Questlove came to the rescue for John Mayer’s show at Madison Square Garden Monday night — filling in for the singer’s drummer, who tested positive for COVID-19.
Mayer played the first hour of his show on his acoustic guitar, telling the audience that his electric guitar wouldn’t sound as good without someone on the drums.
However, an hour into the concert, the singer announced that Questlove arrived to help him on the drums. Together they performed “Vultures.”
“Questlove saved the show. All of MSG was on their feet. A total energy shift,” a concertgoer told Page Six, with another witness adding, “It was iconic.”
Questlove, 51, continued to help Mayer, 44, finish the show, hopping on the drums for an encore performance of “Gravity.”
The Roots drummer was apparently planning on being in the audience at Mayer’s show following his performance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” but got a last-minute text from Mayer asking for his help.
“I got out my show clothes all exited & then I checked my phone: ‘[drummer Steve] Ferrone got covid, can you sit in?”😬😳😧, ” Questlove wrote via Instagram on Tuesday.
He added, “Truth be told I coulda played the whole show. I texted Jimmy [Fallon] earlier I felt like Don Henley in 1988 when last min he played drums for @gunsnroses at the @amas (weirdest version of #Patience ever) I was anxious, amped, timorous, excited, scared & hyped!!”
Once on stage, Questlove said, playing with Mayer and the band was “gravy.”
“It was hella fun tonight!” he added.
Mayer took to the comments section to thank Questlove for stepping in, writing, “What you did was unforgettable and brilliant. Thank you for saving the day.”
He also posted his own Instagram about the special evening, thanking the drummer for his last-minute performance.
“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,” he wrote.
He added, “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.”
Hours before the show, Mayer announced that his drummer tested positive for COVID-19 but that the show would still go on.
“This afternoon, our drummer tested positive for COVID-19. Tonight’s concert will go on as scheduled, with a very special presentation. We all wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you all at the show,” he wrote.