Interview with guitar mastermind JOHN 5 – 3rd December 2019

Hey, John. It’s Davey from Maximum Volume in Australia. How you doing today?

I’m doing well. How are you?

Yeah, I’m awesome. Are you sick of all the interviews yet?

No, no, no. It’s fine, I just got home from Mexico City today, this morning. I was doing a festival with Rob, so it’s been very, very busy.

No, that’s cool. What happened? That festival was a bit bit crazy!

Yes, they’re always crazy. But no, it’s just how it goes in the rock and roll business.

Now, John, you recently released your ninth studio album, called Invasion. It’s an album where no two songs sound the same at all. It really shows your insanely proficient and eclectic style, combining bluegrass, jazz, metal, country and so much more. Can you give us a little bit of a rundown on the album?

Well, that’s basically what it is. It’s basically what I play when I’m sitting on the couch at home. I just sit on the couch and I play, play, play all the time. And that’s what is on the record. That’s why it’s so real, it’s so me, it’s just who I am.

I love playing country, and I love playing rock, and I love playing all the different crazy instruments and all that stuff. So, it’s exactly who I am and it’s what I do, and I love it. And that’s what the album is, it’s such a real album, I guess that’s the only way I can really explain it.

Yes I really dig it. I’ve had a few listens to it, and just every time a new song comes on, it’s like, “Whoa!” It blows you away, It’s not what you expect.

Yeah. Well thank you, I appreciate that.

Yeah, no, it’s very, very cool. Now, apart from the amazing guitar playing on the album, the other thing that stands out is that the cover art is really, really cool. In my opinion, it’s probably my favorite cover art I’ve seen from any of your albums. What’s the story of how that cover art came together?

Well, I just thought it would be so cool to have a … Well, let me go back a little bit. The artist, his name is Brett Boggs and he is an animator for Disney. He does Frozen and he does Wreck-It Ralph, and all these Disney movies. So he did all the illustrations for the “Zoinks!” video, the “I am John 5” video and the cover art as well.

I just thought it was so interesting, his art. We even did a box set and we even did a comic book, and we’ll bring some of that stuff to Australia. So yeah, his name’s Brett Boggs and he’s just incredible with what he does.

Yes it’s a very cool style. As you mentioned earlier, you’ve just finished an extensive tour with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. Any particular highlights from either of those that you’d care to share?

It is weird to say, but every show was phenomenal. They were huge shows and the crowds just had so much fun. We all had so much fun. It really was a magical, magical time. We just all get along really well and we have a great time touring together.

Awesome! Now the big news for us Australian fans is that you’re finally heading our way with your band The Creatures for some shows. What can we expect? You’ve obviously played here a few times before with both Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson Manson.

Well this is something very special. Now, I’ve always loved Australia. I always loved coming there. So I’m super, super excited and it’s going to be a crazy show. It’s just going to be … We’re actually going to record the shows because we’re going to do a live album, called Live Invasion.

Oh, nice.

Yeah, we’re going to record the Australian shows and make a live record. Hopefully, some of the songs will … the crowd will be incredible, which I know it will, and that’s why we’re going to bring all our recording gear there and knock it out. It’s going to be so much fun.

Oh, that is awesome! Now, as I mentioned, you’ve toured here quite a few times before with those aforementioned bands, and even with K.D Lang. Do you have any particular fond memories or crazy moments from Australian tours in the past you can share?

Oh yeah, absolutely. I played the opera house with K.D. Lang, that’s pretty incredible. And just the people in Australia have always been so nice and just incredible people, and that’s why I love touring there so much. It’s just so much fun. I just have such a great time there. So, it’s always been an incredible time. What did we do? We did Big Day Out with Manson and Soundwave with Zombie. It’s just always been such a phenomenal time.

When you have been here on tour, have you had much time to do the tourist type thing, or has it been too rushed with the concert schedule?

It’s been a little rushed for me, but I’m coming four days before we do our first show, so I get to spend time finally, and look around and do all the sightseeing.

Awesome, are you going to be bringing the family over?

Oh, absolutely. Yeah, my wife is super excited!

Now moving along, obviously a lot of people are super keen to hear some new Rob Zombie material. Can you give us any updates on the new album?

Well, the record is done, it is mixed mastered, everything’s all finished. It’s just up to Rob whenever he wants to put it out. We are ready for it to go. I’m ready and excited. It’s heavy, it’s hooky. It’s Rob Zombie, it’s going to be so much fun.

Excellent! Now over the years John, you’ve worked with so many big names, I don’t even know where to start. Lita Ford, Salt-N-Pepa, David Lee Roth, Rod Stewart, Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Alice Cooper, Sebastian Bach, and the list goes on and on. Is there any particular artist that you’ve collaborated with that you were most proud to be involved with?

Well, all of them really, because they’ve all been my heroes. I know that is odd to say, but just to be a part of the Rod Stewart history or anything like that, it’s just such an honor. It’s the truth. I never thought anything like this would happen in my life, so I’m so thankful.

I’ve read in many interviews you just wanted to be a session musician. You’ve done all these session musician things, plus you’ve played with so many big bands and done your solo stuff. It’s truly a dream come true.

Yeah, it really is a dream come true. And it wouldn’t surprise me if I woke up and I went, “Oh, my God. I just had this crazy dream that I was this well-known musician.” That’s how crazy my life has been. I wrote with all these people and I performed all over the world and everyone knew my name. I mean, that’s how I feel. That’s how crazy this is. It’s just been such a wild ride.

That could be a cool concept for a new album?

Yeah, It’s so true. I just am so thankful for everything.

Given that you’ve worked with so many big name artists, is there anyone on your bucket list that you’d love to work with that you haven’t yet?

Not really. I’m just so thankful to work with the people who I work with. Whoever comes along, I’m excited for. So, anybody, I’m ready for them, I love it.

How about a collaboration with Nickelback where you play a guitar solo on one of their songs or something?

Yeah, Nickelback, they know how to write a song!

They’ve got great riffs

Oh my God, they’re great. Yeah, they’re phenomenal.

Now one of the biggest metal bands ever Slayer, just stopped touring. What can you tell us about Slayer and the influence they had on you, or any particular songs that stand out for you from their catalog?

Well, I was at Slayer’s … not the last show, but the show right before that. It’s very emotional because they’re ending and that’s going to be it. I was happy to be there, but it’s sad too, because they were innovators of thrash.

They were the band, they really started it, in my eyes. They did it for so long and they did it so well. So, I applaud them for such an amazing career and amazing albums. They deserve everything, They’re incredible!

Yeah! Absolutely epic band! Now, here’s a interesting question, if you had to name your five favorite riffs ever… I know that’s a tough one. Maybe not your favorite, but ones that influenced you the most when you first started to play.

When I was first starting to play, I would say probably Love Gun or Detroit Rock City. I would say Crazy Train, I would say Heartbreaker from Led Zeppelin. I would say anything like that, Van Halen- Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love. All that stuff just changed my life.

Yeah. Wow, a lot cool stuff. I watched on YouTube a while back, that you were playing a show at the Whisky in LA and you had Corey Taylor singing for you, you had Michael Anthony on bass and Fred Coury on drums. That was really awesome!

Yeah, and the show before that, I had Ace Frehley, and I had Rob Zombie and I had Paul Gilbert. Whenever I play LA, all my friends come out and play. I had Shavo from System of a Down and Nikki Sixx, so, it’s really cool. It’s really fun when I play LA because they all come out.

Yeah, that’s absolutely awesome!

Fellow guitarist James Jared Nichols, who you’ve had opening your shows in the states, is also supporting you on the upcoming Australian tour, tell us more about him. I only just checked him out and he’s an absolutely crazy player.

Yeah, yeah. We have been touring quite a bit and it’s just a really great bill. He’s a great player, great singer, great songwriter, and we enjoy playing together and we have a lot of fun doing it. The crowds really seem to love it a lot.

Excellent! Well thank you so much for your time today, John. We really appreciate it and we’re super pumped about these upcoming shows.

Me too. I’m really pumped as well, and I will see you soon.

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Get your tickets at https://silverbacktouring.com.au/john5-2019/

Interviewer/ Writer: Davey Rintala