In the mid-sixties John Mayall (guitar, harmonica, keyboards) emerged as a central figure in the British 'blues boom'. The Blues Breakers championed the music of American blues greats, touring with John Lee Hooker and others. The Marquee Club was home to Mayall and like-minded musicians dedicated to playing the blues. Many guitarists were employed by Mayall, notably Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Mick Taylor and Coco Montoya. Born in Macclesfield, Mayall made California his home, where he died on July 22nd at the age of 90. Russell
(Editor's note: 2011 John Mayall review HERE.)
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Although I never played with Mayall I was quite young when I first met him; I was 15 years old and about to start my first job at the Royal Automobile Club on Dickenson Rd, Rusholme, Manchester. I used to board a bus at Albert Road Cheadle Hulme and he was already on it on his way to art school; he stood out because of his unusual attire. an early hippie look I guess, also on the bus was Alan Hare the local Big Band leader who was also a first rate arranger; he and Mayall I sometimes sat together. I met John Mayall again when I was in the Paul Bromley sextet, just before the army grabbed me at age 18. He lived in a tree house in a field opposite where we used to to rehearse in Woodford and would often come over and listen to us. He liked our pianist Richard Rushton who was 16 but could write out bop tunes from records and was an amazing musician; I had only been playing a short time and Hodges was my first influence but I recall John gave my one or two helpful hints about how to constuct solos;
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