It’s no exaggeration to say John Mayall is the most important figure in the development of rock music in Britain. 

Cream, Led Zeppelin, Fleeetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, The Animals… that first wave of British rock bands all grew out of his ever-changing cast of Bluesbreakers.

As bandleader, it was blues aficionado Mayall who gathered like-minded musicians around him, guided them towards the limelight and watched them blossom when they left his nest.

At the same time he rejuvenated the careers of an earlier generation of American bluesmen who found an eager new audience in the UK and Europe.

His lead guitarists were a who’s who of future superstars. After Eric Clapton left, along came Peter Green, who was in turn replaced by Mick Taylor: like a football team replacing Pele with Maradona and then Messi.

Yet Mayall enjoyed none of the fame, and little of the fortune, of the musicians he groomed to become rock idols. I’d be surprised if the majority of fans of those guys’ bands could recognise, or even name the man who gave them their leg-up into the business.

Not that it bothered him. Mayall was content to be the kingmaker on the sidelines, happy to stay behind his organ or up front with his harmonica, letting his proteges bask in the limelight.

Look at the line-up on this tune: Peter Green on guitar, John McVie on bass, Aynsley Dunbar on drums, and Mayall on organ, piano, harmonica and vocals – produced by Mike Vernon and engineered by Gus Dudgeon.

RIP John Mayall (1933-2024)