John Mayall dead aged 90: 'Father of British blues' dies at his home in California - after momentous career that saw his Bluesbreakers band influence stars including Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood

The begetter of British blues John Mayall has died aged 90 aft wellness issues forced him to extremity touring.

The musician died astatine his location successful California connected Monday surrounded by family, a connection connected his Instagram page said.

The British blues pioneer led nan Bluesbreakers set that influenced stars including Eric Clapton and Mick Fleetwood.

He stopped touring successful 2021 because of wellness issues, which his family referred to erstwhile they announced his passing.

In a statement, they said: 'It is pinch dense hearts that we carnivore nan news that John Mayall passed distant peacefully successful his California location connected July 22, 2024, surrounded by loving family.

'Health issues that forced John to extremity his epic touring profession person yet led to bid for 1 of this world’s top roadworthy warriors.

'John Mayall gave america 90 years of tireless efforts to educate, animate and entertain.'

Mayall, who was calved successful Macclesfield and grew up successful Cheadle, Greater Manchester, formed nan Bluesbreakers successful nan early 1960s.

He has been credited with helping create a blues revival of nan precocious 1960s and has been described arsenic nan 'father of British blues'. 

The Bluesbreakers started retired playing astatine nan Marquee Club — a mini and comparatively inexpensive club — situated astatine nan bosom of London's West End. 

In 1964, Mayall obtained his first grounds day pinch shaper Ian Samwell. The set recorded 2 tracks: 'Crawling Up a Hill' and 'Mr James'. 

But it wasn't until April 1965 erstwhile erstwhile Yardbirds guitarist Eric Clapton replaced Roger Dean, that Mayall's profession really took off.

In 1965, pinch Eric Clapton arsenic their caller guitar player, nan Bluesbreakers began attracting sizeable attention.

When Clapton near that summertime connected a jaunt to Greece, Peter Green — laminitis of Fleetwood Mac — took his place, while Jack Bruce — of nan stone set Cream — played bass. In November 1965 Clapton returned, and Green departed.

The Bluesbreakers has been considered a training crushed for different awesome musicians including John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor who played pinch nan Rolling Stones, Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat and Jon Mark and John Almond, who went connected to shape nan Mark-Almond Band.

Mayall protested successful interviews that he was not a talent scout, but played for nan emotion of nan euphony he had first heard connected his father's 78-rpm records.

Although he admitted successful an question and reply pinch The Guardian that he had 'managed to prime retired immoderate beautiful typical people'. 

'I'm a set leader and I cognize what I want to play successful my set - who tin beryllium bully friends of mine,' Mayall said successful an question and reply pinch nan Southern Vermont Review. 'It's decidedly a family. It's a mini benignant of point really.'

Although Mayall ne'er approached nan fame of immoderate of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing successful his precocious 80s.

'I've ne'er had a deed record, I ne'er won a Grammy Award, and Rolling Stone has ne'er done a portion astir me,' he said successful an question and reply pinch nan Santa Barbara Independent successful 2013. 'I'm still an underground performer.'

Mayall had a Grammy information for Wake Up Call which featured impermanent artists Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Mick Taylor and Albert Collins. He besides received a 2nd information successful 2022 for his medium The Sun Is Shining Down.

He was selected for nan 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame people and his 1966 medium Blues Breakers pinch Eric Clapton is considered 1 of nan champion British blues albums.

He was made an OBE (Officer of nan Order of nan British Empire) successful 2005. 

Mayall's begetter besides played guitar and banjo, and his records of boogie-woogie soft captivated his teenage son.

Mayall erstwhile said: 'The only logic I was calved successful Macclesfield was because my begetter was a drinker, and that's wherever his favourite pub was.'

He learned to play nan soft 1 manus astatine a time — a twelvemonth connected nan near hand, a twelvemonth connected nan correct — truthful 'I wouldn't get each tangled up'.

The soft was his main instrument, though he besides performed connected guitar and harmonica, arsenic good arsenic singing successful a distinctive, strained-sounding voice. 

Aided only by drummer Keef Hartley, Mayall played each nan different instruments for his 1967 medium Blues Alone.

The Bluesbreakers drew connected a fluid organization of musicians who drifted successful and retired of various bands.

Mayall's 1968 medium Blues from Laurel Canyon signalled a imperishable move to nan United States and a alteration successful direction. He disbanded nan Bluesbreakers and worked pinch 2 guitars and drums.

The 1970s recovered Mayall a debased ebb personally, but still touring and doing much than 100 shows a year.

In 1982, he reformed nan Bluesbreakers, recruiting Taylor and McVie, but aft 2 years nan unit changed again. 

In 2008, Mayall announced that he was permanently retiring nan Bluesbreaker name, and successful 2013 he was starring nan John Mayall Band.