John 5

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“He was like, ‘Come on down to rehearsals.’ I’ll never forget it. I was blown away”: John 5 on the time he got to watch Van Halen at an intimate reunion rehearsal – and played through Eddie Van Halen’s guitar rig

By Phil Weller published 22 July 24

In a new interview, the Mötley Crüe guitarist also revealed another signature Fender Telecaster – dubbed 'The Phantom' – is in the works

“I had a ridiculously long, complex chord and key change solo section. And who comes to mind? Steve Vai!” How Billy Morrison assembled a guitar lineup that includes John 5, Steve Stevens and Steve Vai for his triumphant comeback solo album

By Andrew Daly published 5 July 24

Inspired by a basic signal chain and the “simplest guitar album on the planet”, Billy Idol’s right-hand man feels vindicated with the unplanned success of The Morrison Project

“The start of a brand new chapter”: Mötley Crüe share their first new single with John 5 – and as promised, it marks a heavy return

By Matt Owen published 26 April 24

Headlined by a blistering solo from John 5, Dogs of War is the band's first new single since 2019, and the first to be released since their split with former guitarist Mick Mars

Billy Morrison performs onstage during the Above Ground 3 concert benefiting Musicares at The Fonda Theatre on December 20, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

“Gritty, fast-paced and hectic”: Billy Morrison recruits Steve Vai, John 5 and Ozzy Osbourne for his first solo record in 9 years

By Phil Weller published 23 February 24

The Billy Idol guitarist is set to team with a stellar cast – including his co-guitarist Steve Stevens – for a record that sees him reflecting on a riotous world, and you can hear the first single, Drowning, now

“I chipped my tooth – my mom was so mad at me!” John 5 says playing a Jimi Hendrix-inspired version of Star Spangled Banner with his teeth as a kid led to a dental mishap – and shows he can still nail the tooth-picked tune

By Matt Parker published 23 February 24

The Mötley Crüe member has appeared guitar in hand (and mouth) on the Howard Stern Show to demonstrate AC/DC, Queen and Rush riffs

John 5 performs with Mötley Crüe at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia on November 14, 2023

"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

10 times an iconic band swapped out their guitarist for a fresh face

By Andrew Daly published 28 September 23

These star players swooped in to occupy a vacant guitarist spot – sometimes it made the lineup better, sometimes it saved the band entirely…

“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

Nikki Sixx, John 5 and the ongoing Mötley Crüe brouhaha – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli published 9 August 23

Plus! Buddy Guy, Nita Strauss, Oingo Boingo, In Flames, Drug Church, Dirty Honey, bluegrass shredders and a new Pink Floyd-style arrangement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata

(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

(from left) Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil and Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe perform onstage at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on June 22, 2022

Mötley Crüe respond to Mick Mars lawsuit: "Retiring from touring is resigning from the band"

By Jackson Maxwell published 7 April 23

Mötley Crüe also refuted Mars' allegations that other members of the band mimed their parts onstage during their 2022 tour, saying they "always" perform their songs live

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

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