John Mayer Hospitalized, Upcoming Dead & Company Tour Dates Postponed
Despite being “hell in a bucket” for ticket holders, Dead & Company member John Mayer goes in for emergency surgery, expected to make full recovery
Dead Heads will have to wait just a little while before their revival band returns to touring. At least this week.
John Mayer, one of the stars fronting the Grateful Dead revival band Dead & Company, underwent emergency appendectomy surgery on December 5 and is expected to make a full recovery. Of course, the timing couldn’t have been any worse as droves of Grateful Dead followers were highly expecting their show in New Orleans show, leaving many perplexed and bitter on social media.
But fans quickly wished Mayer, who stands in place of the late Jerry Garcia amidst three surviving Dead alums (Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir), a healthy and speedy recovery. “I know a lot of people are upset, but honestly, I was getting worried they weren’t going to cancel tomorrow and Friday,” wrote one commenter on their official Facebook wall. “He needs time to heal from major surgery, and I want him to be feeling good when I do see him.”
A press statement sent via e-mail from their publicist this afternoon revealed the latest on upcoming shows and Mayer’s status:
John Mayer is recovering from the emergency appendectomy he underwent yesterday and is in good spirits.
The Dead & Company concerts scheduled for December 7 in Orlando, Florida and December 8 in Sunrise, Florida, in addition to the December 5 show in New Orleans, are postponed. All tickets for these shows will be honored for the rescheduled dates. Information on the rescheduled concerts will be announced as soon as possible. Should ticketholders choose to seek a refund, they will be available at the point of purchase.
Of course, Mayer’s inclusion in the Grateful Dead revival band came with a little scrutiny from devout fans, wondering if the pop-rock singer behind such hits as “Your Body Is a Waterland” and “Gravity” would make Garcia proud. “I’m only here as an interpreter of a master,” Mayer said back in November in an interview with Relix. “This band has developed a soul all its own but I play in constant emotional, psychological and musical deference to Jerry Garcia.”
Relix continues:
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.”
And it looks like Mayer is already ready to resume activities. “Still got it,” he posted in a selfie on his Instagram handle.
Oh yeah, and in other Mayer news, his latest album The Search for Everything featuring his latest single “Love on the Weekend” is in stores now.
