British guitar legend Eric Clapton posted an emotional video message on his social media about John Mayall, the godfather of British blues whose passing away became public on Wednesday.
“I want to say a few words about my friend John,” began Clapton, who has been synonymous with electric blues guitar since the 1960s.
“I want to say thank you, chiefly for rescuing me from oblivion and God knows what. When I was a young man around the age of 18-19, when I decided that I was going to quit music, he found me and took me into his home and asked me to join his band,” a visibly emotional Clapton said.
“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 for the Chicago blues that he was such an expert on. And I played with his band for a couple of years…”
Playing in John Mayall’s band, Clapton said, “was a fantastic experience and he told me that it was OK just to be. Play the music you wanted to play more without dressing it up or making anybody else like it. Whether it mattered whether they like it or not to listen to myself, to my innermost motivations.
“And he was my mentor and and as a surrogate father, too, he taught me all I really know and and gave me the courage and enthusiasm to express myself without fear or without limit.”
Clapton, who battled addictions for a major part of his life, struck a note of regret.
“And all I gave you in return was how much fun it was to drink and and womanise; when he was already a family man and I wish to make amends for that. I did that while he was alive. And I had obviously since learned that that is not the best way to carry on. ButI shall miss him. But 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. Not yet. As they say in the Gladiator movie,” the guitar great signed off.
