John Mayall: Farewell to the Godfather of British Blues

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The music world is mourning the loss of blues guitarist John Mayall, who passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on 22 July 2024. Mayall’s passing marks the end of a remarkable life for the “Godfather of the British Blues”.

His health issues had recently brought his epic touring career to a close. In this 2019 podcast interview with Jason Barnard covering his 85th Anniversary Tour to his UK homeland, Mayall’s commitment to playing live was as bright as ever:

“It always works out fine with people that enjoy what we do, and they enjoy the improvisations and the fact that it’s all taking place for them on that particular night. So they appreciate the freedom of the playing and the fact people come, if they live in the same area, they’ll come to one gig and then they’ll show up in the next town and they’ll get a completely different set list and a different interpretation.”

Known as one of the genre’s most dedicated performers, Mayall’s contributions to music were nothing short of extraordinary. His tireless efforts to educate, inspire, and entertain made him a revered figure among musicians and fans alike. His accolades reflect a career marked by passion and excellence, cementing his place in the pantheon of blues greats.

The Mayall family expressed their deep gratitude to his fans and the numerous band members who played with John throughout his career. “We, the Mayall family, cannot thank his fans and long list of band members enough for the support and love we were blessed to experience secondhand over the last six decades,” they said in a statement.

Further information

This podcast was originally released in July 2019.

John Mayall podcast tracks

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