Back in September, Hollywood glam rockers Steel Panther announced the huge news to Australian fans that seasoned guitar virtuoso John 5 will support their On The Prowl tour, hitting the country on October 18. For almost 30 years, John 5 has been one of the most in-demand guitar players on the planet. As well as a guitarist for hire, ‘5’ has shared the stage as axe-man for Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Rob Halford and now Mötley Crüe. He has also worked with an impressive array of names, from all walks of music, including KD Lang, Rod Stewart, Dave Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, Ricky Martin, Dolly Parton and Lynyrd Skynyrd. To call John 5 a shredder does not do him justice. There’s little he can’t put his hand to.
On top of his experience as a session musician, ‘5’ has got a long list of world class collabs under his belt, including co-writes with the likes of Rod Stewart, Leah Andreone, Paul Stanley, Scorpions, and Mötley Crüe. Now, he will be joining the planet’s most notorious, hilarious, and downright outrageous metal band, Steel Panther, on the Australian leg of their riotous On The Prowl World Tour.
Ahead of the Steel Panther Australian tour support, we caught up with John 5 to chat about his career, gear and the upcoming Australian tour
AM: Have you toured or played on same bill as Steel Panther before? Seems like they’d be fun to tour with!
J5: I have not actually. I have been on festivals with them, but I have never been on the same bill per se. I have been going to Steel Panther shows for years and I love their records so I am really looking forward to this run.
You were supposed to tour Australia in 2020 with JARED JAMES NICHOLS but Covid happened, then you did a tour with Mötley Crüe last year. What are your memories of that tour? A lot of people didn’t even know that you were going to be part of the Mötley Crüe band for the tour.
I was really looking forward to that JJN run, but unfortunately, Covid did happen and that affected all of our lives. The most important thing though is that I will be in Australia in a few weeks and I am beyond thrilled for this run. In regards to the Mötley tour, as you can imagine, my hands were tied. I couldn’t say anything to anyone just due to the enormity of it all. The first tour with Mötley Crüe was just very exciting and such an amazing learning process. I mean, getting to know the road crew and I already knew the band, but being the new guy for anyone could be slightly overwhelming at first, but in a good way. It was such a moving experience and one that I will never forget my whole life because of the excitement for myself and for the band and of course, for the fans.
I guess you’re looking forward to playing your own material to Australian audiences. How are you approaching your set list for the tour?
I have never been to Australia solo before so I want to make my set really special for the fans. I am going to play songs from each of my solo records. I will also be doing a Mötley Crüe medley at the end of my set. There will be lots of shredding on the way.
A week before you leave for Australia you’re playing the Troubadour with Mötley Crüe which is going to be very special. Was the Troubadour a venue you frequented when you first hit LA?
Oh absolutely. The Troubadour, The Whiskey, The Roxy, all of the legendary venues I frequented. That’s just where you go, especially when you first come to LA. I was actually thinking about this the other day…there will never be a time like that again. I remember people always talking about the 60s and how there will never be a time like the 60s again and when i was younger, I never understood what that meant. Until you get to experience The Sunset Strip and you feel the energy. It’s like nothing else. I can only imagine what it must have been like back in the day. Now i completely understand what they were talking about. There truly will never be another time like The Sunset Strip.
You were influenced by the country music TV show HeeHaw, but you graduated to playing heavier music. Of course country hasn’t left you, it’s still a great influence. Who are the country guitar pickers you look up to?
I love Joe Maphis, Chet Atkins, Roy Clark. Just absolute legends. I could go on and on, but I won’t.
What about our own Tommy Emmanuel, do you appreciate his playing?
Oh my gosh. I LOVE Tommy Emmanuel! I love him so much. He’s seriously one of my favorites. Hands down, absolutely one of my favorites. What a talent!
Do you pick up an acoustic guitar much at home?
I don’t pick up an acoustic as much as I would like to at home. When I have time, I will play some Chet Akins and do some picking though. I have a bunch of Martins and a bunch of Gibson acoustics that I absolutely love.
Will you bring a banjo to Australia?
Unfortunately, with all of the equipment that I have to bring, I sadly can’t bring a banjo. But I love playing the banjo so much. if I wasn’t a guitar player, I would hands down definitely be a banjo player.
Would you like to do a full country pickin’ album one day, perhaps with guest appearances?
In all honesty, my plan is to do a Greatest Hits with all of my country songs and put them on one record. I’m really looking forward to that. So yes that is in the works.
There’s a preview on your website of a new Fender signature guitar The Phantom, any news on that? Will you be at the NAMM Show in January?
I hope the Phantom will come out late next year. I will absolutely be at NAMM and I am doing a concert with myself and Marty Friedman at The Observatory in Santa Ana on January 24th.
If there was one aspect of your signature guitars that just has to be right for you what would that be?
I know that this is an odd answer but the pickguard has to be a certain type so that no design or cutaway goes down to the volume knob. It has to be all flush like it is on my Tele or on the Fender Telecaster Deluxe.
How many guitars bringing to Australia?
I’m only bringing 3 guitars and a Mandolin.
Guitarists are constantly chase a great live sound, how satisfied are you with current set up?
Oh, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I am so content with my current set up that I have now. I love it, love it, love it.
From what I’ve seen your pedalboard is fairly sparse compared to many other players, has it always been like that?
It has. I never wanted to depend on effects so that is why I try to do everything with minimal effects. I try to do everything with my hands. That’s also part of the reason why I practice so much.
Heading toward the end of 2024, do you have your eye on 2025, do you have much planned already?
Oh Yes. Always. We have big plans for 2025. There’s some exciting news that will be coming soon, as well. We just announced the Residency at Dolby Live at Park MGMnot too long ago as well. It’s going to be a great year and I am really looking forward to it!
Are you writing towards another solo album?
I have so much music already ready, but I have been so busy that I need to find time to record it and release it. Hopefully, soon.
Thanks for chatting with us John.
Thank you for the opportunity! I am looking forward to coming to Australia.
STEEL PANTHER AUSTRALIA TOUR 2024 feat JOHN 5
Friday 18 October – Metro City, Perth
Monday 21 October – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
Wednesday 23 October – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
Thursday 24 October – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane
Saturday 26 October – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne
On sale now via: teglive.com.au/events/steelpanther/
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