John Mayer Welcomes Ed Sheeran In Tokyo

Ed Sheeran joined his old pal John Mayer on stage for two songs on Wednesday night as part of Mayer’s first of two shows at the historic Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Sheeran dueted with Mayer on one of John’s originals before John Mayer and his band backed Ed on one of the English singer-songwriter’s originals.

The guest spot took place towards the middle of Mayer’s second full band segment of the night in Tokyo. John introduced Ed as “One of the most talented artists I know in my life.” Sheeran was in town for a performance at the Tokyo Dome on Tuesday.

Up first for the Sheeran/Mayer collaboration was “Belief” from John’s 2006 album Continuum. The pair traded verses and sang the choruses together. “We’ll do one of Ed’s songs,” Mayer said as a lead into “Thinking Out Loud.” The Dead & Company guitarist added harmony vocals and took a ferocious solo in a reprise of a performance at the 2015 Grammy Awards ceremony that also included Herbie Hancock and The Roots. Watch fan-shot video of Ed Sheeran teaming with John Mayer and his band for “Belief” and “Thinking Out Loud” captured by Hiro Kamei: