Eric Clapton Pays Tribute to ‘Mentor’ John Mayall: ‘He Taught Me All I Really Know’
“I did all my research in his home, in his record collection,” former Bluesbreakers guitarist says
The Bluesbreakers in 1966: John Mayall, Hughie Flint, Eric Clapton, John McVie. Photo: Michael Ochs Archives
Eric Clapton paid tribute to his friend and “mentor” John Mayall on social media Wednesday following news of the Bluesbreakers legend’s death at the age of 90.
The guitar god dubbed “Slowhand” was notably one of the many renowned musicians who received tutelage under Mayall’s stewardship as frontman of the Bluesbreakers. Clapton joined the group as lead guitarist following his exit from the Yardbirds when he was at a personal crossroads in his life.
“I want to say thank you chiefly for rescuing me from oblivion, and god knows what. I was a young man, around the age of 18 or 19, when I decided I was going to quit music,” Clapton said in his video tribute to Mayall.
“He found me and took me into his home and asked me to join his band, and I stayed with him and I learned all that I really have to draw on today in terms of technique and desire to play the kind of music I love to play. I did all my research in his home, in his record collection.”
Clapton released one LP with Mayall’s outfit — 1966’s Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton — before departing to form Cream; Clapton was ultimately replaced in the Bluesbreakers by Peter Green, who would later found Fleetwood Mac along with Mayall vets McVie and Mick Fleetwood.
Other one-time Bluesbreakers in Mayall’s influential group included Jack Bruce, Free’s Andy Fraser, Canned Heat’s Harvey Mandel, Jesse Ed Davis, and Mick Taylor, who would later join the Rolling Stones on Mayall’s endorsement; Mick Jagger acknowledged as much in his own tribute to Mayall Wednesday.
“So sad to hear of John Mayall’s passing,” Jagger wrote. “He was a great pioneer of British blues and had a wonderful eye for talented young musicians, including Mick Taylor – who he recommended to me after Brian Jones died – ushering in a new era for the Stones.”
Clapton, who called Mayall his “mentor,” added, “I played with his band for a couple of years, with Hughie [Flint, drummer] and John [McVie, bassist], and it was a fantastic experience. He taught me that it was okay to just play the music you wanted to play without dressing it up or making anybody else like it. To listen to myself.”
“He taught me all I really know, and gave me the courage and enthusiasm to express myself without fear, without limit. And all I gave him in return was how much fun it was to drink and womanize when he was already a family man. I wish to make amends for that,” Clapton said toward the end of his tribute. “I shall miss him, but I hope to see him on the other side. Thank you John, I love you, I’ll see you soon, but not yet.”
From Rolling Stone US.
