By Malanie Gardea
John Mayer’s Sob Rock Tour is taking an unexpected break after the singer and his band have contracted COVID-19 for a second time. The first being in January, causing Mayer to drop out of Mexico Performances with Dead & Company.
The “Gravity” singer brought the news via. Instagram stating “Whelp. More members of the band tested positive for Covid today, and I was one of them. This means we have to reschedule the next four shows” on Thursday evening.
He continued, “I’m so sorry to make you change your plans. This is a bummer for everyone in the band and crew, to say nothing of the question hanging over everyone’s head – mine included – as to how I tested positive on PCR twice in two months. (The first was extremely mild, but this one’s got the better of me.) We’ll give you everything we’ve got at these upcoming shows, just as soon as we rest up and regroup. With love and appreciation… me.”
COVID-19 has taken a huge toll on Mayer and his band, as earlier this week drummer Steve Ferrone and background vocalist Carlos Ricketts tested positive for the virus just hours before the sold-out Madison Square Garden show. Luckily, Questlove came to the rescue playing the drums at the show. Mayer took it to Instagram to show his appreciation of Questlove and fans for attending the show and wished his bandmates a speedy recovery.
“Tonight’s show was special in ways that I’m still processing. We send our love to @steve_ferrone and @made4good in hopes they traipse through Covid and return to the stage quickly.” he wrote, “My boundless appreciation goes out to the legendary @questlove, who stepped in on an hour’s notice to help end the show on such a powerful and definitive note.”
Mayer told concertgoers “After the last two years, I am not canceling a show. We do not cancel shows here. I mean, if it’s that thing and you’ve got it — well, I understand. Anything other than that … if it’s just me and I gotta bang on a guitar with my right hand and my left hand’s in a sling and I tell you stories, I will not cancel a show.”
The Sob Rock Tour dates for Pittsburgh, Belmont Park, and Boston have now been rescheduled and set to take place in May.
