IN the late '50s/early '60s the average famous bluesman was black, American and forbidden to play in Britain due to union restrictions. But after people like John Mayall and Peter Green formed bands like The Yardbirds and Fleetwood Mac all that changed.

John Mayall and Peter Green became legends of the British blues scene.

Like hundreds of others caught by the blues and rhythm and blues bug, they bought American blues records which had been imported into Britain and copied what they heard.

Wielding the music of Sonny Boy Williamson and JR Lenoir like scripture, Mayall became an ad hoc teacher and preacher of the blues in the early 1960s, enlisting guitarists like Eric Clapton and Peter Green to his struggle.

Green was Clapton's replacement in The Yardbirds in 1966, after three years of the band which also saw bassists John McVie (Fleetwood Mac) and Jack Bruce (Cream) play in it. Green was in turn replaced by Mick Taylor who would later go on to become a Rolling Stone.

On leaving The Yardbirds Green formed Fleetwood Mac with McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood.

The band enjoyed much success and came to be regarded as one the best blues bands in the world until illness forced Green's departure. The band went on to become global superstars.

Green returned from exile in the late 1990s largely thanks to former Black Sabbath drummer, the late Cozy Powell, with whom he formed The Splinter Group who play the Colston Hall this autumn.

The current line-up of the Bluesbreakers is John Yuele on drums, Buddy Whittington on guitar, Hank Van Sickle on bass, Tom Canning on keyboards and Mayall on blues harp and vocals.

The Bluesbreakers and The Splinter Group both play the Colston Hall, Bristol, on Monday, October 28, from 7.30pm. Tickets are £19.50, £17.50, £15.50 from 0117 922 3686. For more information surf to www.johnmayall.com or www.petergreen-splintergroup.co.uk