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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 23, 2021 15:30:45 GMT
 🎙 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: I have decided, due to the risks of the pandemic and my advancing age, that it is time for me to hang up my road shoes. As a result I will be radically reducing my touring schedule and will be limiting my performances to local shows near my home in California, and the occasional concert further afield. My epic road dog days however have come to an end. I want to thank my audience for all the wonderful decades of shows, your infectious enthusiasm for my music and for your support throughout my many musical incarnations. It has been a privilege to have spent my life doing what I love and having you along for the ride with me through all of it. I may not be travelling to your location, but I do want to continue to share my love of the Blues with you. I have a new musical offering coming your way in the form of my album “The Sun is Shining Down,” which will be released by Forty Below Records on January 21st, featuring my long-time rhythm section of Greg Rzab and Jay Davenport as well as some exciting special guests. I’m proud of what we came up with and excited to share it with you. I look forward to seeing those of you who can attend my local shows, and I will miss all of you who cannot, but as always, keep loving the Blues! — John MayallI hope I'm still performing and recording at 87 years old. Wonderful. What a great man.  One of John's finest achievements - Known affectionately as "The Beano Album" Shine On Michael |
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Sept 23, 2021 16:00:44 GMT
What a career to look back on and, boy, didn't he bring some young guitarists, bass players and drummers to the fore over the years?
John Mayall is a legend in his own lifetime - first time of many gigs that I saw the Bluesbreakers play was with a very young EC at RGS High Wycombe.
They didn't have a roadie and did all their own load in, set up and load out and I believe that John continued with this philosophy for decades.
87 years young - amazing!
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Sept 23, 2021 20:00:26 GMT
`Hi everyone
i first saw john Mayall play in the mid 1980s i think , and he was brilliant . the last time i saw him play was in 2019 near the end of the year november or december ish . caroyln wonderland was on lead guitar ....once again he and the bamd was great .. there was no decline at all .
I was well impressed . he has a wonderful fantastic contribution to music
may he enjoy his time of rest
al
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Post by Ian McWee on Sept 23, 2021 21:18:01 GMT
I had the pleasant surprise of being asked to introduce the band at Colston Hall, Bristol around 20 years ago. At the time I was along for the ride as guitar tech for a local Worcester-based supporting duo, and whilst packing up to leave the venue the organiser sought me out to do the deed....
....whilst the curtain was closed, Buddy Whittington took me to one side & explained EXACTLY how to introduce the band....
"You introduce the band as 'The Bluesbreakers' and we'll start the set with 'Hideaway' ~ at the end of this we'll introduce John Mayall on stage"
I jokingly asked what would happen if I introduced them as 'John Mayall's Bluesbreakers'......the look he gave me told me everything I needed to know.....😆
Slide On!
The Flaschenmeister
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Post by bryanbradfield on Sept 24, 2021 2:22:57 GMT
I saw John Mayall on Friday April 2, 1971, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. $4.50 well spent.  |
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Post by bonzo on Sept 24, 2021 7:16:30 GMT
I've always had mixed feelings about John Mayall having heard tales of how he treated band members (employees).
I saw him last in Toronto on the same tour that Bryan mentioned.
He had Mick Taylor on lead that night, and during a very nice solo Mick was cutting into Mayall got up from his keyboard and went across stage to gesture to him to take it down. I thought at the time what an a%#$×hole. Kinda put me off him altogether after that.
Not denying his musical abilities, just got the impression over the years he wasn't a very nice bloke.
You may very well disagree!
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by twang1 on Sept 24, 2021 10:21:18 GMT
When I was a kid I never had any money and just the usual few cassettes to listen to. One of them was “Jazz Blues Fusion” by John Mayall.
Fast forward, in '96 I opened for John Mayall with my electric trio outdoor in a big park.
I didn't want to bother him but when I saw him alone in the park I kindly approached him saying that it was a honour for me to be opening for him and that I used to listen to that cassette. He never ever looked at me even once and didn't answer. I felt really bad and awkward and left. After a few steps he told me that they had recently issued “Jazz Blues Fusion” on CD, still not looking at me. I left sayin' “Sorry for disturbing you”.
John and part of the band didn't watch me playing cause they were inside a restaurant nearby. Buddy Whittington, instead, sat the entire set on first row with a big smile and soon after told me that he really enjoyed the music and that I had an original way to play an electric with a thumbpick, and gave me a BIG hug!
John Mayall, on stage, seemed totally different and looked happy and into the music. They played really well and very tight. A really good set!
Soon after the gig, as I was packing and John M. was signing autographs he asked me how the gig had gone. He seemed a totally different person, smiling and super happy. I didn't want an autograph but he suddenly grabbed my strat and signed the pickguard!
Then a phone call came to his manager from an angry hotel boss, and since they couldn't understand each other I translated for them: John Mayall, the night before had slept in Milan and left a TV completely dismantled in a bath tub. The band was laughing and Buddy W. told me that Mayall was travelling with a small metal suitcase full of small screwdrivers and plies...
The band then brought me on their bus to have a beer together while Mayall was sortin' out the TV thing... Buddy W. and the drummer were superfriendly.
I still have that strat with the signed pickguard...
Frank
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Post by bonzo on Sept 24, 2021 13:00:29 GMT
Apparently a man of many moods Frank!
Over the years I've been going to clubs and gigs, (almost 60, years not gigs) I've managed to meet many of my idols, some who went on to great things and others who just played great music (the two aren't incompatible) and I can't ever remember one of them not being kind and friendly and once they could see I knew the music many would chat at length over a beer.
I also helped manage bands over the years and with the exception of some of the punk ones always encouraged politeness and engagement with people who approached for a chat. The point I'm making is it doesn't take much effort to say a few words and it may be something that will be remembered in years to come.
Pretty much like I'm doing now, lol!
Best wishes to you all, John
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Post by twang1 on Sept 24, 2021 18:43:42 GMT
One more thing about John Mayall in '96: he looked wonderfully fit! I was expecting a skinny guy and instead he looked like a guy going to the gym every day!
I could see that he was physically takin' care of himself, broad shoulders and good posture. I thought that for a guy who was practically livin' on the road he was doing very, very well. I wish every musician to be able to arrive at such an age and still be playing!
Regarding approaching famous musicians: I had the chance to open for or to play with quite a few well known musicians. I was generally treated well. A few guitar players weren't so happy to talk about guitars but they were open to talk about anything else (Holdsworth, for example), but the majority were happy to talk, expecially about Music. A few of them went out of their way to make me feel comfortable opening for them (Tommy Emmanuel sure did that for me).
Strange as it might seems I found that the ones accustomed to be travelling a lot were the best!
Frank
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Post by jono1uk on Sept 25, 2021 7:21:52 GMT
first blues band i ever saw live early 90.s..Coco Montoya was on guitar ..i was right at the front and my fate on playing guitar was sealed.
there was a guy next to me who kept shouting for them to "Room to Move" me not knowing the tune said to the bloke "that tune any good then"?
he turned t=round and answered "Do you wanna die"
The venue was one of the best type .smoky sticky carpet job.. "The International 2* in Manchester ..i am sure Michael and others will know of it.
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 25, 2021 7:58:32 GMT
first blues band i ever saw live early 90.s..Coco Montoya was on guitar ..i was right at the front and my fate on playing guitar was sealed. there was a guy next to me who kept shouting for them to "Room to Move" me not knowing the tune said to the bloke "that tune any good then"? he turned t=round and answered "Do you wanna die" The venue was one of the best type .smoky sticky carpet job.. "The International 2* in Manchester ..i am sure Michael and others will know of it. The International 2, Plymouth Grove, Manchester. I probably played there around that time, maybe a bit earlier. Shine On Michael. |
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Post by Stevie on Sept 25, 2021 15:06:04 GMT
"Coco" Montaya dissed me at The Boom Boom Club in Sutton, I only wanted to say thanks and vapourise, yet it generated a one-liner put down, accordingly, I wouldn't pay to see him again. It seems he had a good mentor in John Mayall given the foregoing in this thread. OTOH, my experience of Buddy Whittington on another occasion at the same venue was the complete opposite- a smashing guy. It seems obvious to say it but in these days of social media, artists are performing right up until they get into the car to go home or to the hotel. If they don't realise that then hoi poloi are going to disseminate missives like this (and because it is trivially easy, generally much worse) and **** (mud) sticks. In other words, don't mingle after the show unless you're ready to mingle with your fare payers.
That said, and I know how it must have seemed and I would have had the same reaction, but taking five hopefully incognito minutes in an assumed public open space psyching one's self up for a show was probably an inopportune moment to remind the turn of his fame?
Now given the foregoing, I'm as guilty as the next man, but it still seems wrong to accentuate subjective negative recollections of anyone, least of all one of the stature and contribution to music as John Mayall. I wonder whether he would give me as much consideration?
e&oe ...
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Post by bonzo on Sept 25, 2021 18:43:03 GMT
Yes Steve, lots of circumstances may prevail but I say 'speak as you find'.😊👍🎸
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