John Mayer Announces New Tour, Grateful And Happy To Be Back

Hot on the heels of his recent Google+ hangout, John Mayer has announced his first major concert tour in three years following an extended vocal rest due to throat problems.

Mayer will tour in support of his May 2012 album Born and Raised, a previous Billboard 200 chart-topper. The extensive trek kicks off July 6 at Milwaukee’s SummerFest right through until October.

The 35-year-old will take in over 40 cities in four countries en route including dates at the Hollywood Bowl (October 5), Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina (September 17), and Rock in Rio in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil (September 21).

Speaking of the throat granuloma that was first announced in September 2011, and forced him to scrap the tour the first time round, Mayer told interviewer Don Was:

“I actually just went to the throat doc,” before revealing he had been given the green light even after several weeks of singing.

Absent from the live scene for two years, two rounds of surgery later — the first was unsuccessful — the folk, blues, rocker said he was grateful to be back after being told he might never sing again.

“The greatest gift I have in my life is the opportunity to play again, which is also the opportunity to dream again. My dreams were in escrow, but when I found out this thing in my throat had receded, the most exciting thing for me was having a second chance at a new life. My dreams have come true twice. That’s really cool.”

Citing determination as a key factor in his healing — and botox — Mayer also talks of a kind of surrender to the process:

“You don’t go crazy when you know you can’t,” he recalls. “You just sort of go, alright, O.K. … I wanted to get back here — this is what I was dreaming about night after night after night, so I’m so happy to be out of that wormhole.”

The Connecticut native says he will be bringing new music to the tour table while admitting his delivery is different now. Describing his voice as “opening up,” Mayer says he’s been re-inspired by discovering music that existed before he was born.

Calling his new sound “acid country,” and revealing his decision to allow new songs to go on for five-15 minutes or however long, the “Gravity” singer says he is still moved by music’s ability to confer teenage delight.

In the Google+ session — the multi-Grammy award winning artist whose most recent headlines splashed his just ended relationship with Katy Perry — played acoustic guitar accompanied by a bassist and drummer. The trio punched out last August’s single “Queen of California,” “Speak For Me,” “Who Says,” and a new song “Dear Marie.”

Welcome back Mr. Mayer.

Tour dates are listed here.Tickets will be available through the singer’s website,

[Image via Gustavo Miguel Fernandes / Shutterstock.com]