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John Mayall: The Turning Point

Loyd Grossman, Fusion, 17 October 1969

A TURNING POINT in British blues music may have been reached last May when Mick Taylor and Colin Allen left John Mayall's band. Following their departure, Mayall – working on the theory that each instrument creates its own rhythm – decided to dispense with drums. Though the theory of inherent rhythm in instruments is by no means new (listen to some classical music or country blues), doing away with drums at a time when there is much emphasis on the "heaviness" of the beat must be regarded as daring and to some extent revolutionary. Likewise not having a powerfully amplified lead guitar, which is regarded as a must in modern blues bands, is quite daring especially if we are to consider that it was in Mayall's bands that the talents of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor, were first fully exposed.

Total word count of piece: 669

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