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August 28, 2008: "Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Hottest couple Brangelina graces the cover of the latest issue of Life & Style Weekly magazine. Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer also share the cover"
The publication's Best and Worst Summer Moments of 2008 issue features juiciest scandals, with Brad Pitt and partner Angelina Jolie making the hottest couple list and Aniston and Mayer in the worst split. Although their cover seems nothing to do with the best and the worst but rather connecting Pitt and Jolie to Aniston, Life & Style promises the extremes in Hollywood land in the recently ended summer 2008. They also feature in smaller pictures Britney Spears for best new body, Claire Danes for the summer's skinniest, Madonna for juiciest scandal concerning her alleged relationship with A-Rod, and Michael Phelps for biggest hero. Life & Style Weekly's newest issue is already available on newsstands.And Jennifer Aniston, John Mayer Grace The Cover Of Life & Style Weekly's Latest Issue" *** August 26, 2008: "John Mayer Misses The A-List Paparrazi Attention" John Mayer misses the paparazzi attention he got when he was dating Jennifer Aniston. The US singer is reportedly upset photographers don't want to follow him now he isn't romancing the former 'Friends' actress, and has even allegedly started tipping off photographers himself. One paparazzo said: "He thinks he's as famous as Jen' now. Last week, he went to a party, tipped off the paps, and even had decoy cars at the ready when he was leaving. Nice, but no one bothered to follow them, which made John think he 'lost' everyone, when really it was because no one bothered to follow him." Photos of John, 30, are worth far less money now he doesn't have an A-list actress girlfriend on his arm. Another photographer added: "Pictures of John and Jen' were selling for $20,000 at one point. A picture of him alone gets $200 now. Chasing him from his apartment to a restaurant is hardly worth it." Meanwhile, sources close to Jennifer claim she has been getting over the pair's split very well. One friend said: "Jennifer didn't see herself and John having much in common or having a future together. She wasn't fazed by the ending of it. She wasn't hurt at all. She feels fine." Although she is OK with the separation, another friend claims Jennifer - who dated the handsome musician for around three months - is upset with John for publicly speaking about the couple's break-up. John has said he ended the relationship because he "didn't want to waste anybody's time if something's not right". The source said: "The fact John has spoken out about dumping her has really upset her. She thought John was a gentleman, but a real gentleman wouldn't reveal that he left her - he would leave everyone wondering to save her face." *** August 13, 2008: "Jennifer Aniston And John Mayer No Longer Romantically Involved, Now Just "Friends"" It appears that "Friends" star Jennifer Aniston is very unlucky when it comes to love. She has been dumped by her latest boyfriend, rock singer John Mayer. According to Mirror, Jennifer and John decided to spend some time apart, but then decided to make the break official. Which means Jennifer has been unable to find love, since her divorce from Brad Pitt four years ago. Marriage, for Jennifer anyway, seems to be out of her grasp right now. "There's been a bit of tension for some time," a source close to 30-year-old John told Mirror.co.uk. "They initially opted for a break, hoping a trial split might make them stronger. Sadly it doesn't seem to have worked. John took the decision to end things as he felt he just wasn't ready for the level of commitment that Jennifer deserved." The source went on to say, "Contrary to reports, Jen didn't want to have kids or marry this year, but she did want to set a timetable for their future together." Since her divorce from Brad, Jennifer dated actor Vince Vaughn for a year. More recently she dated model Paul Sculfor. *** August 13, 2008: " John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston Split" Word on the block is that Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer have called it quits. The Friends star has reportedly been dumped by her latest boyfriend, John Mayer. According to The Mirror, they made the split official earlier this week after a trial separation. “There’s been a bit of tension for some time,” says a source close Mayer. “They initially opted for a break, hoping a trial split might make them stronger. Sadly it doesn’t seem to have worked.” “John took the decision to end things as he felt he just wasn’t ready for the level of commitment that Jennifer deserved. Contrary to reports, Jen didn’t want to have kids or marry this year, but she did want to set a timetable for their future together.” The NY Daily News takes it a bit further saying Aniston “is already dating someone else in LA”. The story seems to be based on the fact that John and Jen haven't been seen together in weeks and Mayer recently took a vacation to Mexico without her. We're hoping this is just another rumor because we really like these two together. *** August 3, 2008: "Jennifer Aniston “Fits Perfectly” with John Mayer" Friends of John Mayer have welcomed his girlfriend Jennifer Aniston with open arms. One of his pals says Aniston "fits right in” and everyone “loves her.” John has such an amazing crew of musicians and friends with him. Everyone gets along and is drama free and Jen fits right in – perfectly. Everyone really loves her,” says the friend. Mayer, 30, and Aniston, 39, have been dating for the past three months. Sources add that the pair’s relationship is becoming more serious. “They are very happy together, it’s working really well and they’re only getting closer. His friends think she’s great for him,” added the source. *** August 1, 2008: "John Mayer Rumored To Propose To Jennifer Aniston" John Mayer is reportedly set to propose to Jennifer Aniston this autumn. Jennifer is expected to show off her engagement ring when she promotes new movie "Management" in September. A source said: "As it stands now, John will be on the red carpet with her. And don't be at all surprised to see Jennifer sporting an engagement ring by then. These two are serious!" "Jennifer continues to be more public in her relationship with John than she has with anybody, ever." It has been claimed the pair will marry before Jennifer turns 40 next February. The 30-year-old musician has been inseparable from Jennifer since their romance blossomed and even invited her to join him on his world tour this summer. During a performance in California on July 23, John couldn't contain his happiness and told the crowd: "I am having the best summer of my life!" John's final show will be in Florida's West Palm Beach on August 31 and Jennifer is expected to be there to support him." The source added to America's OK! magazine: "Nobody will be surprised to see Jennifer there for the last stop. It will be a big night for him, and Jennifer loves South Florida." *** August 1, 2008: "John Mayer Calls For Regulation Of Paparazzi" John Mayer took a stand about against the craziness of the paparazzi yesterday, when he spoke at a hearing on the issue at L.A. City Hall Thursday. "I don't sit before you today to ask that you ban the paparazzi," John said to the panel. "I'm asking you to regulate it. Officialize it. Tax it. Legitimize it. "I don't want to beg the city of Los Angeles to give me 1987 back," he said. "I love being a famous musician in 2008... This is about safety." Some of John's suggestions for making things with the shutterbugs a little more civil? Photographers should be required to have legit credentials, they should have to drive marked cars, and there needs to be a "law governing an acceptable filming distance from an unwilling subject [to keep] everybody safe and misbehavior accountable." "Regulating the paparazzi won't bring an end to modern-day media coverage," he proposed, "Just as the newly enforced hands-free law hasn't stopped people from talking on cell phones while they drive." *** July 31, 2008: "John Mayer May Be Named Godfather Of Ashlee And Pete's Baby" John Mayer may become a godfather. Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson are reportedly considering naming the singer-songwriter the godfather of their baby, according to Entertainmentwise. "Pete and John have been spending a lot of time together lately and they get on so well," a source tells the Web site. "They are firm friends." Though Mayer is often seen as a rebel, Wentz and Simpson have confidence in him. The source adds, "John gets a bad rap and is always portrayed as a bad boy but he's got a heart of gold. Pete and Ashlee know that and they think he would make a great godparent." The only obstacle is Ashlee's big sis Jessica, who happens to be Mayer's ex. "But they are holding back asking him at the moment because they are not sure how Ashlee's sister Jessica would feel about her ex having such a strong link to her new niece." The baby is due in October. *** July 30, 2008: "Jennifer Aniston And John Mayer In A "Trial Marriage"" Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer are planning a "trial marriage." The couple are said to be keen to test the strength of their relationship, and think John moving into Jennifer's house is the perfect first step. A source said: "John wants to settle down as much as Jennifer does." "What's more, he's been telling her that he thinks she is the one and she believes him." John's move into Jennifer's Beverly Hills mansion is set to happen after his tour ends in September. The couple is also reportedly planning a family. The source added to Britain's Grazia magazine: "John is the first guy since Brad who has talked seriously about having children and Jennifer is very excited about it." *** July 18, 2008: "John Mayer's Alleged Fling Denies The Affair" Reports about John Mayer's alleged affair with a woman while he is still dating Jennifer Aniston has upset the woman in question, saying it is "completely not true." 32-year-old Chaton Anderson was mentioned in an article by In Touch magazine entitled "Jen's Betrayed Again." The write up claims that Mayer, 30, was "very flirty" with her in Amsterdam on June 20 and that when she asked him about his relationship status, he answered, "It's very vague." The article continues with an apparent quote from Anderson saying, "I never would have guessed he had a girlfriend at all." However, Anderson tells Us magazine that "none of this is true" "I met John Mayer almost a year ago. I don't understand why they've said it was this year. Nothing happened anyway - nothing at all." "I just met him briefly and he said, 'Hello, I'm John' and that was it ! It was just groups of people in a coffee shop." Anderson also says she's considering taking legal action against the magazine. A rep for Mayer also denies the In Touch magazine story. *** July 15, 2008: "John Mayer’s Shocking Confessions (Sadly NOT About Jen)" Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer were together again for the second stop on his summer tour, which hit St. Louis Thursday night. But rather than acknowledge her presence in the crowd, Mayer teased his audience about interest in his personal life. “[Fans] send me links from PEOPLE,” he said, marveling at the coverage of his remarks the previous night when he – with Aniston in tow – joked about being the subject of Internet rumors. “That just tempts me to say things.” The audience at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in the St. Louis suburb of Maryland Heights roared its approval, but Mayer would not divulge any intimate details. Instead, he playfully peppered his nearly two-hour concert with dubious confessions designed to feed those who were curious about his private life: He fears the color green. He weighed 400 pounds when he was 12. He wrote the lyrics to the Kenny Loggins hit “Danger Zone” – at age 9. And he was “33 percent done” with building a time machine. “When I was a child I would kill small animals and wear their teeth as necklaces,” he deadpanned. “True. Print that. And I’ve always felt deep down that I was born a woman.” Aniston remained out of sight during the show, but she watched Mayer’s pre-concert soundcheck from the fifth row of the amphitheater, according to radio contest winners who sat a few rows farther back. She wore a slate-colored dress and a cardigan in the damp, late-afternoon air. “She looked like Colbie Caillet,” said a witness, referring to the “Bubbly” singer who served as Mayer’s opening act. “But it was definitely Jen.” Other fans clearly had Aniston on the brain. During musical breaks between acts, the twin video screens flanking the stage displayed anonymous notes sent via text message from the crowd. “Team Aniston!” wrote one. The most brazen of the bunch, preceding Mayer’s own onstage joking: “John, I’m pregnant. – Jen.” *** June 26, 2008: "John Mayer Says His Love For Jennifer Aniston "Comes From The Heart"" John Mayer insists his love for Jennifer Aniston comes "from the heart." The singer - who began dating the former 'Friends' beauty in April - refused to elaborate on his romance with Jennifer but did say it was genuine. He said: "All I can tell you is that I have made every decision in my life with complete authenticity. My feet are firmly on the ground. If you do things from the heart, it feels awesome." Before John began dating Jennifer, he was in a relationship with actress Minka Kelly, but ended it as soon as he fell for the Hollywood star. Minka's friend said: "Minka received a call from John prior to the story breaking about his relationship with Jennifer. He apologized to Minka, saying, 'Sorry, but I'm really in love.'" "But Minka found this interesting as during his relationship with her, John mentioned, 'I don't really get this Jennifer Aniston thing.'" *** June 5, 2008: "John Mayer Disses "Guitar Hero" Fans" Pop rock singer-songwriter John Mayer recently told Rolling Stone that he is not a fan of the popular video game "Guitar Hero." John Mayer said the game, which allows players to simulate the playing of rock music, makes it too easy for people to think they are good at playing the guitar. "Guitar Hero was devised to bring the guitar-playing experience to the masses without them having to put anything into it," John Mayer said. John Mayer said playing the game can't compare to the real thing. "And having done both, there's nothing like really playing guitar. I mean, what would you rather drive, a Ferrari or one of those amusement-park cars on a track?" he said. *** March 9, 2008: "John Mayer's Message to Ex" Singer John Mayer has written a scathing message to an ex-girlfriend on his Internet site, prompting speculation he is referring to former lover Jessica Simpson. The note refers to an ex who refused to accept their relationship had come to an end and Mayer warns the unnamed woman to "stop contacting" him. Although Mayer urges his fans not to "read too far" into his message, Internet gossip sites insist the message is aimed at Simpson, who Mayer dated for nine months before they split in May 2007. Mayer writes, "Dear Ex Lover, Perhaps you didn't understand the last time I told you to stop contacting me, so I'll do my best to spell it out for you. I do not wish to have you in my life anymore. "I don't know how much more clear I can be about it. It would serve you best to move on with your life and find someone who can put up with you, because I'm done trying. I hope this is enough closure for you." The 30-year-old's other high-profile romances include Jennifer Love Hewitt, who he dated in 2002. He was also briefly linked to actress Minka Kelly after his split from Simpson. *** Music guitarist, singer and songwriter John Mayer picture(s)/pic(s), wallpaper and photo gallery. Birth name: John Clayton Mayer Born: October 16, 1977 Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA. John Mayer biography (bio): John Clayton Mayer is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. Originally from Connecticut, he briefly attended Berklee College of Music, before moving to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1998, where he refined his skills and gained a following. His first two studio albums, Room for Squares and Heavier Things, did well commercially, achieving multi-platinum status. In 2003, he won a Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Grammy for "Your Body Is a Wonderland". Mayer began his career performing mainly acoustic rock and pop, but gradually began a transition towards the blues genre in 2005 by collaborating with renowned blues artists such as B. B. King and forming the John Mayer Trio. The blues influence can be heard on his album Continuum, released in September 2006. Mayer won Best Pop Vocal Album for Continuum and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Waiting on the World to Change" at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007. Mayer's career pursuits have extended to stand-up comedy, design, and writing; he has written pieces for magazines, most notably for Esquire. He is also involved in philanthropic activities through his "Back to You" fund and his efforts in reversing global warming. Early life: Mayer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Margaret (an English teacher) and Richard (a high school principal). He grew up in nearby Fairfield, the second of three sons. There, he became friends with future tennis star James Blake. Mayer mostly attended the former Fairfield High School, although he was enrolled in the Center for Global Studies at Brien McMahon High School (in Norwalk, Connecticut) for his junior year. (Then known as the Center for Japanese Studies Abroad, it is a magnet program for students wanting to learn Japanese.) Mayer listened to pop music as a child. During an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, he said that he had played the clarinet for a while in middle school, with minor success. After watching the Marty McFly character's (Michael J. Fox) guitar performance in Back to The Future, he became fascinated with the instrument. Subsequently, at the age of thirteen, his father rented one for him. Soon after getting his guitar, his neighbor gave him a Stevie Ray Vaughan cassette, which began Mayer’s intense love of the blues. Despite the reservations of his parents, Mayer became consumed with playing the guitar, and after two years of practice, he started playing at blues bars and other venues in the area, while in high school. In addition to performing alone, he was in a band called Villanova Junction with Joe Beleznay, Tim Procaccini, and Rich Wolf. When Mayer was seventeen, he was stricken with a cardiac arrhythmia that sent him to the hospital for a weekend. Reflecting on the incident, Mayer said, “That was the moment the songwriter in me was born,” and he penned his first lyrics the night he got home. Shortly thereafter, he began suffering from crippling panic attacks, and even now he keeps Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, with him. Career: Early career: Mayer enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of nineteen. After two semesters, he chose to cut his studies short, and at the urging of his college friend and Atlanta native, Clay Cook, the two moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Quickly making a name for their two-man band, LoFi Masters, they began their career in earnest there, frequenting the local coffee house and club circuit in venues like Eddie’s Attic. Cook has said, however, that they began to experience musical differences due to Mayer’s desire to take the duo in more of a pop direction. The two parted ways, and Mayer embarked on a solo career. With the help of local producer and engineer Glenn Matullo, Mayer recorded the independent EP Inside Wants Out. Cook is also cited as the co-writer of many of the songs from the EP, most notably, Mayer's first commercial single release, "No Such Thing". The EP includes only eight songs, all with Mayer on lead vocals and guitars, with the exception of “Comfortable” in which Mayer only recorded the vocals. For the opening track, “Back To You”, a full band was enlisted, including the EP’s co-producer David "DeLa" LaBruyere on bass guitars. Mayer and LaBruyere then began to tour throughout Georgia and the surrounding states. Major label success: Mayer’s reputation began to build, and a March 2000 appearance at the South by Southwest Music Festival brought him to the attention of "launch" label, Aware Records. After including him in the Aware Festival concerts and having his songs included on Aware compilations, in early 2001, Aware released Mayer’s internet-only album entitled, Room for Squares. During that time, Aware inked a deal with Columbia Records that gave Columbia first pick in signing Aware artists, and so in September of the same year, Columbia remixed and re-released Room for Squares. As part of the major label "debut", the album's artwork was updated, and the track "3x5" was added. The re-release also included reworked studio versions of the first four songs from his indie album, Inside Wants Out. By the end of 2002, Room for Squares had spawned several radio hits, including “No Such Thing", "Your Body Is a Wonderland", and ultimately, "Why Georgia" (a radio-only single). In 2003, Mayer won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Your Body Is a Wonderland". In his acceptance speech he remarked, "This is very, very fast, and I promise to catch up." He also figuratively referred to himself as being sixteen, a remark that many mistook to mean that he was only sixteen years old at the time. In 2003, Mayer released a live CD and DVD of a concert in Birmingham, Alabama entitled, Any Given Thursday. The concert featured songs previously not recorded, such as "Man on the Side" (co-written with Cook) and "Something's Missing", which later appeared on Heavier Things. The concert also included "Covered In Rain". According to the accompanying DVD documentary, this song is "part two" of the song "City Love", which features the line "covered in rain". Commercially, the album quickly peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard 200 chart. The CD/DVD received conservative, although consistent, praise, with critics torn between his pop-idol image, and (at the time) emerging guitar prowess. Erik Crawford (of All Music Guide) asked "Is he the consummate guitar hero exemplified when he plays a cover of Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'Lenny', or is he the teen idol that the pubescent girls shriek for after he plays 'Your Body Is a Wonderland?'" Heavier Things, Mayer's second album, was released in 2003 to generally favorable reviews. Rolling Stone, All Music Guide and Blender all gave positive, although reserved, feedback. PopMatters said that it "doesn't have as many drawbacks as one might assume". The album was commercially successful, and while it did not sell as well as Room for Squares, it peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Mayer earned his first number one single with the song "Daughters" as well as a 2005 Grammy for Song of the Year, beating out fellow contenders Alicia Keys and Kanye West. He dedicated the award to his grandmother, Annie Hoffman, who died in May 2004. He also won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, beating Elvis Costello, Prince, and Seal for the award. At the 37th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2006, Mayer was honored with the Hal David Starlight Award. Mayer again recorded live concerts across seven nights of his U.S. tour in 2004. These recordings were released to the iTunes music store under the title as/is, indicating that the errors were included along with the good moments. A few months later, a "best of" CD was compiled from the as/is nights. The album included a previously unreleased cover of Marvin Gaye's song "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", featuring a solo from Mayer's support act — jazz and blues turntablist, DJ Logic. All the album covers of the as/is releases feature drawings of anthropomorphic bunnies. With increased exposure, Mayer's talent came into demand in other areas. Steve Jobs invited Mayer to perform during the keynote address of Apple's annual Macworld Conference & Expo, in January 2004, as Jobs introduced the software application GarageBand The gig led to Mayer becoming a fixture of the event. He rejoined Jobs on stage for a solo performance at Macworld 2007, following the announcement of the iPhone. Additionally, in 2004, Mayer had a one-shot half-hour comedy special on VH1, entitled John Mayer Has a TV Show, with antics including wearing a bear suit and anonymously teasing concertgoers in the parking lot outside one of his concerts. Mayer has also done endorsements, such as a Volkswagen commercial for the Beetle's guitar outlet and for the BlackBerry Curve. Change in musical direction: Mayer began to collaborate extensively, often working with artists outside of his own genre. He appeared on Common's song "Go!" and on West's "Bittersweet Poetry".b[›] Due to these collaborations, Mayer received praise from rap heavyweights like Jay-Z and Nelly. When asked about his presence in the hip hop community, Mayer said, "It's not music out there right now. That's why, to me, hip-hop is where rock used to be." It was around this time that Mayer began hinting a change in his musical interests, announcing that he was "closing up shop on acoustic sensitivity." In 2005, he began a string of collaborations with various blues artists, including Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, as well as jazz artist John Scofield. He also went on tour with legendary jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, which included a show at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. These collaborations led to recordings with several of these artists, namely, Clapton (Back Home, Crossroads Guitar Festival), Guy (Bring 'Em In), Scofield (That's What I Say), and King (80). Although Mayer has maintained a reputation for being a sensitive singer-songwriter, he has also gained distinction as an accomplished guitarist, influenced by the likes of the above artists, as well as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, and Freddie King. John Mayer Trio: In the spring of 2005, Mayer formed the John Mayer Trio with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, both of whom he had met through previous studio sessions. The trio played a combination of blues and rock music. In October 2005, the Trio opened for The Rolling Stones during a sold-out club tour of their own, and that November, released a live album called Try! The band took a break in mid-2006. On September 12, Mayer announced plans for the Trio to begin work on a future studio album. Continuum and beyond: Mayer's latest album, entitled Continuum, was released on September 12, 2006, and was produced by Mayer himself and Steve Jordan. Mayer suggested the album was intended to combine his signature pop music with the feel, sound, groove, and sensibilities of the blues. In that vein, two of the tracks from his trio release Try! — the funky "Vultures" and the blues centerpiece "Gravity" — also were included on Continuum. The first single from Continuum was "Waiting on the World to Change," which debuted on The Ron and Fez Show. The song was the third most downloaded song of the week on the iTunes Music Store following its release on July 11, 2006, and debuted at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. On August 23, 2006, Mayer debuted the entire album on the Los Angeles radio station Star 98.7, giving commentary on each track. A subsequent version was released the next day on the Clear Channel Music website as a streaming sneak preview. On September 21, 2006, Mayer appeared on CSI, playing "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room". The song, "Gravity", was featured on the television series House in the episode "Cane & Able" and Numb3rs. He recorded a session for the British program Live From Abbey Road at Abbey Road Studios on October 22, 2006. On December 7, 2006, Mayer was nominated for five 2007 Grammys, including "Album of the Year". The John Mayer Trio also received a nomination for their album, Try!. He won two: Best Pop Song with Vocal for "Waiting on the World to Change" and Best Pop Album for Continuum. Mayer remixed an acoustic version of his single, "Waiting on the World to Change" with vocal additions from fellow musician Ben Harper. In preparation for recording Continuum, Mayer had booked the Village Recorder in Los Angeles to record five demo acoustic versions of his songs with veteran musician Robbie McIntosh. These recordings became The Village Sessions, an EP released on December 12, 2006. As usual, Mayer oversaw the artwork of the release. In a December 2006 blog entry, Mayer announced he had begun writing new material. He also indicated that he was in the studio experimenting with music in a sort of a blend of jazz (citing Elvin Jones as inspiration) and pop music — aiming to produce what he calls today's "modern music," as jazz was once called. Mayer made the cover of Rolling Stone (#1020) in February 2007, along with John Frusciante and Derek Trucks. He was named as one of the "New Guitar Gods," and the cover nicknamed him "Slowhand, Jr.," a reference to Eric Clapton. Additionally, he was selected by the editors of Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2007 and was listed among artists and entertainers. In February 2008, Mayer is set to host a three-day Caribbean cruise ship event that includes performances with various musicians including David Ryan Harris, and Brett Dennen, among others. The event is called "The Mayercraft Carrier" and will be aboard the cruise ship known as the Carnival Victory. Other projects: Philanthropic activities: In 2002, Mayer began the "Back To You" Fund, a non-profit organization that focuses on fundraising in the areas of health care, education, the arts, and talent development. The foundation raises funds through the auction of exclusive John Mayer items, such as plectrums, t-shirts, and signed CDs, made available on Mayer's auction site. The auctions have been successful, with some tickets selling for more than seventeen times their face value In an April 2007 blog entry, Mayer announced a new effort to help reverse global warming, dubbed "Another Kind of Green" (originally "Light Green", but changed because of copyright concerns). Central to Mayer's proposal is a mid-ranged approach to being ecologically aware: neither completely fearful nor completely ambivalent of global warming. In this vein, while generally maintaining his lifestyle, he is gradually designing and implementing "products that are cheap, easy alternatives to cut down on plastics," and encouraging others to do the same through his blog. He has also converted his tour bus to bio-diesel fuel. Mayer is partnering with Incase to produce items such a reusable grocery tote and water bottles. Mayer also participated at the East Rutherford, New Jersey location of the Live Earth project, a musical rally to support awareness for global warming held on July 7, 2007. Beginning in the summer of 2007, the environmental advocacy group Reverb has set up informational booths and helped his crew conserve energy on his tour dates. In response to the Virginia Tech massacre, Mayer (along with Dave Matthews Band, Phil Vassar, and NaS) performed a free concert at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium on September 6, 2007. Design: I'm actually into sneakers on a design level. I've got a big design thing going on in my life right now ... I love designing stuff. I mean, my biggest dream, forget Grammys, I want to be able to design an Air Max. John Mayer (AP, 2006). In a Rolling Stone interview, Mayer recalled that after former Columbia Records head, Don Ienner, panned Continuum, he briefly considered quitting music and studying design full time. Mayer's interest in design, however, had long manifested itself in a number of ways. In 2003, Martin Guitars gave Mayer his own signature model acoustic guitar called the OM-28 John Mayer. The guitar was limited to a run of only 404, one of Atlanta's area codes. This model was followed by the release of two Fender signature Stratocaster electric guitars, beginning in 2005. A third Stratocaster, finished in charcoal frost metallic paint with a racing stripe, was also a limited-release, with only 100 guitars made. In August 2006, Fender started manufacturing SERIES II John Mayer Stratocasters. The new Olympic white with mint green pickguard and cream plastics replaced the shoreline gold model. In January 2007, Two Rock collaborated with Mayer on custom-designed amps. Only 25 (all signed by Mayer himself) were made available to the public. June 2007 saw the release of the "album art" guitar, with the Continuum motif repeated on the face of the instrument, as well as a 500-run John Mayer signature Fender Statocaster in Cypress-Mica. Included with the limited Cypress-Mica model was the INCSvsJM gig bag that Mayer collaborated on with Incase designs. Not surprisingly, Mayer is a passionate collector of guitars, and in 2006 his collection was estimated at more than 200. In addition to guitars, Mayer's handiwork ranges from T-shirts, guitar totes and, most dear to his heart, sneakers. In August 2006, Mayer started JMltd, a minor clothing line of Mayer-themed merchandise that he has designed. The products are currently available only at his shows, as of his 2007 summer tour, although he has said they will eventually be available online. Writing: With the June 1, 2004, issue of Esquire, Mayer began a column called, "Music Lessons with John Mayer". Each article featured a lesson (some more scholarly than others) and his take on various topics, both of personal and popular interest. In the August 2005 issue, he invited readers to create music for orphaned lyrics he had written. The winner was Tim Fagan of L.A., as announced in the following January's issue. Mayer is active online, and maintains four blogs: a MySpace page, a blog at his official site, another at Honeyee.com, as well as a photoblog at StunningNikon.com. Although they primarily deal with career-related matters, they also contain jokes, comic videos, his convictions, and his personal activities; they occasionally overlap in content. He is noted for writing the blogs himself, and not through a publicist. Stand-up comedy is a growing hobby of Mayer's. He makes regular, although random, appearances at the famed Comedy Cellar when he is in New York. He says that although it is risky, it helps him write better. |