Founder of the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Jonathan Mayers, Dead at 51

On June 12th, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will kick off for another year of great music from all genres. The lineup includes Tyler the Creator, Hozier, Olivia Rodrigo, and even Luke Combs. Just a sample of the singers scheduled to perform, the festival first started back in 2002 thanks to Jonathan Mayers and his colleagues. Over the last two decades, the festival grew to become one of the biggest events in the United States. Sadly, just days before the event, news broke that Mayers passed away. 

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At just 51 years old, the news of his passing sent shockwaves through the organizers of Bonnaroo. Again, the first performer at Bonnaroo will take the stage in just two days. For Mayers, he not only helped create the festival but also went on to help form festivals around music, art, cannabis, and even beer. If that wasn’t enough, he was one of the contributors of the comedy festival Clusterfest. Knowing how to put on the perfect festival, the organizer eventually formed the event company Superfly. 

Tributes Pour In For Jonathan Mayers

Taking a moment to honor the legacy of Mayers, Superfly released a statement, reading, “We are heartbroken with the passing of Jonathan.  He was a cherished part of Superfly’s story, woven into it’s history and legacy.  In addition to the role he’s played in bringing joy to millions, we will miss his razor sharp wit, infectious smile and contagious laugh.  No one could light up a room like Jon.”

Having worked with Mayers in the past, Coran Capshaw, the founder of Red Light Management, also paid tribute to the festival creator. “This is incredibly tough news for so many of us. Jon was the creative force behind so much of what people experience at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and many other events over the years. We’re all really going to miss him.” 

Having such an impact on the music festival industry, the tributes continued to pour in for Mayers. One of his close friends, Peter Shapiro, considered Mayers a true visionary. “Jonathan was one of the true real visionaries of the modern concert world and one of the core minds behind Bonnaroo. Modern-day festivals are all in some way built off of his vision.”

While passing away at a relatively young age, the reason behind the death of Mayers has yet to be released. 

(Photo by Real News)