John 5 recently opened up about his approach to rehearsals with Mötley Crüe. He revealed how he incorporates deeper cuts from the band’s catalog into practice sessions, as shared in an interview with EON Music.
The guitarist’s comments came in response to a question about whether he tries to get the band to play songs from their less commercially successful albums. The question particularly focused on tracks from the 1994 John Corabi era and “Generation Swine.”
“Every time at rehearsal, I’ll play ‘Red Hot’, I’ll play ‘Ten Seconds of Love’, ‘Bastard’, ‘Take Me to the Top’, ‘Louder in Hell’, ‘Glitter’, ‘Generation Swine’, anything,” John 5 said. “I’ll play all these songs all the time, and it’s so fun.”
The guitarist expressed his enthusiasm for these deeper catalog tracks. He also hinted at upcoming tour plans.
“I love it. I love it. Love it, love it, love it,” he continued. “So, we’re going to hit the road this summer, and I don’t want to reveal what the setlist is, but it’s exciting, so I’m super excited.”
John 5’s passion for these overlooked tracks highlights the complex history behind some of Mötley Crüe’s less commercially successful periods. This particularly applies to the albums he frequently references during rehearsals.
The “Generation Swine” album, released in 1997, represents one of the band’s most experimental periods. BestSellingAlbums.org reported that the seventh studio album sold 600,000 copies and earned gold certifications in both the US and Japan. Despite its commercial performance, the album marked a significant departure from the band’s traditional sound.
The experimental nature of “Generation Swine” later drew criticism from within the band itself. Last.fm noted that singer Vince Neil later called the album “terrible” due to “too much experimenting.” This internal criticism reflects the divided reception the album received both commercially and artistically.
The album’s commercial performance stood in stark contrast to the band’s earlier successes. antiMusic.com documented that Mötley Crüe’s studio albums after “Dr. Feelgood,” including the self-titled album and “Generation Swine,” only achieved gold status with 500,000 sales. This was significantly lower than their previous multi-platinum releases.
The songs John 5 mentions during rehearsals span different eras of the band’s catalog, from early tracks like “Ten Seconds of Love” to the more experimental “Generation Swine” material. His enthusiasm for incorporating these deeper cuts suggests a desire to showcase the band’s full artistic range, regardless of commercial reception.
The comments suggest that while John 5 regularly plays these songs during rehearsals, the final setlist for their summer tour remains under wraps.
