ROCK-on Worldwide

Two thirds of one of the great Prog Rock bands were born in November and two fifths of one of the world’s greatest Folk Rock bands, but we start with the man without whom there might not have been the great 1960s UK R&B revival – the legendary John Mayall.

JOHN MAYALL – 76 years old on 29th November
The line of bands from the great Delta Bluesmen to the likes of Peter Green, Mick Taylor and Eric Clapton is remarkably short – Alexis Korner… John Mayall… Originally based in Manchester it was Alexis Korner, the godfather of UK Blues who told Mayall he had to get to London and in 1963 he did just this and The Bluesbreakers concept was born offering a proving ground for the extraordinary outburst of talent that was London in the 60s.

Some people say that Mayall, Green, McVie, Fleetwood was the best Bluesbreakers lineup, but the never bettered, Mike Vernon produced, Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton is the one for me every time.

KEITH EMERSON – 65 years on 2nd November
Coming at Rock from the other end of the spectrum from John Mayall, Emerson was classically trained and probably the most technically accomplished keyboard players of the Rock world – although Rick Wakeman might have cause to argue the point. Experimental, showy, barechested (frequently) and a very early advocate of the Moog synthesizer, the work that Keith Emerson Carl Palmer and Greg Lake did together at the beginning of the 70s led the way for the great Prog Rock movement. But is it Rock???

GREG LAKE – 62 on 10th November
One of the great voices of Rock and in his younger days a pure tenor. A fine guitarist too, often seemingly outshone by the sheer brilliance of Palmer and Emerson, it’s sometimes just nice – sorry, Keith, no pun intended – to hear him sing (and play) beautifully, a simple ballad…. But is it Rock???

GLENN FREY – 61 on 6th November
California in the 60s sucked in as many important musicians from across America as London did to the rest of the UK. Glenn Frey joined the invasion from Royal Oak, Michigan and was brought together with Don Henley and the other members of what were to become The Eagles, by backing Linda Ronstadt.
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JOE WALSH – 62 on 20th November
Joe Walsh’s trip to California started in Wichita, routed through Kent State University in Ohio after which he joined the James Gang in Cleveland, moved to Colorado, went solo and hit California in time to replace Bernie Leadon (who had arrived from Minneapolis Via Florida) who left the band in time honoured style after pouring beer over Frey’s head.

And the thing is that now the drugs have all been snorted or smoked, the egos massaged and Hell has frozen over, all that really matters is the sound – and Frey and Walsh playing off against each other in Hotel California will always be one of Rock’s great moments.