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 Shock Rock King Rob Zombie is kicking off his American Witch co-headlining tour with Boston Rockers Godsmack on August 25 in Dallas, Texas. The tour promises to be the biggest stage production for Rob Zombie and will feature pyro and dancing girls. (Can’t get any better than that.) The Rob Zombie band features a line up of stellar musicians, which include guitar virtuoso JOHN 5, bass player Piggy D and drummer Tommy Clufetos.
Rob Zombie recently released his best work yet, "Educated Horses" on Geffen Records. "Educated Horses" has has three Billboard hits, including his latest single, "Let it All Bleed Out."
I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Rob Zombie's right hand man guitarist extraordinaire John 5. It is an honor for GlamMetal.com to present to you in this exclusive interview with one of the most exciting and talented guitarists in the music industry today, John 5.
In this Exclusive interview for Glam-Metal.Com guitarist John 5 gives his fans an in depth look at the upcoming Rob Zombie tour, the making of "Educated Horses", John 5 latest solo album, "Songs For Sanity", and life as one of the most exciting guitarists in music today. .
www.john-5.com www.robzombie.com www.myspace.com/john5official
Hello John, Thank you so much for taking take out to talk to your fans at GlamMetal.Com about the upcoming Rob Zombie co-headlining tour with Boston rockers Godsmack. Let's talk about the production of the tour?
Yes, it is going to be a blast. This is the first time had this much production on the tour. There is so much production, there is going to be pyro, girls dancing, there is aliens, robots, all sorts of stuff. It is going to be great.
How long will Rob Zombie be performing on the tour. Will it be a one hour set?
It is a co-headlining tour, we are going to be going on first, and it is going to be great. I am really excited, I really like Godsmack too. So it will be fun. It is going to be huge, we have a lot of video screens, a really big production. I am really excited.
Rob Zombie has been on the road since March. How does it feel to be working with such a legend as Rob Zombie?
It is a true honor, especially when you truly look up to someone and appreciate what they do and love what they do, and to be part of that history of Rob Zombie is such a great honor. I have so much respect for him, and the work he has done, it is just an incredible feeling to know that I am going to be a part of that, as well as such a fan throughout his career.
Rob has really re-invented himself on the new album, "Educated Horses." The album has received a great response. Tell me about the songwriting process for and guitar approach for "Educated Horses."
We did the Camp Freddy thing, and he said come on and play guitar on the record on this song called, "Let it All Bleed Out." We just started talking about riffs and things like that, we started writing in the studio, we all collaborated including Rob, Scott Humphrey and I. Rob was very vocal with the music, he knew what he wanted, and we were hands on with everything that was recorded. It was a great working atmosphere. We really had a great time. We really collaborated well together.
The musicianship on the CD is outstanding. The first song you worked on with Rob, "Let it All Bleed Out" is the third single from "Educated Horses."
Yes, that is right. We have been playing that song live for a live time. It is one of our favorites. It is great to hear that out on the radio now.
Have you noticed a whole new generation of younger Rob Zombie fans discovering the band for the first time? Would you attribute this new generation of fans to the Internet?
I really do, the Internet is so incredible. It is so better that we had to go to the record store, to buy a record, or hear about a CD that was coming out. Then people started downloading it. Now you can just go on Itunes and get a CD. What could be easier to walk into your next room and get on the computer and listen to new music? That is what people are doing. So it is definitely a brand new generation of people discovering music through the Internet. That is how they are being introduced to our music, we see a lot of young people at our shows.
I noticed your myspace page. www.myspace.com/john5official
Yes, it does very well.
I first saw Rob Zombie perform at Ozzfest last summer. The first thing that drew me to the band was the crisp guitar shredding, and image. How important is image in Rock and Roll. You have a very unique image and outstanding guitar style?
It is funny, I have been doing these instrumental records, I think a lot of people like to meet me and talk about the instrumental records that is a great thing. It is so cool, because Rob is so confident and professional. He says to me, we are playing an hour set, why don't you take your guitar and play a guitar solo. We are going to squeeze in as many Rob Zombie songs as possible. He is the best.
It is so awesome that Rob lets you do the guitar solo. The guitar feature in the set is so important. It really showcases the strength of the music. Rob is such a dynamic entertainer. Let's discuss your two solo CDs. "Vertigo" and "Songs For Sanity." On "Songs For Sanity", you really show your diversity as a guitarist displaying all of your influences, including metal, country, industrial, jazz, and nu-age music. What was going through your mind, when you were making this record? I know it must be very difficult to make an instrumental album. How did this want to be different from "Vertigo"?
I like different styles for the listeners, so it just not the same thing over and over again. I am actually working on another instrumental CD that will be out the first of the year. I have been talking to Joe Satriani about being a guest on the record. I like to broaden my horizons as much as possible.
How did you get those different guitar tones on the record? Did you use different pedals?
Yes, different pedals, different amps, different guitars. Tone and sound is really important to me. I try to do as much exploring as possible with sound and things like that. I try to make it as pure as possible. Sometimes running it thru an amp is good enough for me.
What will your new solo CD be comprised off? Will you do any finger picking?
Yes, there is some Western swing style, there will be all sorts of different styles on this one.
How did you get interested in performing country? Was it when you toured with KD Lang?
Yes, I got introduced to the theory behind it, when I was touring with her. I learned a lot about the notes, the scales, and the finger picking. It is a whole different world of playing guitar. I have been studying it since 96. I have been studying it, as much as I can.
Is it hard to keep up your practice skills on the road?
Not really, it is really easy to do it on the road. I am so busy at home with sessions, interviews, things like that. It is real easy on the road, because you have a lot of time on the road. You only work an hour and half at night.
How many guitars do you own?
A little over a 100 now.
You also have two Signature Fender guitars which include a Black Fender Telecaster, and John 5 Acoustic guitar. Is that correct? www.fender.com
Yes, two Signature models, and I have an acoustic model as well. All are by Fender. Tow different versions of Telecasters and a J5 Acoustic. A lot of people like to play them. It is very cool to have your own Signature Model that will be around for a long time.
Do you collect any Vintage guitars?
I love vintage guitars, I have a ton of them. That is my passion, that is my love to collect old vintage Telecasters.
On your recent Rob Zombie tour, I really enjoyed your guitar solo, and how you slammed into the Poison song, "Nothing But A Good Time." Do you enjoy 80's music?
I appreciate everything. Rob and I just mess around onstage sometimes, ya know. To keep it lively.
You grew up in Michigan. What was the music scene like there? How did you get started in music? I grew up in a very nice area, it was just a beautiful place. I was kind of well off, and just played guitar. When I was growing up, I just played guitar that is all I did. I just played, played, played. I love going back to Michigan, as much as possible.
How is the music scene out there? Would you say that Detroit is still the rock and roll capital of the world?
No, I don't know about that. There was not a lot happening in Michigan, so I decided to go right to LA.
This past Sunday August 20 would have been Dimebag Darrell Abbott's 40 birthday. What did you admire most about him as a guitarist? Did you know Dime?
I did know Dime. I knew Dime really well. We were supposed to do a photo shoot together. We were supposed to do a cover together for Total Guitar magazine. We were going to be on the cover and take the picture together. We never got that chance. He was such a great influence on me and such a great guy. It was just such a shame that it happened.
John, where would you like to see yourself in ten years?
Doing exactly what I am doing now.
Thank you so much John, for taking time out of your busy schedule for the fans, and I look forward to your performance at the Boston Tweeter Center on September 7 with Godsmack.
Thank you so much for your support at the site.
Buy Rob Zombie and John 5 CD’s here
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