ROB ZOMBIE Guitarist JOHN 5: 'I Just Do My Instrumental Thing Because I Love It'

ConcertConnections.net recently conducted an interview with guitarist John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, ex-MARILYN MANSON). A few excerpts follow:

ConcertConnections.net: When did you first get interested in playing guitar?

John: I started taking lessons when I was seven. I'm a big JIMI HENDRIX fan, and a big KISS fan. I really wanted to play guitar, luckily my parents were kind enough to get me enrolled in guitar lessons. I was so interested in it. My teacher was so smart — he wouldn't give me traditional songs to play that I didn't want to play anyway. He gave me HENDRIX riffs and KISS riffs which kept my interest.

ConcertConnections.net: What made you lean towards the style of music you are playing right now?

John: This record, "The Devil Knows My Name", is really intense. I really love shred guitar and I love country guitar too, I'm pretty much putting everything in there including the kitchen sink with this record and it's a lot of fun and people really enjoy it so, I'm going to keep making these records.

ConcertConnections.net: How did you get the name, John 5?

John: I got that name when I joined MARILYN MANSON. Actually before I even played him a note, he gave me that name, which is a biblical meaning. When I released my records, I kept the name John 5 — it just stuck. Nobody knows me by John Lowery.

ConcertConnections.net: What's the reasoning behind wearing the makeup?

John: I think it's like a yin and yang thing, like a persona, when I'm on stage, I'm that person. I've always really enjoyed KISS and all that stuff I think it gives the people a little bit more, especially now a days, when you see bands up on stage, and especially if you don't know the bands, they really look pretty much like the roadies or something so it's just a way of giving a little more and I don't see anything wrong with that.

ConcertConnections.net: Do you prefer your solo projects verses working with the band (ROB ZOMBIE)?

John: No, no, no, I just do my instrumental thing because I love it and I do it just for the music and to inspire guitar players. It's like two different animals. My instrumental thing is for me and again to inspire young players and old players. It's just something I do for myself. I'm not trying to become a millionaire off it. I love playing with ROB ZOMBIE and I wouldn't give that up for the world!

ConcertConnections.net: I did a photo shoot in Mansfield, MA when ZOMBIE was there and was fascinated by you. You exhibited great showmanship. The way you play, you were all over the place, you really blew me away.

John: Well, you know people pay a lot of money for those tickets. I just really want to give them a great show and I think it's really, really important to do that. I want to inspire people to say that's what I want to do with my life or I want to be that guy up there. That's what I did when I saw VAN HALEN and others. They weren't just crouched down or standing there, they were moving all over the place. Also when I go to shows, I want to see a great show, I want to be entertained, that's what I want for the fans.

ConcertConnections.net: What advice would you give to someone trying to get in the music industry?

John: You know when people ask me that, I give them the God honest truth, they sometimes don't want to hear it but you know, I tell them the REAL truth. You have to move out of your comfort zone, unless you already live in L.A. or New York. That's where the record companies are and that's where the reality is. These record companies don't want to travel more than five miles from their homes in Beverly Hills. They have to go see bands at night, in the clubs, sign new talent — that's their job. Nine out of ten times they don't want to travel far. So, if you live in Boston or some place else, you're just going to have to move if you really want to get recognized. That's what I had to do. I lived in Gross Point, Michigan and I had everything I wanted, I didn't need anything but I really wanted to make it, so that's what I had to do.

ConcertConnections.net: So, to be seen and heard by the right person, location is the key?

John: Yeah, right! Because it doesn't matter how great you are. When you're playing in a small town, that's pretty much the only people that are going to hear you. Now with the Internet, it's a whole new story. People can now be looked at from the computer, which is amazing for up and coming new bands. Times are changing, that's for sure. Record companies are freaking out about it too, because now a lot of bands are now doing it all themselves. Record companies are merging and they are panicking, the Internet is taking over. No ones going to music stores much anymore to buy CDs, people can just downloading them their selves.

Read the entire interview at www.concertconnections.net.