John Mayer: Smart musician, 'Stupid Mouth'

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comFebruary 23, 2010

John Mayer really shouldn't be in this position.

The 32-year-old singer-songwriter is a smart, attractive musician with seven Grammys to his credit, including a 2004 Song of the Year award for "Daughters." He has talent. He doesn't need to be famous for whom he dates or what shocking things he says. He doesn't need to be famous for being famous.

And yet, after a series of controversial interviews and loads of tell-all revelations, Mayer is now fodder for gossip columns and the blogosphere, the punch line to countless jokes and the target of protests. The interviews were essentially given to promote his new, halfway-decent "Battle Studies" album, but by trying to outsmart the system, he pushed his music out of the conversation. How did Mayer get here? Let's trace his steps:

THE PLAYBOY INTERVIEW

WHEN February 2010

WHY Where to begin? He dropped the n-word. He used a slur for homosexuals. He said he had a "white supremacist" libido. He compared an ex, Jessica Simpson, to crack cocaine. He discussed his breakup with Jennifer Aniston and dissed her slightly, saying, "If Jennifer Aniston knows how to use BitTorrent, I'll eat my -- shoe," while still professing to care about her.

DAMAGE LEVEL High

PHOTOS: John Mayer in concert and on the road

THE ROLLING STONE INTERVIEW

WHEN January 2010

WHY He talks about his love of porn. He talks about his breakups. And he talks about turning down interviews because "I've gone through so much discomfort on a profound level in speaking my mind and telling the truth and being taken advantage of by the truth." Then, he changes his mind and talks to Rolling Stone.

DAMAGE LEVEL Low

THE 'MANISTON' BREAKUP

WHEN August 2008

WHY Though he and Aniston did not discuss their relationship while it was going on, Mayer did go to the press with the breakup. "I don't want to waste somebody's time if something's not right," Mayer told a group of reporters outside his New York gym. "I don't waste people's time." He says he made the announcement because he wanted to "take responsibility," though he recognizes how people could see it as "saving face," to make himself the guy who dumped Jennifer Aniston.

DAMAGE LEVEL Moderate

THE PEREZ HILTON KISS

WHEN December 2007

WHY After initially denying it, Mayer admitted he did kiss celebrity blogger Perez Hilton at a New Year's Eve party. It wasn't the man-to-man kiss that upset most of Mayer's fans, it was that it was with Hilton, whom he had been battling. "I don't think my mouth was even touching when I was tongue kissing him, that's how disgusting this kiss was," he tells Playboy, while also using a slur for homosexuals.

DAMAGE LEVEL Low (Moderate, after his explanation)

WHAT CRITICS SAY

"Mayer seemed intent to keep the focus on his songs, more eager to make music than waves"

- Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press

"Even when these songs sagged a bit, Mayer's seasoned cast of musicians put a silver lining on them, from drummer Steve Jordan playing off Mayer's riffs to former Wings guitarist Robbie McIntosh leading the way through the gentle crowd pleaser 'Say.' "

- Jason Macneill, Toronto Sun

"By show's end, there was no doubt as to why Mayer is considered one of the best guitarists of his generation."

- Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen

SETLIST

John Mayer's sets are fluid things. Here's what he played in Montreal last week:

"Heartbreak Warfare" / "Crossroads" / "No Such Thing" / "I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)" / "Perfectly Lonely" / "Edge of Desire" / "Stop This Train" / "Clarity/My Stupid Mouth" / "83"/"Neon" / "Waiting on the World to Change" / "Assassin" / "Half of My Heart" / "Bigger Than My Body" / "Gravity" // ENCORE: "Who Says" / "Why Georgia"