John Mayall, born November 29th 1933, is an English singer, songwriter and musician best known for his work with his occasional backing band as John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. It was during the brief period in 1967 when the band consisted of Mayall, Peter Green (guitar/vocals), John McVie (bass), and Mick Fleetwood (drums) that the seeds of Fleetwood Mac were sown.
Early career[]
Mayall was originally a graphic artist but played with semi-professional bands until 1963 when he opted to become a full time musician. His band the Blues Syndicate became the Bluesbreakers. John McVie was an original member and their early releases included the song Crawling Up a Hill, later made famous by Katie Melua.
But it was when Eric Clapton joined from the Yardbirds in 1966 that the group made a serious impact on the music scene. Their second album Bluesbreakers featuring Eric Clapton (nicknamed the Beano album as Clapton was reading a copy of the Beano comic on the sleeve) became a benchmark of British blues rock and launched Clapton is as a major talent to look out for. When Clapton left to form Cream with occasional Bluesbreakers bassist Jack Bruce, Mayall replaced him with Peter Green.
The line-up consisting of Mayall, Green, McVie and drummer Aynsley Dunbar released the album A Hard Road in 1967. Shortly afterwards Dunbar was dismissed at the insistence of Peter Green who wanted Mick Fleetwood with whom he had played in The Cheynes in the band. This lineup released one single Double Trouble b/w It Hurts Me Too before Green left to form his own band which he had already decided to name Fleetwood Mac after an instrumental piece he had recorded with Fleetwood and McVie. He wanted John McVie too but the bassist was initially reluctant to leave the Bluesbreakers and appeared on their next album Crusade which saw Green replaced with 18-year old guitarist Mick Taylor who would join the Rolling Stones the following year.
But John McVie was uncomfortable with the new jazz-influenced direction Mayall seemed to be heading in and left to join Fleetwood Mac where he replaced stand-in bassist Bob Brunning.
Despite this, Mayall's connections to Fleetwood Mac remained strong. John McVie would play on some of his albums in the 1970s as would future Mac lead guitarist Rick Vito.
A brief Bluesbreakers reunion 1982 performed dates from January to June 1982. The lineup behind Mayall consisted of Taylor, McVie and drummer Colin Allen. McVie had to return to Fleetwood Mac soon after to promote their new album Mirage. This connection may have been how Colin Allen came to write the lyrics for the album's closing track Wish You Were Here.