Mötley Crüe guitarist John 5 has publicly defended Marilyn Manson, stating that he considers the shock rock icon “misunderstood.” He has never witnessed any inappropriate behavior from him. In a recent interview, John 5 explained his continued friendship with Manson, who has faced serious accusations of sexual abuse from multiple women.
When asked if he still communicates with Manson, John 5 responded: “We hang out from time to time. Do I consider him misunderstood? Of course. I never saw anything out of the ordinary with him. And if I did we wouldn’t be friends any more. But it’s not for me to demystify him.”
The guitarist’s comments reflect a nuanced perspective on his relationship with the controversial musician. He emphasizes that his personal experiences with Manson have been positive and that he maintains their friendship based on what he has directly witnessed.
John 5’s connection to Marilyn Manson spans decades, rooted in their professional collaboration during a transformative period in rock music. John 5 (real name Travis Michael Lowery) joined Marilyn Manson in 1998 and served as the band’s guitarist until 2004, as documented on Wikipedia. During this six-year period, he contributed to several landmark albums and toured extensively with the shock rock band, becoming an integral part of Manson’s visual and sonic identity during the early 2000s.
The partnership produced some of Manson’s most commercially successful work, including the albums Holy Wood (In the Name of the Human) (2000) and The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003). John 5’s technical guitar skills and stage presence helped define Manson’s sound during this era. The two developed a working relationship that extended beyond the professional realm into genuine friendship.
One of the most memorable moments between the two musicians occurred at the Rock Am Ring festival in 2003. This incident has been misinterpreted by some as evidence of Manson’s abusive behavior. John 5 threw down his guitar and physically confronted Manson after the frontman kicked his guitar and chest during a performance of “The Beautiful People,” as reported by Ultimate Guitar. However, John 5 later clarified that this was not an example of mistreatment but rather a result of his own personal crisis at the time.
John 5 revealed that he was dealing with severe personal trauma during this period. He had recently lost his sister Lynne to a methadone overdose while also coping with his father’s cancer diagnosis. He described himself as sleep-deprived and in shock, which led to his uncharacteristic outburst on stage. Rather than responding with anger, Manson showed understanding and compassion, as detailed in Metal Injection. He urged John 5 to pick up his guitar and continue the performance. This response demonstrated the supportive nature of their relationship during a difficult time in John 5’s life.
The two musicians parted ways in 2004 by mutual agreement, as their creative directions began to diverge. John 5 has consistently emphasized that the separation was amicable and not the result of conflict or mistreatment, according to Guitar Player. He has denied rumors that he was “dumped” from the band. Instead, he explained that Manson wanted to collaborate more directly with other band members while John 5 pursued his own solo career and other musical projects.
