Bonnaroo co-founder dies
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The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has announced that Jonathan Mayers, a co-founder of the music festival, has died. The cause of death has not been revealed at this time.
“Our hearts are extremely heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our co-founders, Jonathan Mayers,” Bonnaroo officials said in a statement. “For more than a decade Jonathan was a creative force behind this festival that so many of us have held near and dear to our hearts now for more than 20 years.
Festival organizers said they will be planting a tree on The Farm as a small token of appreciation for what Mayers contributed to Bonnaroo.
“Our thoughts are with Jonathan’s family and friends during this very difficult time. This weekend we celebrate Jonathan by doing the two things we know best to do in our favorite place on the planet. Spreading love and radiating positivity. Thank you, Jonathan. This one’s for you.”
Mayers co-founded Superfly in 1996 alongside Rick Farman, Richard Goodstone, and Kerry Black. With collaboration with Ashley Capps of AC Entertainment, music agent Chip Hooper, and manager Coran Capshaw, they launched Bonnaroo in 2002. Due to Bonnaroo’s success, Superfly went on to create the Vegoose Music Festival in Las Vegas with AC Entertainment, and the Outside Lands Music Festival in San Francisco with Another Planet Entertainment. Through Superfly, Mayers would be involved in other events like Comedy Central’s Clusterfest, Project Pabst, and The Great GoogaMooga.
Despite the success, Mayers’ relationship with Superfly came to an end in August 2021, when he was terminated from his position at the company. He would sued his former partners in 2022 for civil misrepresentation, breach of contract, and fraud, but. A New York judge would dismiss the lawsuit in January 2023.
