Will Wilde tips hat to John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton

British blues-rock harmonica player Will Wilde has released a new music video for “Steppin’ Out,” his take on the Memphis Slim blues classic famously recorded by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton in the 1960s.

Wilde was inspired to add the instrumental to his live set after being invited to open for Clapton at Sandringham Estate. The show was also scheduled to feature Ronnie Wood and Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders.

“This is a Memphis Slim song that was famously recorded by John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton back in the ’60s. We started playing it live as a tribute to Eric when we were asked to open for him at Sandringham Estate along with Ronnie Wood and Andy Fairweather Low and the Low Riders,” Wilde said in a social media post.

The planned Sandringham performance was ultimately cancelled along with Heritage Live’s other upcoming events. Wilde and his band had been scheduled to open for Clapton on Sunday, August 23, prompting them to release their version of “Steppin’ Out” instead.

“We were due to be opening for Eric this Sunday, so rather than let the weekend pass without marking what would have been a very special occasion, we decided to release ‘Steppin’ Out’ as a single instead.”

Wilde’s version puts his harmonica at the forefront, bringing his aggressive, guitar-influenced approach to a song closely associated with one of Clapton’s defining early recordings.

The release follows Wilde’s recent appearance at Playing With Fire in Omaha, Nebraska, where he spoke with Blues Rock Review. The interview will be released Monday, August 24.