Guitarist John 5 has explained his meticulous approach to performing Mötley Crüe’s iconic songs. He emphasizes his commitment to preserving the band’s original sound. In an interview with the Neil Jones Rock Show, the musician detailed why he refuses to alter or personalize the riffs of the bands he plays with.
“Well, with Mötley Crüe, it’s very, very important to me because I grew up loving them, loving, loving, loving, and I wanna keep that as pure as possible,” John 5 said. “They’ve never said, ‘Oh, do it like this,’ but they knew I had such a respect for it, and I’m such a weird perfectionist, that I wanna play it exactly, exactly like how it was recorded.”
He further elaborated on his philosophy. This same principle applies across his work with other artists. “Same that I did with Rob Zombie, same that I did with Marilyn Manson. It’s just exactly how it was written,” he explained. “If someone worked on a song for so long and so hard, you should play it how it was written and recorded.”
When addressing fan comments about his performances lacking the raw, gritty quality of the originals, John 5 took the criticism as a compliment. “People will comment and say, ‘Oh, this is too perfect. It doesn’t have that ugliness, that grime to it,’ and I take it as such a compliment,” he said. “I sit back and go, ‘Oh, it’s the best thing that anyone’s ever said to me.'”
John 5’s commitment to precision extends far beyond simply playing the correct notes. His philosophy reflects a deep reverence for the original artists’ work. He believes that honoring their legacy requires absolute fidelity to the recorded versions. This approach has become a defining characteristic of his tenure with Mötley Crüe, setting him apart from other guitarists who might take more interpretive liberties with classic material.
John 5 has famously stated that he “doesn’t play one lick extra that isn’t on those records,” according to Sonic Perspectives. This unwavering dedication to accuracy stems from his belief that fans have been listening to Mötley Crüe’s music for over 45 years. His role is to protect that legacy rather than reinterpret it. He views his position as a custodian of the band’s sound, not as an opportunity for creative reinvention.
Ultimate Guitar revealed that John 5 compares his approach to classical music. He suggests that one wouldn’t improvise on Mozart, so why alter established rock classics? This analogy underscores his belief that certain works deserve to be treated with the same reverence as classical compositions, regardless of their genre.
John 5’s perfectionism extends beyond note-for-note accuracy to his entire technical setup. According to Soundsphere Magazine, the guitarist uses only a wah-wah pedal and distortion when necessary. He jokes that his pedalboard is so minimal that “even a child could use” it. Rather than relying on effects to create his sound, he demonstrates his musicianship through his hands and skill. This allows his technique to speak for itself.
