Legendary band-leader John Mayall is coming home to play the blues (From Watford Observer)

Legendary band-leader John Mayall is coming home to play the blues

1:10pm Thursday 27th October 2011 in Interviews By George Nott

Before we’ve even spoken, I get the impression John Mayall isn’t keen on doing press interviews. Arranging our transatlantic phone call from Watford to the sunny Californian hills where he has lived since the late ‘60s, his agent offers some advice.

The band-leader doesn’t enjoy “filling in background”, so I’m urged to read the 77-year-old guitarist’s “various biogs” to “save time”.

They read like a who’s-who of British blues music. Raised on his father’s collection of jazz 78s, Mayall formed his famous Bluesbreakers after moving to London from Macclesfield aged 30. Starting out by backing blues greats like John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker and Sonny Boy Williamson on their first English club tours, things heated up when Eric Clapton joined the band and the resulting album, Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton, became a best-seller.

When Clapton quit to join Cream, so started a succession of soon-to-be successful band members including Peter Green, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood, who would found Fleetwood Mac, Andy Fraser of Free and Mick Taylor who later joined The Rolling Stones.

The interview imminent, I’m emailed topics Mayall is happy to talk about. I have a strictly 15-minute slot.

With slight trepidation I offer a friendly opener – is he looking forward to coming to play in his homeland?

“It’s familiar territory,“ he answers in well-spoken English unchanged by years living overseas, “but every time I come to a new country I find that everyone speaks the language of the blues. So for me there’s not much difference – it’s all fun with work. I know what to expect – it’s very nice to have that.“

So far so good. A little weary perhaps but it’s early morning in LA. Not quite the ’flippant’ responses other interviewers report coming up against.

Does he enjoy life on the road? “Not the airport security systems and all that nonsense. I like to drive and there’s a lot of long overnight drives, so that’s ok.

“To make music you have to go out and play. It hasn’t changed a great deal.“

Though far from enthusiastic, at least he’s being honest. America hasn’t affected his accent or Northern mellow manner. Perhaps talking about playing guitar will get him going.

Do you play at home?

“I don’t have a home studio,“ he explains. “I won’t even pick up an instrument while I’m at home.“

So he must be itching to get out and play then?

“Not really,“ he admits. “I know when I’m home and when I’m playing, it’s all planned out. I divide it up so I know where I’m going to be.“

I try a new tack. His career has been defined by blues music. Why does he think the genre remains so popular?

“We live in tough times, the world economy is in tatters. It reflects the time we live in. People can identify with it, it’s literal, so people connect.“

There’s some passion in his voice now. “It’s a great medium to express whatever is on your mind,“ he enthuses.

And perhaps a more natural avenue of expression for Mayall than talking to a distant journalist. Behind a guitar, in front of an audience is where he’ll bear his soul. Nevertheless, I feel we’re getting somewhere. “We’re going to have to wrap it up now.“

John Mayall is at Watford Colosseum on November 18 at 8pm. Details: 0845 075 3993