John Mayer, Bruiseman
Star's backstage demands range from Count Chocula to Krazy Glue
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FEBRUARY 27--Pity the poor production slave who is tasked to handle the dressing room demands of John Mayer when the guitarist rolls into Arizona for his trio's April 1 appearance at the Tempe Music Festival. The backstage rider for Mayer, who is touring with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, includes a variety of items that we have not previously seen requested by other performers. Yes, the affable Mayer wants thinly sliced meat, soy milk, and an organic fruit bowl, according to the rider, an excerpt of which you'll find below. But he also appears deeply committed to maintaining his oral hygiene and pleasant, toothy smile. Promoters must provide the 28-year-old musician with four 'soft head' toothbrushes, a bottle of Listerine, two small tubes of mint-flavored toothpaste (Sensodyne or Tom's of Maine), and two packages of Altoids breath mints. Mayer also needs four organic lip balms and some Gold Bond powder. And how can you not love a guy who requires a copy of The New York Times and one box of a 'Kids Brand Cereal' (either Cap'n Crunch, Count Chocula, Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, or Cinnamin Toast Crunch). And as for those two tubes of Krazy Glue, don't draw the incorrect conclusion that some illicit huffing is occurring backstage. It's our guess that the young bluesman uses the sticky stuff to somehow mend fingers shredded on his Stratocaster. (7 pages)
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