Blues and rock legend John Mayall has died aged 90.
The musician passed away “peacefully” on July 22, after battling “health issues” that prevented him from touring.
A statement on his Facebook page read: “It is with heavy hearts that we bear the news that John Mayall passed away peacefully in his California home yesterday, July 22, 2024, surrounded by loving family. Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors. John Mayall gave us ninety years of tireless efforts to educate, inspire and entertain.”
Mayall had only just been confirmed for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the ceremony set for October 19 in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 2005, Mayall was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Honours List.
Noting his accomplishment during a storied career, the statement by his family added: “An appointed OBE (Officer of the British Empire), 2x Grammy-nominated artist and recent inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John is survived by his 6 children, Gaz, Jason, Red, Ben, Zak and Samson, 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He is also surrounded with love by his previous wives, Pamela and Maggie, his devoted secretary, Jane, and his close friends. We, the Mayall family, cannot thank his fans and long-list of bandmembers enough for the support and love we were blessed to experience secondhand over the last six decades.”
In the 1960s, he formed John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, members of which included Cream’s Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, of Fleetwood Mac fame, plus legendary drummer Aynsley Dunbar and Mick Taylor (formerly of The Rolling Stones).
There was friction along the way and Clapton failed to mention to Mayall that he had formed Cream with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce,
The prolific star released countless records, his most recent being 2022’s ‘The Sun Is Shining Down’.
Tributes have already started to flood in.
Mayall’s Bluesbreakers bandmate Walter Trout penned on Facebook: “He is and will always be my musical mentor, my greatest supporter, and an incredible talent. We just lost a giant. I loved him like a father, and I always will.”