Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I first saw John Mayall in a little jazz club in Southampton England in 1963 just after his group's name changed from The Blues Syndicate to The Bluesbreakers. John's trademark of not wearing a shirt during his performances did not go over well until much later in the 60's so he was full clothed for this gig.

Because of the years that have passed my memory is somewhat dim of that time but my perception of his band has remained perfectly in focus. It was obvious back then that John was a force to be reckoned with. He in particular was both powerful and subdued, in fact a very humble man by all accounts. His band was just plain powerful.

Some of the luminaries that have done well from his tutelage and or influence are: Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Peter Green, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Mick Taylor, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Harvey Mandel, Larry Taylor, Aynsley Dunbar, Jon Hiseman, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Andy Fraser, Johnny Almond, Jon Mark, Walter Trout,Coco Montoya, and Buddy Whittington.

Here's a little number that I particularly like no matter how he plays it.



John will be 75 on November 29, 2008. He like many blues musicians remains active as the years stroll by.

Here's his tour schedule for 2008.

JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUESBREAKERS
2008 TOUR SCHEDULE

DATE LOCATION VENUE INFO
05 Sept Kansas City, MO KNUCKLEHEADS
06 Sept Springfield, MO GREATER OZARKS BLUES FESTIVAL
24 Sept Leiden, Holland LEIDSE SCHOUWBURG
25 Sept Den Haag, Holland PAARD VAN TROJE
26 Sept Middleburg, Holland STADSSCHOUWBURG
27 Sept Groningen, Holland DE OOSTERPOORT
28 Sept Amsterdam, Holland KONINKLIJK THEATER CARRE
29 Sept Leeuwarden, Holland ROMEIN
30 Sept Haarlem, Holland PHILHARMONIE

01 Oct Nijmegen, Holland CONCERTGEBOUW DE VEREENIGING
02 Oct Roermond, Holland THEATERHOTEL DE ORANJERIE
03 Oct Eindhoven, Holland MUZIEKCENTRUM FRITS PHILIPS
04 Oct Lyon, France SAIAISE-SUR SANNE
05 Oct Bourg En Breese, France LA TANNERIE
06 Oct Bale, France GRAND CASINO
07 Oct Belfort, France MAISON DU PEUPLE
08 Oct Caen, France ZÉNITH
09 Oct Lille, France GRAND PALAIS
10 Oct La Rochelle, France CHAPITEAU ESPLANADE DES PARCS
11 Oct Nancy, France CHAPITEAU DE LA PEPINIERE
12 Oct Brussels, Belgium ANCIENNE BELGIQUE
13 Oct Cleon, France LA TRAVERSE
14 Oct Massy, France CENTRE CULTUREL PAUL BAILLIART
15 Oct Paris, France LE BATACLAN
16 Oct Brest, France LA CARENE
17 Oct Queven, France CENTRE CULTUREL LES ARCS
18 Oct St. Nazaire, France LES ESCALES
19 Oct Rouillac, France LA PALÈNE
20 Oct Bordeaux, France ESPACE MEDOQUINE
21 Oct Toulouse, France JAZZ 31
22 Oct Montpellier, France SALLE VICTOIRE 2
23 Oct Perpignan, France ELMEDIATOR BAR
24 Oct Monaco, France MONTE CARLO RESORT

Great stuff,thanks for sharing that one Brian.

No Nor Cal

Cool video - Thanks, Brian.

I am glad to see that some of our forum members enjoy his music. He is unbelievably good live.

Thanks for sharing. I met Buddy Whittington three years ago at a small jam in Dallas. Super guy. Here he is with two of my friends, Nick & Mark.

For anyone who hasn't read it yet, Clapton's autobiography has some nice nuggets re: Mayall. He was always a respected "elder statesman", and was a bit older and more settled than his band members; married and stable at a time when the rest of the band were single and footlose. Pretty straight fella drug-wise, and almost professorial in his approach to blues music.

kiramdear wrote:No Nor Cal

And we missed out on Monte Carlo, too, Kira...

Mayall's ability to teach his understudies and his peers what he believed constitutes the essence of the blues is legendary. I am therefore not surprised that this element of his musicianship is beginning to be recognised.