John 5 explained that Nikki Sixx has a pattern of announcing that Mötley Crüe has no future plans or new music in the works, only to later call with new song ideas, told Music Radar.
The guitarist discussed how difficult it is to predict what the band will do next based on Sixx’s statements. According to John 5, the bassist frequently changes his mind about the band’s direction.
“Well, with Nikki, it’s funny, because he’ll say, ‘Oh, nothing in the future.’ Y’know? ‘We don’t have any things booked.’ And then all of a sudden, we’re like, ‘Oh, well, maybe we’ll do this, we’ll do that.’ Which is great. ‘Oh, we’re not gonna do any more new music or anything like that, but Nikki calls and he goes, ‘I have this great song.’ And so, I’m like, ‘Okay, great.’ So, you never know,” John 5 said.
Despite the uncertainty, the guitarist remains optimistic about what lies ahead for Mötley Crüe. “You never know. But I don’t know. I’m super excited for Mötley’s future. We have a show booked in Europe right now, but there’s probably more to follow, so I’m excited.”
John 5 made these comments as the band continues to work on future plans and performances.
John 5 joined Mötley Crüe in October 2022 as the replacement for Mick Mars. The guitarist’s first project with the band was The Cancelled EP, released on October 4, 2024, through Big Machine Records. Sixx has stated that the band’s approach to new material has shifted, saying, “I believe in release songs. One at a time — Not albums. Not at this time.”
The band’s most recent major tour was the Dogs of War World Tour, which concluded in 2025. Mötley Crüe also held a Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM in 2025 before moving forward with new touring plans.
In November 2025, Mötley Crüe announced the Return of the Carnival of Sins 2026 tour alongside Extreme and Tesla to celebrate their 45th anniversary. The trek runs through 33 cities across North America, beginning on July 17, 2026 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and concluding on September 26, 2026 in Ridgefield, Washington. John 5’s comments about uncertainty regarding new projects come as the band prepares for these performances.
