John Mayer "No Such Thing"

Whenever I think about being star-struck, I remember John Mayer.

Okay, here in 2011, John Mayer has sold a zillion records, he's dated Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, and he's been called to the stage to play with Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt and other guitar heroes.

And yet, when he was in the mvyradio lobby, I thought he was here to cut the grass.

Now, granted, this lobby-meeting was in the summer of 2002, when he had just released his major label debut "Room For Squares," and the lead single "No Such Thing" hadn't even hit the airwaves yet.

I was working mornings at the time, and was leaving for the day. Coming through the lobby, Barbara introduced me to "John Mayer" who was stopping by to talk about his new record. I shook his hand, said a nice to meet you and hustled out the door, hoping to catch a little afternoon beach time.

He was a tallish, confident looking guy, but otherwise he was completely unremarkable. He seemed identical to many of the other local musicians we'd had by the station recently. Guys who were roofers and landscapers and wash-ashores, who made a few bucks playing the bars at night, and had cut a record like any good Island-living troubadour.

And that's what I assumed this "John Mayer" guy was. He didn't dress or act like anything more than a guy who was going to cut the grass, do a quick interview with Barbara, trim the hedges, and then play that night at Offshore Ale.

Of course, after a few listens, we realized that "No Such Thing" was going to be a hit. And within a few months, Mayer was on his way to being a Next Big Thing.

And I realize, even when he's on stage in front of thousands, or quipping with reporters on the red carpet or showing up to sing at the request of Herbie Hancock or John Scofield, he's still just a guy. A regular guy. Nothing to be intimidated by, or to fawn over. No different than the guy who does cut the grass at the station. Or, for that matter, the guy who cuts the grass at my house (me).

He's just a guy. And so is every other famous person.

Though, I suspect, Mayer now hires someone else to cut his grass.


See the video on Youtube.