John Mayer: “I play in constant emotional, psychological and musical deference to Jerry Garcia”
John Mayer is fully aware of his place in the Grateful Dead world as Dead & Company begin their fall tour, which kicked off last night at Madison Square Garden.
Throughout his time in the band, Mayer has routinely expressed his admiration for Jerry Garcia and the music of the band, particularly now as a member of the group that features three surviving members of the Grateful Dead. But in a new Instagram post ahead of the tour kickoff, Mayer went a bit deeper with his role in the music.
“I’m only here as an interpreter of a master,” Mayer said of Garcia. “This band has developed a soul all its own but I play in constant emotional, psychological and musical deference to Jerry Garcia.”
Mayer is honest, as he is 100% of the time on any topic, admitting that he thought it would get easier to acclimate to the world of the Grateful Dead, particularly Garcia’s playing. “But in some ways it gets harder–the deeper I go into the music, the more I realize what it deserves. Just know that with every show we play, I’ll never forget why it is I’m standing there.”
Read Mayer’s full note below.