Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 recently discussed his approach to performing with iconic artists. He explained his commitment to maintaining the integrity of classic songs during an interview on the Neil Jones Rock Show.
The guitarist addressed his philosophy on staying faithful to original recordings when performing with legendary bands like Mötley Crüe, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson.
“Well, with Mötley Crüe, it’s very, very important to me because I grew up loving them, loving, loving, loving, and I wanna keep that as pure as possible,” John 5 said. “And they’ve never said, ‘Oh, do it like this,’ but they knew I had such a respect for it, and I’m such a weird perfectionist, that I wanna play it exactly, exactly like how it was recorded.”
He elaborated on his consistent approach across different artists and projects.
“Same that I did with Rob Zombie, same that I did with Marilyn Manson,” he continued. “It’s just exactly how it was written. And I think that’s why I’ve played with so many artists, because I look at it as if someone gave you a sheet of music, and someone going, ‘Mm, this doesn’t really work, does it?’ And scribble it out and write your own stuff. To me, that really doesn’t make sense. If someone worked on a song for so long and so hard, you should play it how it was written and recorded.”
John 5 also discussed his pursuit of perfection in his solo performances.
“When I do my John 5 shows, we — I should say ‘me’; I am looking for such perfection, and it’s a game I play,” he explained. “I love Steely Dan more than anything in the world, and I’m looking for that perfection beyond perfection. So it makes it really fun, because my songs are pretty difficult, but I’m trying to play them so perfect, and I do that with, even with Mötley.”
The guitarist revealed how he responds to criticism about his precise playing style.
“And then people will comment and say, ‘Oh, this is too perfect. It doesn’t have that ugliness, that grime to it,’ and I take it as such a compliment,” he said. “I sit back and go, ‘Oh, it’s the best thing that anyone’s ever said to me. ‘It’s too perfect.’ Oh, thank you, Craig at 1263.’ I really love it. So. yeah, it’s a lot of fun.”
This perfectionist approach has served John 5 well throughout his extensive career. His career spans over three decades as one of the music industry’s most sought-after session guitarists.
John 5, whose real name is John Lowery, joined Mötley Crüe in 2023 after longtime guitarist Mick Mars retired from touring. Louder Sound reported that the Michigan-born guitarist didn’t need to audition for the position. Longtime acquaintances Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee invited him directly to join the band. He describes the current lineup as “healthy” and “incredible.” He praised Vince Neil’s recovery from a stroke and strong vocals in recent Las Vegas shows.
The guitarist’s extensive resume includes collaborations with Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, and Dolly Parton. John 5 is known for his distinctive shred style. He identifies as a “shredder” but notes he’s never been invited to G3 tours with Steve Vai or Joe Satriani. Since 2011, he has released 12 solo albums showcasing his instrumental guitar prowess.
Currently, John 5 is balancing his duties with Mötley Crüe alongside his solo career. My Global Mind noted that he recently announced his first major solo tour of the UK and Europe in support of his latest album “Ghost.” The album was released in October 2025 to critical acclaim. The tour marks his first major solo run in the region since a few shows in 2016.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally bring my solo show back to Europe,” John 5 expressed about the upcoming tour. “I’m really proud of Ghost, and can’t wait to share these songs with you live.”
MNPR Magazine revealed that the guitarist had to reschedule the first eight dates of his inaugural solo UK and Europe tour from May to October 2026 due to logistical issues. Original tickets remain valid. The rescheduled leg will start in October after the remaining May dates kick off at London’s The Underworld on May 14. He has plans to return to Europe every other year.
