Hard Talk

The JOHN 5 Interview

Nov/Dec 04

by Travis Bain

Guitarist John 5 has always had a unique sound and look. From his days as a session musician with countless bands like David Lee Roth and Rob Halford to his well known role as guitarist for Marilyn Manson he has dedicated his self to music.

Now with his debut solo album entitled Vertigo, John 5 takes steps toward being recognized as a great guitar player that can play solos and play more than just three chords. John 5 talked with Ball-Buster about how he started his career, his days with Marilyn Manson, and how this current project is a dream come true.

Ball-Buster: You began playing guitar at the age of seven. What made you start?

John 5: I listened to Jimi Hendrix and Kiss. From that point on I wanted to play guitar. I started taking lessons right away and had an automatic love for the guitar. I just wanted to play and learn as much as possible. I mainly studied rock and my favorite songs, which is a smart way for people to start out because if you learn to play your favorite song you will keep on playing that because you love it and will continue you to practice, but if you just learn, Happy Birthday, then you won't want to practice as much.

BB: When you were playing in local clubs when you were 15, did you think you wanted to do this for a career? And if so, did you think you would ever be famous?

John 5: I wanted to be a session musician. I thought it was interesting that there could be a musician that can go into all these different bands and situations. After I was doing that for a while then I wanted to get in a band and play live. I never wanted to be a rock star but a really good musician. With what I'm doing now with this album, Vertigo, it's a dream and is getting great reviews.

BB: You have an interesting story. You moved from your home in Michigan to California to be a session musician. How did that happen?

John 5: I came from a small town and was sheltered. I wanted to move to California to pursue my career because nothing was going to happen in Michigan. So, Chuck Behler the drummer of Megadeth was from Michigan and I met him at a club. He said he was going to L.A. and if I wanted to drive back with him and I did. I was so sheltered and when these guys were doing drugs it was a shock to me. I remember I was staying on someone's floor and they stole all my stuff and money and I thought about going back home but persisted to stay and follow my dream.

BB: You idolized bands like Kiss and Van Halen. How did you feel when you became friends with Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and David Lee Roth?

John 5: It was great because I spent most of my childhood trying to meet them when they would come to Detroit. I got a call from Lita Ford and asked if I would want to do a show with her opening up for Kiss and so I did. That was the first time I got to meet Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. We have been close ever since. It's weird because they were my idols and I didn't think they were real. With David Lee Roth my dream was to play with him because I loved him. One day I picked up the phone and called his management to see if he needed any songs. I knew Van Halen's formula inside and out and came up with these cool songs and they loved them and that's how that started.

BB: Would you describe your time in Marilyn Manson one of the highlights of your career?

John 5: I think so. Whatever I do at the time is always exciting to me. I had a great time being in Marilyn Manson. It was a big part of my life and was exciting. We made a lot of great music together and it was a blast.

BB: When you were with Marilyn Manson, did you feel that you needed to have more creative input into the music? If so, is this why you chose to release a solo album?

John 5: Marilyn Manson wasn't limiting, but it's not that kind of band where you can go off and do guitar solos. It wasn't known for great musicians, but what I found out was that they were great musicians like Ginger, Pogo, and Twiggy. All of the bands I've been in didn't give me a chance for me to really play. When I got off the last tour I knew it was a perfect time for me to do a solo album. I know it's not going to make me rich, but it's something that I really wanted to do for the love of music. No one really knew that I could play more than three chords.

BB: Tell me about your solo album, Vertigo?

John 5: I started writing it near the end of the last tour. I was always a fan of instrumental music and wanted to make it interesting. I wanted to change it up and have different styles and sounds. When we would play shows with Korn, Linkin Park, Slipknot and other bands and I would warm backstage by playing country and it would stop everybody and they thought it was cool. That's why I wanted to put another style on the record, because it makes it interesting. It's like murder music for the blues back woods people. So, we started recording right off the road and it was a really quick process.

BB: This album has more technical guitar work than the other albums you worked on. How did you go about the creative process?

John 5: With this album I would come up with a riff or melody and then construct it from there. I would usually spend a week straight on one song and focus on it. From a production stand point when I went into the studio I knew exactly what I wanted to do so I'm not wasting anyone's time. With the country songs it took longer because it's a different way of playing guitar with modes and finger picking. Then I would do crazy harmonies on the mandolin and it took a lot of time. It took some dedication to put this record together and when I sit back and listen to it I think "wow, that's pretty cool." I'm working on the next album which should be even crazier.

BB: Tell me about the song "Needles, CA."

John 5: That's a place in California where I first arrived from Michigan. I was so excited and made a pack with myself that I wasn't going to go home. This was the start of my career.

BB: What is your favorite song off of this album and why?

John 5: That's a hard question. All of the songs are close to me. The song "Dead Man's Dream," was about my brother-in-law. It was his dream for me to make a record like this where I could show my playing ability. He committed suicide when I was on tour last year with Marilyn Manson so I named that song after him. It made me realize it was time for me to do the instrumental record. Also, I like "Vertigo," because I actually had the illness vertigo which is having panic attacks because I had so much stuff going on last year that I couldn't take it after a while. After a while the stress builds up and then you snap. For the song it's all one guitar part and then it builds up and is layered. It keeps building and building and then at the end of the song it explodes and then there's nothing.

BB: Are you going to tour in support of Vertigo?

John 5: Yes, I am. I have been doing so much press and what I want to do is really promote this album as much as possible and then once everyone knows about the record then tour off of it. I would love to go out on the road and support someone at first. It will definitely be a cool show.

BB: What other projects are on the horizon for you?

John 5: I have another band called Loser which is a complete rock radio band. There are some really good songs. The first quarter of next year you will start to hear about this band.

BB: What would you most want to be remembered for?

John 5: That's a great question. I think as a great musician and someone who loved the guitar.