In a recent appearance on Eddie Trunk’s satellite radio program, renowned guitarist John 5 opened up about his journey joining the legendary rock band Mötley Crüe.

Known for his long tenure as Rob Zombie’s guitarist, John 5 shared insights about his close relationships with the Mötley Crüe members, the circumstances leading to his recruitment, and the supportive message he received from former guitarist Mick Mars.

 

Before officially joining Mötley Crüe, John 5 already had a strong connection with the band members.

He revealed to Eddie Trunk that he had been friends with Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee for many years.

“I’ve been friends with Nikki and Tommy forever,” he said.

“I’m so close to Nikki we talked probably 80 times a day for a decade. We’ve done so much work together.”

 

John 5 described their relationship as more than just professional colleagues.

“Other than music, we’re just always around,” he explained.

“He was the best man at my wedding. We always go to the mall and ride bikes and just do total normal stuff.” This close bond set the foundation for John 5’s eventual entry into the band.

At the time when the news broke about Mick Mars’s retirement from touring due to health reasons, John 5 was still actively playing with his own group, John 5 and the Creatures.

Both Rob Zombie and Mötley Crüe were on the road simultaneously, but after their tours ended, John 5 found himself doing some solo shows.

 

It was during this period that Nikki Sixx reached out to him.

“Nikki called and said, ‘Listen, Mick is going to retire and we have these obligations from Live Nation.

We have South America booked, we have Europe booked.

Do you want to come on board?’” John 5 recounted.

Without hesitation, John 5 responded, “Absolutely.” The offer was exciting but also required a delicate conversation with Rob Zombie.

“I talked to Rob and he understood,” John 5 said.

“Rob is a smart rational person. He wasn’t psyched but he understood.I think that was amazing of him.He was just like, ‘Go get him.’ He was fine about it.”

 

John 5 also mentioned Mike Riggs, who had joined Rob Zombie’s band, as a great addition, emphasizing that there was no bad blood between him and Rob Zombie.

 

One of the most touching moments John 5 shared was the text he received from Mick Mars shortly after his announcement as Mötley Crüe’s new guitarist.

“He was one of the very first techs that I got,” John 5 told Eddie Trunk.

“He said, ‘You’re going to kill it.

‘”

This message was significant because it showed mutual respect between the two guitarists.

John 5 emphasized, “It’s good.

It’s not like it’s some stranger coming in.

We have a great respect for each other.

”

This camaraderie helped ease any potential tension around the lineup change and reassured fans that the band’s legacy was in capable hands.

 

John 5 also took the opportunity to address rumors circulating about Mötley Crüe allegedly using backing tracks during live performances.

“Do you really think that we would put a mistake on a track or something? No.

It’s crazy.

It’s so crazy,” he said emphatically.

He assured listeners that Mick Mars plays every single note on the recordings and live shows.