“Thank you for rescuing me from oblivion”: Eric Clapton pays emotional tribute to John Mayall
On 22 July, John Mayall passed away in his family home, surrounded by loved ones. Throughout his career, the 90 year old musician made quite the mark on the blues world. One of his mentees comes in the form of Eric Clapton, who has shared a heart-warming goodbye via social media.
In a somber Instagram video, Clapton thanks Mayall for nurturing him, encouraging him to be a better a man and a stronger musician. “I want to say a few words about my friend, John,” he begins. “I want to say thank you chiefly for rescuing me from oblivion.”
READ MORE: “John’s importance in music is as profound as the guitarists that he hired”: the guitar world pays tribute to John Mayall
As Clapton explains, he met Mayall at a crucial time in his life. Clapton was ready to throw in the towel and give up on music. “When I was a young man, around the age of 18, 19, I decided that I was going to quit music,” he admits. “[Mayall] found me and took me into his home, asked me to join his band.”
Clapton would play alongside John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers for two years, 1965 and 1966. Mayall’s knowledge and experience helped Clapton nurture his own sound. “I stayed with him and I learned all that I have to draw on today in terms of technique,” he explains. “I did all my research in his home in his record collection [and learnt about the] Chicago blues that he was such an expert on.”
“It was a fantastic experience,” he continues. “He taught me that it was okay to play the music you wanted to play without dressing it up or making anybody else like it. It didn’t matter whether people liked it or not. [Mayall taught me] to listen to myself, to listen to my inner motivations… He taught me all I really know. He gave me the courage and enthusiasm to express myself without fear, without limit.”
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A post shared by Eric Clapton (@ericclapton)
Clapton goes on to get more emotional, asserting “he was my mentor, a surrogate father.”
However, the guitarist does take a moment to express some regret. Mayall taught Clapton to be a better person – but Clapton admits he was a bad influence on the blues legend. “All I gave in return was how much fun it was to drink and womanise when he was a family man,” he frowns. “I wish to make amends for that, and I did when he was alive. I have since learned that that is not the best way to carry on…”
Despite past mistakes, Clapton closes things off with a heart-felt goodbye. “I shall miss him,” he says. “I hope to see him on the other side. So thank you John. I love you, and I’ll see you soon… but not yet. As they say in the Gladiator movie. God bless you. Thank you.”
While Clapton’s time in the Bluesbreakers would come to an end in 1966, the pair would go on to perform together from time to time. Notably, Clapton appeared onstage with Mayall for Mayall’s 70th Birthday Concert in 2003.
The news of Mayall’s passing was shared on the 23rd July via John Mayall’s social media accounts. On Instagram, the announcement reads: “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 his 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,” the post continues. “John Mayall gave us ninety years of tireless efforts to educate, inspire and entertain.”
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The post goes on to quote a 2014 Guardian interview, where Mayall expressed his deep love of the blues. “[Blues] is about – and it’s always been about – that raw honesty with which [it expresses] our experiences in life, something which all comes together in this music, in the words as well,” he explained. “Something that is connected to us, common to our experiences.”
“To be honest, I don’t think anyone really knows exactly what it is,” he goes on to admit. “I just can’t stop playing it.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
