Macclesfield's oldest popular musician will never return for a hometown show - as he has announced his retirement from the road.

John Mayall, who now lives in the USA, will quit touring with immediate effect.

The pandemic affecting live shows, and his advancing age are the reason for his retirement.

The blues guru, who has released 36 studio albums, is not entirely quitting live performance, as he will continue the odd show near his home in California.

He announced the news today on Instagram.

"I have decided, due to the risks of the pandemic and my advancing age, that it is time for me to hang up my road shoes," he said.

"As a result I will be radically reducing my touring schedule and will be limiting my performances to local shows near my home in California, and the occasional concert further afield.

"My epic road dog days however have come to an end. I want to thank my audience for all the wonderful decades of shows, your infectious enthusiasm for my music and for your support throughout my many musical incarnations.

"It has been a privilege to have spent my life doing what I love and having you along for the ride with me through all of it. I may not be travelling to your location, but I do want to continue to share my love of the Blues with you.

"I have a new musical offering coming your way in the form of my album The Sun is Shining Down, which will be released by Forty Below Records on January 21, featuring my long-time rhythm section of Greg Rzab and Jay Davenport as well as some exciting special guests.

"I'm proud of what we came up with and excited to share it with you. I look forward to seeing those of you who can attend my local shows, and I will miss all of you who cannot, but as always, keep loving the Blues."

Famed for his time in John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, for which his debut album for them was with Eric Clapton, Mayall was born in Macclesfield on November 29, 1933.

Growing up in Macc during the Second World War, it was here as a teenager that he first became attracted to the jazz and blues 78s in his father's record collection, which became an inspiration to his playing career.

At the age of 14, John attended Manchester's Junior School of Art, he had access to a piano for the first time and he began to master the instrument.

After a spell in Korea on UK military service, he enrolled in what is now called Manchester Metropolitan University. In 1963, he moved away from our town to London, to pursue a full-time music career at aged 30. He has lived in the States since the late 1960s.

Mayall has shared the stage with legends such as John Lee Hooker, John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac.

John's 37th album, The Sun is Shining Down, follows on from 2021's Rolling with the Blues.

You can listen to his music on Spotify, for which he has over 494,000 monthly listeners.

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