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John Mayer, Bruiseman

Star's backstage demands range from Count Chocula to Krazy Glue

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John Mayer, Bruiseman

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)

Comments (1)

I happen to know John very well and this rider made me laugh. One thing you will always see in the dressing room is sugar cereal. Not just one kind. Usually 8-10 kinds. He eats them all day long every day. Usually just by the handful. And as far as the super glue. He glues his cuticles before each performance. The man does some mad fingerpicking and back in the day he had a show ruined when a nail cracked off so he's almost paranoid about it happening again.