as a pioneer of the blues.
John affectionately refers to this album as - Mike
the “Beano album.”

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