John Mayer is fully aware of his place in the Grateful Dead world as Dead & Company begin their fall tour, which kicked off last night at Madison Square Garden. 

Throughout his time in the band, Mayer has routinely expressed his admiration for Jerry Garcia and the music of the band, particularly now as a member of the group that features three surviving members of the Grateful Dead. But in a new Instagram post ahead of the tour kickoff, Mayer went a bit deeper with his role in the music. 

“I’m only here as an interpreter of a master,” Mayer said of Garcia. “This band has developed a soul all its own but I play in constant emotional, psychological and musical deference to Jerry Garcia.” 

Mayer is honest, as he is 100% of the time on any topic, admitting that he thought it would get easier to acclimate to the world of the Grateful Dead, particularly Garcia’s playing. “But in some ways it gets harder–the deeper I go into the music, the more I realize what it deserves. Just know that with every show we play, I’ll never forget why it is I’m standing there.” 

Read Mayer’s full note below. 

We’re about to begin what I believe in my heart will be the best tour so far for @deadandcompany. Something is definitely spinning up in the air around us. But as I sit at the end of my bed with my guitar in my hands I feel like I need to post this. I’m only here as an interpreter of a master. This band has developed a soul all its own but I play in constant emotional, psychological and musical deference to Jerry Garcia. I suppose I thought it would become easier each tour to stand on that stage and go reaching for that sound and those colors, but it in some ways it gets harder – the deeper I go into the music, the more I realize what it deserves. Just know that with every show we play, I’ll never forget why it is I’m standing there. This is the great ongoing privilege of my life. See ya round campus. 
A post shared by johnmayer (@johnmayer) on Nov 11, 2017 at 10:56pm PST