Quotes On John
John Mayer "Continuum": "You gotta look past what you think. This is anepic observation of the world in both guitar and lyrics. If there wasa sal paradise of our generation, this is him. You drive the road, he logs it. Perfect airplane music." - Pete Wentz
"Mayer is single handedly making the Stratocaster cool again cause he can actually play the thing. And I mean PLAY. I also think his voice is an underestimated weapon. Kinda reminds me of a funny Van Morrison." - Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy) (source)
"'Continuum: Music by John Mayer,' whoever that is. 'Continuum.' I couldn't understand what that word meant. 'Continuum'? What does that mean?" - Ozzy Osbourne (read more)
"I did end up going to a John Mayer trio concert one night, it was so good, not even funny. I thinks its probably safe to say he is one of the greatest living guitarists. We met him afterwards and he seems like an awesome guy." - Teddy Geiger, October 20 2005 (India.Arie) "John Mayer "Who Did You Think I Was"
"I love this song. He sings great, he plays great. But I also identify with it, because he says, "Am I the one who sings the sad songs? Am I the one who turns the ladies on?" Like he's confronting his public image and trying to make people understand he's a lot more than that ... I identify with that. He's my favorite in the last five years."
"I finished working with John Mayer on his New CD in the early spring! Wow! What a talent! He and Steve Jordan are co producing the CD together and it's rockin'! We had a riot playing together! The band consisted of my old New York buddy, producer Steve Jordan on drums, Pino Paladino on bass, Spanky Alford on rhythm guitar, me on keyboards and a few other great musicians. And of course John playing guitar and singing/writing his ass off!" - Ricky Peterson
"We are really looking forward to the late summer tour with John Mayer. He is super nice, uber-talented dude, BUT....can he play ping-pong! We shall see." - Sheryl Crow, June 2006
Asking Mandy Moore, 'Who do you think will be the biggest star this year?'
Her reply: 'Oh my God, I don't know. I'm good friends with John Mayer. I think he is amazing and a total sweetheart, but he's a really brilliant lyricist. I think he would definitely be someone in the future that I would love to quote. I think he's someone who's enormously talented. How sick of a guitarist is he? He's hilarious and very intelligent. He's the whole package — that's John!' (Star magazine, April 26 issue)
"He's a strong rhythm guitar player and a wonderful singer, a great voice. He's really smart and very self-assured, yet humble at the same time. He has strong convictions about things which is rare at that age." - Herbie Hancock
"VH1: You're off on tour with John Mayer. How did you become pals with him?
James Valentine: Right after high school I went out and signed up for a summer session at Berklee, which was essentially like guitar camp. I didn't know a soul when I got there, but met this jazz guitarist from Seattle, and then John. He was 17, and this sorta Stevie Ray Vaughan protégé. At the time he wasn't singing or writing songs. He was just interested in shredding, like the rest of us." February 2004 VH1 Interview
"I learn from them, too. John Mayer is one of the best musicians out there. I can go on all day talking about John and all of the great young musicians. John can really play the blues. I love being around kids like him." - Buddy Guy (source)
"They're great. They're both, to me, two of the best contemporary guitar players we have right now. In 25 years, I think either one of these guys could easily be compared to Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana or Buddy Guy. They're so talented and they're such good people. I think that carries a long way in this business." - Rob Thomas
"I don't want to brag, but Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana, and John Mayer. John is the greatest guy ever. He came and played guitar on my record. He's a funny guy, man." - Rob Thomas
"I just invited this young man out because I don't want the blues to die. Every once in a while, a young man comes along to make sure it can survive." - Buddy Guy, Jammy Awards 2005
"I think John is one of the most talented guitar players in popular music today. He's such a great singer and songwriter and when you see his live show he tears it up." - Rob Thomas
"Ok, I could have took John Mayer both of his whole albums, Heavier Things and Room For Squares. I could have picked any song off of those albums. I'm a big John Mayer fan". - Kayne West
Q. Simon & Garfunkel helped define an era in American pop culture. Who's defining us today?
A. That's really for kids to say, isn't it? Personally, I would tend to lean toward John Mayer. There's something about his lyrics. They actually say something. They don't stain our consciences like the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel may have done in the 1960s, but they say something." - Art Garfunkel, Sun Times
"What's interesting about John Mayer, is that he has the musical content to back it up." - Gene Simmons of Kiss
Q. Name some people who are going to keep the blues alive in the next few years.
A. "Oh, that's so hard. We've got a lot of young men who can play much better than I can right now. What I do is, I try to entertain the people as best I can. I play, I sing, maybe make people laugh a little. But these younger guys, their technique and natural playing can just run circles around me. There's Robert Cray, John Mayer, Keb' Mo', Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and a bunch more that are just excellent." - BB King, JSOnline
"He can play my music, he can play Stevie Ray Vaughan, he can play Hendrix, he can play everybody. Right now he's on top, and he's got a good head on him. Let's put it this way: He can get down." - Buddy Guy, Rolling Stone
"He's making smashes with new artists, but I'm sure he's keeping some goodies for his album. His songs don't feel conscious, but they're not hardcore, so parents like them for their kids." - Envy, MTV News
"I like John Mayer's first album — it's great." - Chad Michael Murray (J-14 magazine)
"John Mayer is one of my favorites so I had to include him in my workout mix." - Jennifer Garner, iTunes
"U'm if you've ever heard of my man John Mayer, you know what I'm sayin. Big shout out to John Mayer too, you know what I'm sayin. I'm a big fan of him." - Nelly (Da Derrty Versions The Reinventions (end of #4 on cd)
"I don't do music for the hype behind it. It's because I really love John as an artist, I like his voice. He's like the modern day [Doobie Brothers singer] Michael McDonald. ... And me and John, we just cool, period" - Kanye West (source)
"I think John Mayer is a great writer. I like his honesty a lot." - Kayne West (source)
"What can I say about John other than he has very large hands, and right now it seems he's got a grip on the world. If you ever get a chance to see Mr Mayer live his attitude and his care free technique will blow you away. He has the makings for the next generation of legendry." - Jason Mraz (source)
"He didn’t play no "Body Is A Wonderland" or anything you’d expect. He was playing for his love of music. He was Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy and Stevie Vaughn all rolled up into one big reincarnation burrito. He was Mayer comes alive. He was the reminder I need. He became once again a role model." - Jason Mraz (About his Viper Room Performance) (source)