From David Lee Roth to Motley Crue

For the primary time in additional than 40 years, Motley Crue has a brand new guitarist. Only a day after Mick Mars introduced he was retiring from touring, the band revealed his substitute: John 5.

The title is probably going acquainted to ardent rock followers, whereas extra passive listeners could also be left scratching their heads. Nonetheless, there’s no query 5’s resume is spectacular, because the guitarist has performed with a number of the greatest names in rock.

John 5 – actual title John Lowery – started his profession in 1987 when he was nonetheless only a teen. Early on, he related with Rudy Sarzo, the famed bassist whose profession contains stints in Whitesnake, Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne’s band. Sarzo recruited 5 for his short-lived band Solar King, although the group by no means launched an album. Nonetheless, 5 had his first entry into the rock world, and his profession would progress steadily from there.

The guitarist would develop into a part of Lita Ford’s band within the ‘90s, a gig which helped 5 meet his idols, Kiss. To be honest, 5 had truly come face-to-face with Gene Simmons earlier than: when the longer term rocker was 13, he adopted the Kiss bassist right into a resort elevator, however was too starstruck to ask for an autograph.

Following his stint with Ford, 5 joined forces with Rob Halford, who on the time was now not a member of Judas Priest. The famed frontman fashioned an industrial-metal challenge referred to as 2wo, with 5 serving because the group’s guitarist. 2wo’s first and solely album was produced by Trent Reznor, however regardless of the star energy concerned, the LP didn’t garner a lot consideration. By 1998, the group had disbanded, however 5’s subsequent massive gig was simply across the nook.

Watch John 5 Perfomring With Rob Halford in 1998

After studying David Lee Roth’s memoir, 5 determined to cold-call the previous Van Halen singer’s administration.

“I mentioned, ‘Are you guys accepting any [music] proper now or something like that?'” 5 later recalled. “And so they mentioned, ‘Nicely, probably not. However you may ship a CD, and we’ll see what we have got.’ And I used to be, like, ‘Oh my God!’ Simply that little bit, I used to be shocked. I used to be, like, ‘That is insane.'”

The guitarist’s demos impressed Roth’s workforce a lot that he was invited to Diamond Dave’s residence.

“And there is Dave in his overalls,” 5 remembered. “And he is, like, ‘John, nice to see ya. We’re gonna make a report. I actually like what you are doing.’ And I used to be, like, ‘Oh my God.’ I could not consider it.” 5 would find yourself taking part in lead guitar and co-writing half the songs on 1998’s DLR Band.

Hearken to ‘Slam Dunk’ by David Lee Roth, That includes John 5

Additionally in ‘98, 5 joined Marilyn Manson’s band (it was Manson who gave him the John 5 moniker). He’d stay a member of the group for six years, contributing to the albums Holy Wooden (Within the Shadow of the Valley of Loss of life) (2000) and The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003) earlier than departing in 2004.

The guitarist’s subsequent endeavor would show to be the longest of his profession. In 2005, 5 joined Rob Zombie’s band, initially simply as a short lived gig. Nonetheless, the 2 musicians hit it off so effectively that 5 turned a everlasting member. He co-wrote eight of the 11 tracks on 2006’s Educated Horses, and contributed to a complete of 5 of Zombie’s studio albums throughout his tenure, which led to 2022.

Watch John 5 Performing With Rob Zombie in 2005

Parallel to his profession with Zombie, 5 started releasing solo materials, delivering 13 albums from 2004 to 2021. The releases boasted some spectacular friends, with Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Billy Sherwood, Dave Mustaine, Jim Root, Tommy Clufetos and Billy Sheehan among the many contributing musicians.

Through the years, 5 has additionally collaborated on numerous materials with an extended checklist of icons, together with Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Sebastian Bach, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rod Stewart, Scorpions, Steve Perry and Steven Adler.

Watch John 5 Performing Motley Crue’s ‘Kickstart My Coronary heart’

Even earlier than his latest addition to the Motley Crue lineup, 5 had a effectively established relationship with the band. The guitarist co-wrote three of the songs for the soundtrack to The Dust: “Crash and Burn,” “Experience With the Satan” and “The Dust (Est. 1981).” He additionally shared a writing credit score on the 2011 Sixx:A.M. single “Lies of the Lovely Folks.” 5 often blended covers of Motley Crue into his solo performances, together with renditions of “Shout on the Satan,” Kickstart My Coronary heart” and “Residence Candy Residence.” In 2021, the guitarist joined Nikki Sixx, Zombie and Clufetos within the supergroup L.A. Rats.

Now, 5 is poised for the subsequent chapter in his profession, turning into simply the second guitarist in Motley Crue’s historical past. In a press release asserting his addition to the group, the rocker was concise however earnest: “I am honored to hold on Mick’s legacy and am trying ahead to taking part in these songs.”