“Eric’s not playing on it. That’s me”: The time John Mayer received the ultimate guitar playing compliment from Paul McCartney’s session guitarist
Few compliments hit harder for a guitarist than being mistaken for Eric Clapton. And for John Mayer, that moment came courtesy of none other than session legend Robbie McIntosh.
Over his career, McIntosh has played alongside some of music’s biggest names – from Paul McCartney and Mark Knopfler to Norah Jones – and, of course, John Mayer.
Looking back on his time in Mayer’s band for his Where The Light Is live album, McIntosh shares a story that perfectly illustrates the Gravity hitmaker’s guitar prowess.
READ MORE: “I could put a record out right now”: John Mayer says he’s written enough songs to make a new album – but here’s why he’s not going to do it
“Steve Jordan and Pino [Palladino] had done Continuum and John was looking for another guitar player,” he tells Andertons. “Pino and Steve suggested me, I think just because I can learn things pretty well.”
While preparing for the sessions, McIntosh was deep into Mayer’s catalogue when a mix-up occurred. Listening to one of the tracks, he assumed the lead guitar was Slowhand’s – only to find out it was the work of Mayer himself.
“John is an unbelievable guitar player, but playing some of the parts was quite easy – I certainly can’t play his lead stuff,” says McIntosh. “Then John actually phoned me up, and I kind of put my foot in it, because I thought Eric Clapton was playing the lead guitar on, I think it was Stop This Train.
“I said, ‘Oh, when did you get Eric to play on that?’ He said, ‘Eric’s not playing on it. That’s me.’ Just on that track, it sounded more like Eric Clapton than John Mayer. He laughed, and he said, ‘Oh, thanks, man.’”
It’s no surprise Mayer took it so gracefully, for the guitarist has long cited Clapton as a major influence. The two have since shared the stage at events like Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival and even recorded guitar duets together.
Watch the full interview below.
The post “Eric’s not playing on it. That’s me”: The time John Mayer received the ultimate guitar playing compliment from Paul McCartney’s session guitarist appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Source: www.guitar-bass.net
