At 76, John Mayall still finds room to move

(MCT) — Though he's been touring for nearly 50 years spreading his brand of rockin' blues around the world, John Mayall isn't interested in slowing down.

After all, the longtime leader of The Bluesbreakers, which have counted Eric Clapton, Peter Green and John McVie among their members, didn't land his first No. 1 album on the blues charts until 2002. Last year, the 76-year-old celebrated the release of his 57th album, "Tough," and is heading out for an intense international tour to support it.

Q. Your tour schedule doesn't have many days off. Is that on purpose?

A. It is. I insist on it. I like to get moving and keep that momentum going. You just get in that groove and stay there. If I have days off on the road, I'd just be sitting in a hotel room anyway.

Q. In 2008, you disbanded The Bluesbreakers and, after taking a few months off, started a new band. What happened?

A. I had done so much with the same lineup for so many years. It felt like I was doing the same thing, but I was tired really. ... After a few months, the record company wanted a new album and I had to get a new band together. But I didn't want to call it The Bluesbreakers anymore because those guys who I toured with for years were really The Bluesbreakers. I was very excited to do something new.

Q. On your new song, "That Good Old Rockin' Blues," you sing, "I hate rap music with a passion like you've never seen." Is that true or a character?

A. Rap music is something I've always abhorred. It goes over my head. ... With that song, I wanted to strike a blow for my love of blues. It's a tongue-in-cheek kind of number. I'm very open to new music. The Foo Fighters are incredible. Alanis Morissette is very good. There's a lot of great music about. ... Rap's just not for me.

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