Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 recently opened up about his relationship with Rob Zombie following his departure from Zombie’s band. He shared his feelings in an interview with Thinking About Guitar.
The guitarist addressed the current state of his relationship with his former bandleader. He revealed the emotional impact of their separation.
When asked “Have you still not spoken to Rob Zombie since you left?”, John 5 provided a heartfelt response about their current situation.
“I haven’t spoken to Rob, unfortunately, and I do, you know, of course, I miss him,” John 5 said. “And I love him and I wish nothing but the best for him but I have no ill will towards Rob Zombie whatsoever.”
The guitarist reflected on their professional and personal bond during their time working together.
“Me and Rob had such a special bond and we work so well together,” he continued. “We write so well together. Those shows I’ve we have so much we had so much fun. We never had a negative word between us.”
John 5 also explained his motivation for joining Mötley Crüe. He emphasized his desire to experience this new opportunity.
“I mean, he’s just the greatest, you know, but I just wanted to experience this with Mötley Crüe,” he said. “I wanted to experience it. And I know that might be selfish, but I just wanted to, you know, I didn’t want to pass I didn’t want to have this pass by. I just wanted to experience this. I love Mötley Crüe. I love Rob Zombie. And Rob has a phenomenal band.”
John 5’s departure from Rob Zombie’s band marked the end of a significant chapter in both musicians’ careers. Their professional relationship had spanned nearly two decades.
Metal Injection reported that John 5 was officially announced as Mötley Crüe’s new guitarist on October 25, 2022. This announcement came shortly after Mick Mars announced his retirement from touring with the legendary rock band. The guitarist had spent 17 years with Rob Zombie’s band before making the transition to Mötley Crüe. This represented one of the longest partnerships in his career.
The opportunity to join Mötley Crüe came after Mick Mars stepped back from touring due to his ongoing battle with ankylosing spondylitis. This is a painful spine condition that had affected his mobility. Premier Guitar noted that Mötley Crüe stated they would “carry out Mick’s wish and continue to tour the world as planned in 2023.” They acknowledged that it would “take an absolutely outstanding musician to fill Mick’s shoes.”
John 5’s connection to Mötley Crüe actually predated his official joining of the band. Blabbermouth revealed that he had previously worked with the band on three songs for The Dirt soundtrack in 2019. These included “The Dirt (Est. 1981),” “Ride with the Devil,” and “Crash and Burn.” This prior collaboration helped establish the working relationship that would eventually lead to his permanent role.
“I’m honored to carry on Mick’s legacy and am looking forward to playing these songs,” John 5 said following his announcement as the band’s new touring guitarist.
The guitarist’s versatile background made him an ideal fit for Mötley Crüe’s diverse catalog. Throughout his career, John 5 has demonstrated his technical prowess across multiple genres. He blends metal, country, shred, rockabilly, and instrumental solo work. His experience extends beyond Rob Zombie to include collaborations with artists such as Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, and various session work. This established him as one of the most versatile guitarists in rock and metal.
