The members of Dead & Company cover the newest issue of Relix as the band sits for an extensive interview that includes tracing their origins from a chance meeting on The Late Late Show to multiple tours as well as what lies ahead for the group.

Much of the focus is spent on the newcomer John Mayer, as the guitarist steps into the Grateful Dead spotlight with three of the surviving members of the band.

“We weren’t looking for John,” Mickey Hart notes. “John came to us so impassioned that we couldn’t turn hi down. It would be stupid.”

For his part, Mayer broke down his newfound Dead fandom. “I listen to this music every day,” he said. “Grateful Dead music has a whole extra dimension for me than listening to music. There’s books, movies, theater, music, art, comedy, Grateful Dead. It’s a completely different lobe of my brain than music. I listen to this music to clear my head of music.”

The guitarist also dives into his early days as a music fan, taping Charlie Hunter shows in the 90s prior to his days at Berklee College of Music. He also addresses those who doubted his ability to step into this giant role.

“There’s no reason to assume that anybody would know that I could [make it happen],” he said. “And I never held it against them. I feel that the steadfastness with which they protect the gate is the same loyalty once you’re in. It’s like the movie where there’s a bunch of seemingly scary biker guys, and a scrawny business guy endears himself to them in some way and they give him a jacket. If you do the work, if you can fix the guy’s motorcycle, you can get his jacket. If you compare my music to the Grateful Dead and that’s personified, then I’m the scrawny business guy in there. But I’m relishing the opportunity to do the work.”

Read the full cover story excerpt here.