Gypie Mayo facts for kids

Gypie Mayo (born John Philip Cawthra; 24 July 1951 – 23 October 2013) was a talented English guitarist and songwriter. He was best known for playing guitar in the famous band Dr. Feelgood. He was with them from 1977 to 1981. Later, he also played with The Yardbirds from 1996 to 2004.

Gypie Mayo's Early Life and Music Journey

Gypie Mayo was born in Hammersmith, London. His birthday was on July 24, 1951. When he was young, he listened to classical music. His father often played it at home.

Discovering the Guitar

Later, Gypie heard a song called "Apache". It was by a band called The Shadows. He really liked the song. But what made him truly excited was seeing the band on TV. They were playing their cool Fender Stratocaster guitars. This made him want to play guitar too.

First Bands and Nickname

After leaving school, John Cawthra started using the stage name Mayo. In 1969, he joined a blues band called White Mule. They played music all over the United Kingdom. They also had shows in Switzerland and France. White Mule released one song with MCA Records.

After White Mule, Gypie played in many rock bands. These included Halcyon, 747, and Alias. He even played the mandolin in an Irish band called Concrete Mick. Soon after, he joined Dr. Feelgood.

Playing Guitar with Dr. Feelgood

Gypie Mayo became well-known in 1977. He joined Dr. Feelgood as the new guitarist. He took the place of Wilko Johnson. At first, people called him John Mayo. But he often had small health problems. So, Lee Brilleaux from Dr. Feelgood said, "you've always got the gyp." The nickname "Gypie" stuck with him.

Hit Songs and Albums

Gypie played with Dr. Feelgood for four years. He was on six of their albums. These albums included Be Seeing You and Private Practice. He helped write "Milk and Alcohol" with Nick Lowe. This song was a big hit for Dr. Feelgood. It reached the top 10 in the UK.

Gypie also played on many other popular Dr. Feelgood songs. These included "She's A Wind Up" and "Down at the Doctors".

Gypie Mayo's Later Career and Legacy

After Dr. Feelgood, Gypie Mayo continued to play music. His guitar playing was featured on The Yardbirds' album Birdland in 2003.

He lived in Bath, Somerset. There, he played in different bands. He also taught people how to play the guitar. He made guest appearances on albums by other musicians. One example is Pete Gage's album Tough Talk.

On October 23, 2013, Gypie Mayo passed away. He was 62 years old. News of his death was shared by Wilko Johnson. Wilko was a former guitarist for Dr. Feelgood. He posted a message saying he was sad to hear the news.