Wednesday 13 has described how his 2027 tour with John 5 And The Creatures came together, ahead of their first show at Wacken.
Wednesday 13 will front John 5 And The Creatures next year, and says the first rehearsal required no preparation on his part.
The singer told Neil Jones of “TotalRock” how the offer arrived (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):
“I’ve known John for a while. I toured with Rob Zombie, and when he was with Alice Cooper, Murderdolls, we did a tour for a full year. We toured America, we toured Australia. So I became friends with John. And then we did some solo shows together. I don’t know when it was. But I always see him. We’re L.A. guys. With his connection with [Marilyn] Manson — Manson‘s a good friend of mine, so I see him at Manson‘s parties and events and things like that. And we just kept in touch. And we have the same booking agent. And the idea came up, and it was, like, ‘Would you wanna be a part of this?’ And I was, like, it couldn’t be a better, better thing for me to do because the bands he’s been involved in are all my favorite bands, bands I grew up on, the bands that influenced my sound — Mötley Crüe, Marilyn Manson, White Zombie, Rob Zombie, all that stuff. I mean, that’s what I sound like. So to sing those songs, it’s natural for me to do it. And I’m glad that John saw that in me. He’s always been a big supporter of me and my voice, and always complimented me, ‘Oh, you’ve got the coolest signature,’ or ‘Your voice is so unique.’ So it’s really cool and it’s an honor to play with someone like that. I compare it — [it’s] very similar to [late Slipknot drummer and Murderdolls guitarist] Joey Jordison, who was a the best drummer. And you go, ‘Why is this guy playing with me?’ And then here I’ve got John 5, equivalent greatest guitar player. And he’s, like, ‘Oh, I want you to do this.’ It makes me not feel like such a dips**t.”
Jordison, who formed Murderdolls with him, died in 2021.
Asked when the first show will happen, Wednesday 13 said the Wacken booking is one of several being lined up, and that the material presents no problem.
“I think the Wacken announcement was the first of many. So around that time you’re gonna see a lot of shows, a lot of festivals. And that’s just one of many to come in Europe, America, and hopefully all over the place. So I’m excited for it. It’s still the early stages. I don’t have any plans of what the setlist will be or anything like that. It’s just we got together, we jammed, we played a few songs, and it clicked instantly… I did not have to look at a lyric sheet or anything at all. I knew it. And that is a cool thing too, ’cause I still listen to that music. It ain’t, like, ‘Oh, I grew up on it.’ No, I’m still growing up on it. I love that, and it’s a cool opportunity for me, so I’m excited,” he said.
The collaboration was announced on August 2 and covers the summer and autumn 2027 touring season. It is the first time John 5‘s solo band has carried a vocalist, and the sets will draw on his years with Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Mötley Crüe and David Lee Roth alongside his own instrumental material. Wacken Open Air, running July 28 to 31, 2027 in Germany, is the only date confirmed so far.
John 5 said in the announcement: “I’ve really missed playing these songs that for years were so much a part of my life. Having such an amazing showman as Wednesday 13 join me will ensure the performances are killer. And to have the first show we announce be the Wacken festival in 2027 is truly awesome.”
Wednesday 13 added: “I am absolutely thrilled to be sharing the stage with John 5. He has been such a staple in the music world and is one of the best, and most respected guitarist out there. John and I have been friends for years and we have toured together with our bands going all the way back to 2010. All the projects he’s been involved with over the years, are all of my favorite bands, and have been such an influence on me. To be able to sing some of these songs along with him is really a true honor. I really can’t wait to get out on the road next year.”
John 5 played with Marilyn Manson from 1998 to 2004, David Lee Roth before that, and Rob Zombie from 2005 to 2022, before joining Mötley Crüe in October 2022 as Mick Mars‘ replacement. His session and touring work also takes in Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osbourne and Rod Stewart. He began releasing solo albums with Vertigo in 2004 and has put out a dozen since, the most recent being Ghost in October last year. This year he has toured with Mötley Crüe and run his own European dates across the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark and Norway in May and October.
Wednesday 13, real name Joseph Poole, came up through Maniac Spider Trash and Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 before Murderdolls. His first album under his own name, Transylvania 90210: Songs Of Death, Dying And The Dead, arrived in 2005, and he has released ten since, most recently Mid Death Crisis last year.
