John 5

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"The whole vibe of Ace Frehley was really special to me. I was so small, and Ace was this larger-than-life figure… I didn't even think he was a real person": John 5 names the guitarists who shaped his sound

By Andrew Daly published 21 November 23

From shred titans to riff-masters to an obscure, blazing country picker he thinks every guitarist should listen to, the Mötley Crüe man names the players who forged his virtuosic, hard-charging sound

John 5 playing his Fender Ghost signature Telecater

“This guitar is, to me, the perfect guitar. The only thing I could do is create a song that shows all of its glory”: John 5 has written an instrumental masterpiece that’s literally dedicated to his new Fender signature model

By Matt Owen published 27 October 23

The Ghost is an ode to the Mötley Crüe guitarist's sleek signature Telecaster, and features the “kitchen sink” of his jaw-dropping techniques

“Buckethead made me want to explore the idea of using a kill switch. I love how creative you can get”: How John 5 revolutionized one of Fender’s oldest guitar designs with the Ghost Telecaster

By Amit Sharma published 2 October 23

The Mötley Crüe gunslinger explains how fashion brand Supreme inspired his latest signature guitar, what makes his favorite pickups ideal for everything from country to metal – and why no-one is a bigger Buckethead fan than he is

“It was obvious: John was the guy... we didn’t choose this, but since we had to be put in this position, we’re very happy with where we’re at”: Nikki Sixx opens up on the crisis talks to replace Mick Mars and how John 5 has re-energized Mötley Crüe

By Joe Bosso published 14 September 23

The Mötley Crüe bassist offers his own insight into the “horrible situation” that faced the Los Angeles rock stalwarts upon Mars’ departure, and how they rebuilt the band with the help of their hot-shot new guitarist

“Just like the Beatles or the Stones were for a lot of people, these songs have been in my head for as long as I can remember”: John 5 shares his Mötley Crüe story so far – and why he still can’t believe he’s landed his dream gig

By Joe Bosso published 7 September 23

He’s a top-billing guitar gun-for-hire who knew the entire Crüe catalog front to back – and that was before he got the call to replace Mick Mars. In this exclusive interview, John 5 reveals how it all went down, and what to expect from his future with the glam-metal mainstays

John 5 and his Fender Ghost signature Telecaster

“I have to give credit where it’s due”: How fashion brand Supreme inspired John 5's Fender Ghost Telecaster

By Matt Owen published 14 August 23

According to the Mötley Crüe guitarist, we have the New York fashion powerhouse to thank for inspiring one of 2023's sleekest signature builds

“It’s like you’re looking at Mozart and you’re like, ‘I’m gonna improvise over this part.’ No. That’s how those songs should be performed”: John 5 shares his approach to learning Mötley Crüe’s back catalog

By Matt Owen published 11 August 23

The band's new guitarist said he wanted to show the songs ultimate respect – but has been given permission to go “berserk” on the fretboard every now and then

(from left) John 5, Nikki Sixx, Rob Halford and Dolly Parton perform onstage

John 5, Nikki Sixx, Rob Halford and... Dolly Parton – metal's newest, and best, supergroup?

By Jackson Maxwell published 16 June 23

Bygones, a new single from Parton's aptly-named Rockstar album, features a star-studded cast of supporting players, and is perfectly suited to her vocal delivery

Fender finally releases John 5’s Ghost signature model – and it's one of the most striking Telecasters ever made

By Matt Owen published 23 May 23

The long-awaited, high-spec Ghost is surely the most eye-popping Telecaster of 2023

Here’s what Mick Mars texted John 5 after he joined Mötley Crüe

By Matt Owen published 12 May 23

The Rob Zombie virtuoso was recruited late last year to replace Mars, who reached out to him after his appointment was made official

Nikki Sixx (left) and Mick Mars onstage with Mötley Crüe in 2022

Nikki Sixx alleges Mick Mars is “a little bit confused and being misled by representatives”

By Matt Parker published 24 April 23

The Mötley Crüe bassist has discussed Mars’s recent lawsuit, as well as his friendship with new guitarist John 5

Watch John 5 make a spectacular live debut with Mötley Crüe

By Jonathan Horsley published 13 February 23

Fan-shot footage has emerged of the new Crüe live guitarist totally at home amid the riotous spectacle of a Friday night show in New Jersey, playing classics, covers and some deep cuts, too

Julian Lage takes an acoustic turn while Ally Venable turns up the heat in this week's essential guitar tracks

By Matt Owen, Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell published 9 February 23

Plus! Fresh cuts from John 5, Dying Fetus, Spotlights, Ali Farka Touré and more…

John 5 plays one of his hot-rodded Fender Telecasters in his studio

Watch John 5 put on a shred clinic in blistering new Strung Out playthrough video

By Jackson Maxwell published 7 February 23

Armed with one of his trademark hot-rodded Teles, the new Mötley Crüe guitarist premieres a solo tune highlighted by some incredibly tasty unison guitar and bass two-hand tapping

John 5 reveals his guitar rig for Mötley Crüe’s upcoming world tour

By Matt Owen published 31 January 23

From his supply of Floyd Rose-equipped Telecasters to a modest Boss-loaded pedalboard, here's everything John 5 will be taking on the road for his first-ever Crüe tour later this year

Nikki Sixx says first Mötley Crüe rehearsal with John 5 was “f***ing epic”

By Matt Parker published 25 January 23

Sixx reports the guitarist “seamlessly” played a 90-minute set, start-to-finish

Mötley Crüe begin rehearsals with new guitarist John 5 ahead of world tour

By Matt Owen published 24 January 23

The Rob Zombie guitarist had been busy practicing his chops ahead of official rehearsals through his Mötley Monday series of Crüe covers

[L-R] Jared Dines, John Petrucci, Zakk Wylde, Synyster Gates and Nita Strauss

Jared Dines' 5th “biggest shred collab song in the world” will have the most star-studded lineup of any guitar video ever

By Sam Roche published 17 November 22

John Petrucci, Zakk Wylde, Synyster Gates, Nita Strauss, Steve Vai, Tim Henson, Ichika Nito and John 5 are all in the running to appear – and only the first wave of guitarists has been announced

Watch John 5 cover Mötley Crüe’s Too Fast For Love to celebrate the album’s 41st anniversary

By Matt Owen published 14 November 22

The band's new live guitarist – seen wielding a Floyd Rose-equipped Goldie Telecaster – continues to test out Mötley Crüe material ahead of their upcoming tour next year

Chad Kroeger says he’s heard John 5 play “every single Mötley Crüe riff” flawlessly

By Matt Parker published 11 November 22

The Nickelback man caught an impromptu performance from the guitarist at Tommy Lee’s birthday celebration

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