WEDNESDAY 13 On Upcoming Collaboration With JOHN 5: 'It's Gonna Be Something Fun For The Fans'

In a new interview with "The David Ellefson Show", Wednesday 13 spoke about the recent announcement that he will team up with John 5 and the legendary guitarist's solo band, THE CREATURES, for the summer/fall 2027 touring season. This is the first time John's band will include a singer and to mark the occasion he will take a journey through his musical past — playing songs from Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, MÖTLEY CRÜE, David Lee Roth along with solo favorites.

JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES featuring Wednesday 13 have announced their first two shows for 2027 — Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place July 28-31, 2027 in Wacken, Germany, and at the Brutal Assault open-air extreme metal festival, scheduled for August 4-7, 2027 in the 18th-century Josefov Fortress in Jaroměř, Czech Republic — with more dates to be announced soon.

Regarding his collaboration with John 5, Wednesday 13 told "The David Ellefson Show" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's a super-cool thing. It kind of came out of nowhere. We have the same [booking] agent, a guy named Dan DeVita, who's an awesome guy. And he just hit me up one day. And I thought he was calling to talk to me about a tour, and he was, like, he said, 'Hey, I got something for you.' And I was, 'Okay.' He goes, 'What do you think about this?' He goes, , 'I'm booking John, and John wants to go out next year and he's talking about playing some songs from the bands he's been in, 'cause he doesn't have a vocalist. And I said, 'You're the dude for this.'' And I went, 'I am the dude for this. Thank you.' 'Cause I literally, I had this idea in my head before that. I was gonna hit up John and just be, like, 'Dude, we should do a band together.' I just had the urge to do something new. But he came back and was, like, 'Yeah, let's do this.' So, we got together and we jammed a few MÖTLEY songs and Manson and Zombie, and it just instantly clicked. And he was, like, 'Dude,' and I was like, 'Dude.' And we both thought, 'All right. Well, cool. We gotta go on tour.' So he went, he started MÖTLEY CRÜE. So literally we just got together once. We jammed. We got these two shows already confirmed, Wacken and Brutal Assault, and there's a whole month of dates that we're doing over there. So, yeah, so literally it's still in the early stages. I don't know what we're doing exactly yet. I got a vague idea of it, but we got time to put it together. And it's a cool opportunity for me. I mean, everyone knows John is — dude, he's just an insane guitar player. And I compare it to [late SLIPKNOT drummer and MURDERDOLLS guitarist Joey] Jordison. Jordison was this drummer extraordinaire, and then John is the same way. And I just keep going, like, 'Man, why are these guys finding me? Why do they wanna play with me? I'm just a little punk rock guy.' So it makes me not feel like such a dipshit."

Wednesday 13 added: "I'm so excited. And we haven't talked a whole lot about it. We just made the announcement that we're doing the shows. But it's just because we're still putting it together. I mean, I'm waiting for [John] to be done with MÖTLEY, but soon as he's done with MÖTLEY, I go on tour. I'm gonna go see John in a couple of weeks here when they play. But, yeah, we're gonna piece it together, and I think it's gonna be something fun for the fans. And I'm excited. Like I said, playing alongside a dude like that, that's got such notoriety being a guitar player, it was a little nervous for me, but I went in and I nailed it... But I've known John for a while, and we toured together, with WEDNESDAY 13 and him doing his solo thing, and he's always complimented me on my voice, and we love KISS, we love ALICE COOPER, and all the bands he's been in are my favorite bands, too."

Last month, Wednesday 13 was asked by Neil Jones of TotalRock how his collaboration with John 5 came about. Wednesday 13 said: "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 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 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 dipshit."

Asked when fans can expect to see Wednesday 13 and John 5 play their first official show together, the singer said: "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."

When his collaboration with Wednesday 13 was first announced in early August, John 5 said in a statement: "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."

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, and is now a member of MÖTLEY CRÜE.

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.

2026 has seen John 5 tour with MÖTLEY CRÜE and also tour solo. The John 5 solo tour featured twelve U.K. appearances along with shows in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark and Norway in May and October 2026.

Wednesday 13 has established himself as one of the most distinctive voices in horror rock, earning his moniker "The Duke of Spook" through decades of creating music that blends horror themes with punk rock and metal.

From MANIAC SPIDER TRASH, FRANKENSTEIN DRAG QUEENS FROM PLANET 13 and MURDERDOLLS (alongside Joey Jordison of SLIPKNOT) through to his solo albums as Wednesday 13, he has established himself as an innovator and live, theatrical tour de force.

Photo courtesy of John 5 and Wacken Open Air