John 5 explains why he doesn’t improvise when playing other people’s songs: “I show respect by playing the songs just as they were written”
John 5 has played for some huge rock artists, and unlike some guitarists, he doesn’t believe in putting his own spin on other artists’ songs.
John joined Mötley Crüe in 2022 after Mick Mars stepped down due to health reasons. As well as his own solo career, he’s played for David Lee Roth, Rob Zombie, and more, and says he only plays for artists whose music he enjoys so that he’s a better fit for the job.
READ MORE: “It will never stop – thank God”: John 5 names three modern guitarists who are ensuring that the guitar will “keep evolving”
There are lots of guitarists out there who are set on putting their own spin on things when filling in the shoes of another player, with some arguing they want to leave that artist’s work and legacy alone out of respect, but John feels that nailing the parts as intended is more honourable.
Speaking to Metal Hammer for its new print issue, he explains, “[For every band I’ve played with], I have such respect for the music and the artist, and the person that I’m stepping in for. Be it Eddie Van Halen [with David Lee Roth], Mick Mars [with Mötley Crüe], or anyone like that, I have such respect for them.
“I show respect by playing the songs just as they were written. I’m not trying to do my own thing. As long as you play the parts directly and do a good job at it, everything will be OK, because that’s what people want. They love these bands that they’ve seen their whole lives.”
He goes on to add, “I do only join musicians that I’ve loved most of my life as well. It makes it easier on me. It’s easier for the audience, too, because there have been a lot of people who joined certain bands, and were like, ‘Oh, I never really even listened to them before’, and that idea is just so foreign to me.”
In other John 5 news, the guitarist was honoured with a birthday cake that replicated his Boss-heavy pedalboard earlier this year. After turning 55 in July, a fan named Merredith Mooth commissioned the cake, which was made by Angie Martinez Hrndz (Cakes from the Crypt). All six of his pedals were expertly recreated, from his CE-2W Chorus to his NS-2 Noise Suppressor, to his DD-8 Digital and DM-2W Delay pedals.
Find out more about John 5, or view the full list of dates for Mötley Crüe’s 2026 Carnival Of Sins anniversary tour.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
