John Mayer's first column about music for Esquire hasn't hit newsstands yet, and already he's gotten people riled up.

The singer-songwriter will write a monthly column under the heading "The Resident Rock Star." It will debut in the June issue.

In his first column, the Grammy-winner says of the White Stripes: "I like them, but I don't see how they're in any way a manifestation of the blues."

Of the Beatles, he says: "I've missed too many episodes to follow the plot."

Mayer says the comment only means that, at 26, he's too young to have grasped all their music. But he's already gotten negative feedback about the quip.

"People are saying it's sacrilege," Mayer says. "It is not saying that the Beatles are terrible, and it's amazing to me now that people are ready to go for your throat - or give you a high five."

Mayer plans to highlight musicians who haven't hit the mainstream yet. In his debut, he lauds quirky singer Nellie McKay.