Three years after the departure of founding guitarist Mick Mars, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee says the addition of John 5 has brought a necessary spark back to the legendary rock outfit. In a new interview with “John The Metal Mailman,” Lee offered high praise for his new bandmate, crediting him with elevating the group’s performance levels.
John 5, known for his work with Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson, officially joined the lineup in the fall of 2022 after Mars retired from touring due to health struggles with Ankylosing Spondylitis. According to Lee, the transition was seamless, largely due to John 5‘s immense technical skill and genuine love for the band’s catalog.
“Bro, 100 percent. From the second he walked into the rehearsal room, here’s a guy who is a f**king insane guitar player, first of all,” Lee told the interviewer. “And second of all — I don’t know — other than KISS, Mötley is [one of his favorite bands] — he’s a fan. So he literally knew every single song. He’s, like, ‘What do you wanna play next? Let’s go.'”
Lee explained that John 5‘s enthusiasm and proficiency acted as a catalyst for the rest of the members, forcing them to shake off any complacency.
“He brought in this insane new fire, honestly, that we all needed,” Lee admitted. “Everybody had to step up their game, man. It’s, like, ‘Woo, look out. This kid’s on fire.'”
The drummer also drew a parallel between John 5‘s attitude and his own enduring passion for music, referencing comments made recently by Sharon Osbourne.
“I heard Sharon Osbourne talking about Ozzy the other day. I’m still a fan. So, I think when you remain a fan of what you do, of other bands that you’re inspired by, it’s this thing that we just keep sort of giving back,” Lee mused. “With John, he’s such a huge fan and such a talented guitar player that it literally just lit all of us up on fire. We were, like, ‘Oh, man. We are going to kill s**t.'”
The feeling of respect appears to be mutual between John 5 and the Crüe camp, including Mars himself. Speaking to the “Beyond The Fame With Jason Fraley” podcast recently, John 5 emphasized that he stepped into the role with the blessing of his predecessor.
“I know Mick well and he was very supportive and really happy I was there,” John 5 said. “I’ve known the guys for a long, long time. I mean, I would go to their shows and I’d be in Mick‘s dressing room the whole time, talking with him and stuff… Mick‘s my friend, and of course I’ve known Nikki [Sixx] and Tommy forever too. So it just fit really well.”
John 5 also confirmed that he plans to balance his duties in Mötley Crüe with his own instrumental work. Following the band’s recent Las Vegas residency, the guitarist embarked on a solo tour this fall, noting that the arrangement “really works out well.”
