JOHN 5: 'I Just Want To Be Able To Represent MICK MARS And MÖTLEY CRÜE As Best As I Can'

In a new interview with Mexico's Summa Inferno, John 5 spoke about his role as the guitarist in MÖTLEY CRÜE, having replaced the band's founding guitarist Mick Mars in late 2022. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "The [other] guys [in MÖTLEY CRÜE] are so nice to me and so welcoming to me and so kind and involve me in everything. But I just feel like, of course, Mick has been there for 40 years, [and they] wrote the greatest songs, and I just want to be able to represent Mick and MÖTLEY CRÜE as best as I can. So that's just my job. I never wanna feel like I'm the guitarist for MÖTLEY CRÜE. I just wanna feel like I want to represent the history of MÖTLEY CRÜE as best as I can."

Regarding his approach to performing the MÖTLEY CRÜE classics, John 5 said: "I play exactly what is recorded, because of the fact — me included — these songs are so important to me growing up and so important to you and the fans of MÖTLEY CRÜE, that I give the respect as playing those songs exactly how they were written and recorded. So at the end of certain songs, like if there is an extended ending, then I'll play, like the end of 'Wild Side', where there's an extended ending, or at the end of certain songs like 'Too Fast For Love', I'll add some craziness. But the MÖTLEY CRÜE [guys] — Vince [Neil], Tommy [Lee and] Nikki [Sixx] — are so kind, they give me a guitar solo just to go nuts, and that's what I do."

John 5 added: "I always learned that I am there — if it's Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie or MÖTLEY CRÜE — I am there to do the best job I can to make them sound the best that they can. Not to say, 'Hey, look at me.' I'm there to play the songs how they were written and recorded, and make sure the sound is great as possible, and that's always been so important to me. And I think that's what I'm doing with MÖTLEY CRÜE."

Back in 2023, John 5 told Guitar World magazine that he spent "every day for months" going through MÖTLEY CRÜE's back catalog in order to learn every solo note for note.

"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 continued: "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."

John added: "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."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's fourth Las Vegas residency, "Mötley Crüe At The Colosseum At Caesars Palace: Carnival Of Sins In Sin City", will take place early next year. The legendary rockers will set up shop at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace starting March 12, 2027, with a total of eight shows running through April 3.

For over 30 years, John 5 has been one of the most in-demand guitar players on the planet. John has shared stages and recording studios with Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, Meat Loaf, Dolly Parton and more.

Since 2011 John has released a dozen solo albums highlighting his unique style of playing that has been entertaining and impressing audiences around world. His latest album was the critically acclaimed "Ghost", released in October 2025.