In a recent interview with AXS TV, John 5 discussed the Van Halen album that left a lasting impact on him.
“I think maybe this record was the one that maybe gave me the biggest shock because of the sound,” the guitarist said, referring to Van Halen’s debut studio album. “I was already playing guitar and it was like, ‘Whoa.'”
He added, “It was like seeing a car but then seeing a race car. You’re like, ‘Who.’ It really freaked me out. And then with Dave’s vocals and the sound of everything, without these four guys, it wouldn’t be the same. With Mikey’s vocals and his playing and Alex’s playing.”
John 5 also recalled his admiration for Eddie Van Halen’s unique style. “I remember I would get on Eddie’s rig. I would get on his guitar rig and it’s all in the hands. It’s just in the hands, it’s in his attack. It’s in his playing. That’s why he sounds like Eddie,” he shared.
A longtime fan of Eddie Van Halen, John 5 called him his hero. “He was my hero and still is. Van Halen, they were everything to me. And I always wanted to be Eddie Van Halen. And so I got a chance to be Eddie Van Halen for a little while,” he told Houston Press in 2022.
John 5 also collaborated with former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth, playing guitar on Roth’s 1998 album ‘DLR Band’ and his 2003 release ‘Diamond Dave.’
“Well, of course, he’s David Lee Roth and one of our heroes. And it was really exciting,” John 5 told Ultimate Guitar earlier this year. “It was nerve-wracking because you wanted to do a great job for him. We could write together really well.”
He continued, “Everything went really well together. And I really enjoyed being in the studio, ’cause it was just that thing. We clicked with each other with ideas and things like that, and it all came together really fast. So, I’ve had nothing but a great experience with writing with Dave and working with Dave.”
Last fall, John 5 embarked on the ‘Strung Out’ tour, with Turning Jane as a special guest. The tour began on September 1 in Boston and ended on October 24 in Novato, California, with stops in Canada. Additionally, he performed with Mötley Crüe at festivals such as Louder Than Life and Aftershock.
