Former David Lee Roth and Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 recently talked about his love for Van Halen in an interview with Houston Press. The rocker confessed that he always wanted to be Eddie Van Halen during the extensive conversation.
John 5 is mainly known for his contribution to Marilyn Manson’s shows, where he worked from 1998 until 2004. However, while he was playing the guitar for Manson, John 5 was also the guitarist of the Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth. Diamond Dave had quit his band to establish a solo career and was replaced by Sammy Hagar. He was looking for a guitarist, which became a chance for John 5 to join the musician.
The guitarist sent Roth’s management team his tracks so they could consider hiring him, and his dreams came true when they did. Being a long-time Van Halen fan, John 5 had the opportunity to work with the band’s frontman, and he played with him from 1998 until 2003, roughly the same times he played for and left Marilyn Manson.
In a recent interview, John 5 said that David Lee Roth was his hero, and he will always be. He also admitted that he wanted to be Eddie Van Halen since the late musician was an icon to countless other guitar players. Moreover, he indicated that by playing with DLR, he got to be Eddie for a period while having the opportunity to play with his hero.
Here is what he said about wanting to be Eddie:
“He was my hero and still is. Van Halen, they were everything to me. And I always wanted to be Eddie Van Halen. And so I got a chance to be Eddie Van Halen for a little while.”
DLR was impressed by John 5’s skills with the guitar but still put him through a stressful process. According to the singer, Roth had asked the guitarist to play the songs he wanted to, and if the rocker didn’t get it right after two times, he didn’t know how to play. However, John 5 eventually nailed it, and their songs ended up being in the 2003 album titled ‘Diamond Dave.’
