In a recent conversation with the Neil Jones Rock Show on “TotalRock“, guitarist John 5 discussed his meticulous approach to performing with iconic acts like Mötley Crüe, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson. The musician, who joined Mötley Crüe in late 2022 following the retirement of Mick Mars, explained that his philosophy centers on total technical accuracy and respect for the original songwriter’s vision.
When asked whether he feels the need to stay faithful to original recordings or if he prefers to add his own signature style to classic tracks, John 5 emphasized his role as a perfectionist.
“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. 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. Same that I did with Rob Zombie, same that I did with Marilyn Manson. 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 stated (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
The guitarist, who has collaborated with a diverse range of legends including David Lee Roth, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, and Dolly Parton, also touched on how he handles his solo career. While he serves the song when playing for others, his solo project allows him to push his technical boundaries even further. His most recent solo effort, the critically acclaimed album Ghost, arrived in October 2025.
Discussing the “freedom” of his solo work, John 5 noted that he enjoys the challenge of seeking a high level of precision, citing the band Steely Dan as a primary influence for that mindset.
“It’s really wild. 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. 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. 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. 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,” he added.
In a recent interview with the U.K.’s “Soundsphere“, John 5 was asked how he makes himself an “undeniable” asset to the artists he works with. He explained that his primary goal is always to serve the band and the fans rather than showcasing his own ego.
“I think when I start working with someone, it’s so important to me — I mean, now I’m being so honest, it’s so important to me to make that band so happy and make their fans so happy. And sometimes it’s more than what the artist — sometimes I’m pushing more than what the artist wants. I just want it to be so great. And I’m not saying, like, ‘Oh, look at me, look at me.’ I will hold and stand back and listen, ’cause I’m not there for myself. I’m there for that band. So I will play when I’m supposed to play, but I think what’s most important, not play when I’m not supposed to play. And that’s why every artist that I’ve worked for has been good because I understand that. I understand my role. I’m not, like, ‘Hey, look at me.’ Not at all. That’s what the solo stuff’s there for,” he said at the time.
He went on to detail how this philosophy applies specifically to his current role in Mötley Crüe:
“Even with Mötley Crüe, I don’t play one lick extra that is not recorded on those records — except for the end of ‘Wild Side‘, where there’s no singing going on, they said, ‘Okay, go a little nuts here.’ But everything else, I just play exactly how it’s recorded because it’s so important to me and to the fans because they listened to this for 45 years, these songs, and all of a sudden someone’s playing solos over it. They’re, like, ‘Hey, what’s that? I don’t recognize that or really like that. But I don’t know — that’s why I think I’ve had really good luck playing with artists, because if they say, ‘Hey, do this,’ then I’ll do it. If they say, ‘Just play it like how it is,’ I’ll play it like how it is. I think it’s important.”
This isn’t the first time John 5 has emphasized the importance of accuracy. In a 2023 interview with Guitar World, he admitted to spending months meticulously studying Mötley Crüe‘s back catalog to ensure every note was perfect.
“I wanted to play those solos exactly as they were written,” he explained. “Those solos are so important to me as a fan, and they’re so important to the audience. The squeals in ‘Looks That Kill‘ or the harmonics in ‘Dr. Feelgood‘ — these are very important to me and the world.”
He compared deviating from the original recordings to improvising over classical masterpieces:
“It’s like you’re looking at some sheet music; you’re looking at Mozart, and you’re, like, ‘Well, I’m gonna improvise over this part.’ No. That’s how those songs were written, how they were recorded, and how they should be performed. I wanted to give those songs respect.”
However, he noted that the band does give him one specific moment to let loose:
“I checked with the guys and said, ‘I’m going to play them as they are on the records.’ They said, ‘Okay, well, you can have a solo.’ And that’s when I go completely berserk. It’s kind of a perfect situation.”
Since beginning his solo career in 2011, John 5 has released a dozen albums that showcase his unique hybrid of styles. As he prepares for the upcoming Mötley Crüe summer 2026 tour across the United States, his focus remains on delivering the classic riffs exactly as fans remember them from the original studio sessions.
