John Mayer really is putting his "Shadow Days" behind him. After being a bit too candid in interviews back in 2010, where he frequently talked about his sex life and exes, Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, the singer decided he needed to step back from the spotlight.
With a week until he drops his new album, Born and Raised, the singer/songwriter sat with Ellen DeGeneres for a now-rare interview airing Tuesday.
"It was a very strange time and it sort of rocketed me into adulthood. It was a violent crash into being an adult," Mayer told DeGeneres of his "TMI" era, per Usmagazine.com. "For a couple of years, it was just figuring it all out, and I'm glad I actually stayed out of the spotlight. Because I think back then I would of said, 'Give me two weeks or let me get out and do 'Ellen' and let me explain myself.' It was like, 'No, idiot. Go away and be 33 and 34 instead of 28 for the fourth year.' "
He added that he needed a break from the publicity and "had to go home for a minute... I just sort of lost my head for a little while."
With a new album on the horizon, Mayer is also dealing with some lingering vocal-cord issues, which caused him to cancel his spring tour and scale back on album promotion.
"They cut this thing out of your throat and then they inject your vocal cords with Botox, which freezes your vocal cords so that this thing can heal without smacking up against the other side. I just need more Botox next time," he explained. "It's not a health concern whatsoever, but it has taken me out of singing. I tried to beat it the first time and couldn't."