Stepping into the role of a lead guitarist for a legendary rock band is rarely a seamless transition, especially when replacing a founding member. John 5, who has made a career out of such high-pressure gigs, recently discussed the complexities of taking over for rock icons in a new interview with Metal Hammer. Featured in the publication’s special end-of-year issue, the guitarist reflected on his tenure with Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and his current position filling the shoes of Mick Mars in Mötley Crüe, admitting that he often initially feels like a misfit in these established lineups.
John 5 candidly explained that fan resistance is a natural part of the process when a beloved lineup changes, comparing the visual and sonic shift to a jarring corporate rebrand.
“I’ve had this every time I’ve joined a band,” he told Metal Hammer. “With Marilyn Manson, it was, ‘He’s got platinum hair’ and with Rob Zombie, it was, ‘Oh, look, he doesn’t fit in…’ With Mötley Crüe, it was the same thing. But that’s OK, because people aren’t used to it, so it makes sense [for them to be confused]. It would be like if you went to McDonald’s, and all of a sudden the Golden Arches were a different colour. You’re like, ‘Hey, wait a minute…’ So, I can understand it. It’s how things are.”
Despite the initial skepticism he often faces, John 5 has developed a strict philosophy for winning over purist fanbases: absolute fidelity to the source material. Rather than trying to imprint his own style onto classic tracks, he views himself as a custodian of the original recordings.
“I have such respect for the music and the artist, and the person that I’m stepping in for,” he said. “Be it Eddie Van Halen, Mick Mars or anyone like that, I have such respect for them. I show respect by playing the songs just as they were written. I’m not trying to do my own thing.”
This approach is driven by his own perspective as a fan. John 5 emphasized that he only accepts invitations to join bands he genuinely admires, which makes the task of replicating their sound a matter of honor rather than just a job.
“As long as you play the parts directly and do a good job at it, everything will be OK, because that’s what people want,” he explained. “They love these bands that they’ve seen their whole lives. I do only join musicians that I’ve loved most of my life as well. It makes it easier on me. It’s easier for the audience, too, because there have been a lot of people who joined certain bands, and were like, ‘Oh, I never really even listened to them before’, and that idea is just so foreign to me.”
