John 5: Jekyll & Hyde
JEKYLL & HYDE
Words & Photography: Jim Louvau
It takes years for a person to establish an identity and really grasp who they really are. In the case of
guitarist, John 5, he happily wears many hats and placing a label on him means you haven’t taken
the time to get to know him. To some, he is the guitarist for horror icon, Rob Zombie, to others, he
is a shredding instrumental solo artist, and who could forget his tenure with shock rocker, Marilyn
Manson? What you may not know about the guitarist is that he has never drank a sip of alcohol,
consumed drugs, and he practices a strict vegan diet. There is also a pretty good chance he’s
played or written on a record you may own. The heavily tattooed guitar slinger is as aggressive as
they come while performing, but offstage he couldn’t be more different than his onstage persona.
InkSpired Magazine caught up with John 5 in Burbank, California to discuss his upcoming greatest hits album, his departure from Marilyn Manson, and al l things Zombie.
Jim Louvau: What’s going on in Zombie world?
John 5: I’m doing the score to Rob’s movie 31 right now and I’m working so hard on that. I’m
flying to Rob’s to do some extra music for the film. We finished the new Zombie record as well,
I’m not sure when it’s coming out but it’s mixed, mastered, and the artwork is finished. I also
have a solo greatest hits record coming out. There is a DVD that goes with it of one of the
instrumental shows and all this cool, weird stuff that will be on it as well.
Jim Louvau: I’d ask you what you’d be doing if you weren’t so busy with these projects but I
think I already know the answer to that.
John 5: Yes, (laughs) I play guitar all day and if I wasn’t doing this I’d be playing guitar.
That’s what really makes me happy and relaxes me, it’s like my Xanax.
Jim Louvau: One my favorite John 5 stories is the one about you sitting on Rob Halford’s
white couch with a melted chocolate bar when you were joining his band Two.
John 5: I got hungry on a plane and I had this chocolate bar in my back pocket that I
forgot about like a dummy. It was like 167 degrees in Phoenix and I got to Halford’s
house and I was nervous because it was my first time at his house and I remember
sitting on the couch and I was like oh my goodness this is a white couch and where
is that chocolate bar while he was talking to me. He asked me if I wanted something
to drink and I said sure because I wanted to get up. I saw that there was chocolate
all over the couch cushion so once he got up, I turned the cushion over and I got
up.
Jim Louvau: Did you ever tell him?
John 5: I don’t think I ever told him but now he will probably hear it. It’s been long
enough that he’ll be all right.
Jim Louvau: Do you keep in touch with Halford or any of your other old band
members from over the years?
John 5: Yes, I’m pretty much friendly with everyone i’ve ever played with and
still in contact with them, which is a great thing. I’ll see him at award shows
and stuff and it’s just great to see him every once in awhile.
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