
Touring and recording with the likes of David Lee Roth, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson takes versatility and a little -- or perhaps a lot of -- patience. John 5's undeniable chops span genres, and have made him one of the busiest guitarists today.
Sure, John 5's grotesque look -- his Black Dahlia makeup and the overexposed cover photo on his 2014 solo album Careful With That Axe -- might scare away some would-be fans. But newcomers who listen closely may be most shocked by a track like "Jiffy Jam." Nestled among all the horror is a soft-spoken, Chet Atkins-esque fingerpicked country ballad. And far from being just "a little bit country," John 5 weaves together country and metal guitar techniques to form his own musical Frankenstein.
We recently sat down with John 5 before a Rob Zombie show to discuss his musical upbringing, experience scoring Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem and upcoming movie 31, and why he swears by Fender Telecasters.