Yesterday, The New York Times profiled John Mayer extensively, touching on his time in Dead & Company where he says the band saved his life. Now, in a series of outtakes released from that interview, Mayer expands on his experience with the Grateful Dead’s music, citing the inclusion he feels within the Dead community.

“You are not included in something if you are a solo artist. You cannot feel inclusion,” Mayer said. “You cannot feel being under a wing. I had never before been out of that role where you are in the saddle and everything is your call and all eyes are on you. Since I was a teenager! I was just there as a piece of their puzzle.”

Read more outtakes from the interview, including reflections on Mayer’s career, here.