John 5 stands out as a truly unique figure in the contemporary music scene. Far from being pigeonholed into a single genre, this acclaimed guitarist, known offstage as John Lowery, has carved a remarkable career path that seamlessly blends the intensity of heavy metal with the down-home charm of bluegrass. His resume boasts collaborations with titans of rock and metal like Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and David Lee Roth, alongside studio work with country rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd. Yet, the foundation of his extraordinary musical journey can be traced back to an unlikely source: the country variety TV show “Hee Haw.”
The captivating musicianship showcased on “Hee Haw,” particularly the energetic performances of country tunes, ignited a spark in young John Lowery. This early exposure fueled his pursuit of guitar virtuosity, a skill set that proves equally electrifying whether he’s shredding in a heavy metal club or picking melodies at a country gathering. During his concerts with his instrumental band, John 5 and the Creatures, he effortlessly transitions between rock anthems and country twang, a stylistic juxtaposition that might seem bizarre to some, especially when considering his signature stage makeup.
John 5, one of the most acclaimed guitarists today who's played with Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and David Lee Roth, found inspiration as a child by watching "Hee Haw."
From “Hee Haw” to Heavy Metal Inspiration
“I love Roy Clark,” John 5 confessed in an interview with CBS News. “I started playing guitar at the age of seven. My parents would always watch ‘Hee Haw.’ Your brain develops when you’re a young child, forming your likes and dislikes, and shaping your aspirations. I vividly remember seeing this young boy, probably a bit older than me, who was an incredible banjo player. I was just blown away, thinking, ‘Whoa, this is incredible!'” That young boy was Jimmy Henley, a bluegrass banjo prodigy who won a world championship at the age of 10 and became a “Hee Haw” regular for over two decades.
Inspired by Henley, John 5 decided to channel that virtuosity into the electric guitar. “I knew I wanted to play electric guitar, so I thought, well, instead of banjo I’ll play electric guitar,” he explained. His obsession with the instrument took root early and deep. “I was so obsessed with playing guitar. I don’t know what I would be doing other than guitar because I’ve been playing guitar for so long. The only other thing I like to do is clean a house. I know that sounds odd, but I feel very organized, so, maybe I would be a male maid if I wasn’t a guitar player.”
Session Musician Hustle in Los Angeles
Relatively sheltered during his upbringing, John 5 ventured to California with ambition. He described his early days in Los Angeles with a touch of humor, calling it his “high school try” because, as he pointed out, “I didn’t go to college.”
His arrival in the city was met with a harsh dose of reality. “I went to L.A. and I was, like, looking around and figured everything out and met a couple of people, and first night I was there I got all my money and everything stolen. But I never give up with anything. So, I was like, OK, we move on.”
Undeterred, John 5 leveraged his guitar skills to break into the competitive music scene. “I just was meeting people, and I said, ‘I play guitar,’ and they’re like, ‘Oh, we’re doing a session for this.’ I said, ‘Oh, well, I’ll charge this’ — because I knew what people were getting, what people were charging for these sessions, and I thought for myself, I will do it for half the price and half the time. Because they want to get you in and out. So, I got this little reputation of, here’s this kid who will do it for half the price and it only takes him half an hour to do his stuff.”
This strategy proved successful, and John 5 quickly became a sought-after session musician. “I just wanted to be a session musician because I hated to travel,” he admitted. His session work spanned a wide range of projects, including tours and recordings with Rick Springfield and Wilson Phillips, as well as appearances on popular TV shows like “Baywatch” and “The Jay Leno Show,” and even the “Mortal Kombat” movie soundtrack. “I did all these things, every day it was something else. And I got a lot of work, ’cause it doesn’t matter what you do in life, you always want to save a dollar, so I was doing it for cheaper than everyone else. And I knew people would go for that. I tried to do the best for them, and it really worked.”
Joining Marilyn Manson and Embracing the Stage Persona
Despite his initial aversion to touring, John 5’s career took a turn that propelled him into the spotlight. A fan of Marilyn Manson, and fresh off collaborations with David Lee Roth and a European tour with Rob Halford in 1998, he received a life-changing call. Manson’s manager, Tony Ciulla, contacted him, explaining they were having guitarist issues and wanted to meet. “And I said, sure!”
The meeting with Marilyn Manson was memorable. “We went to Gaucho Grill on Ventura, and I remember pulling up there, and I’ve never seen Manson, I’ve never met him or anything, never saw him in concert, but I remember looking in his car — I was like, this must be his car — there’s a David Lee Roth CD and a Rob Halford CD on the back seat. That’s quite a coincidence!”
The encounter with Manson was as unconventional as one might expect. “So, I go upstairs, and he’s wearing big red sunglasses and Loverboy T-shirt: ‘I want you to be in the band. Your name is going to be John 5 — I want to do everything with numbers.'”
John 5 readily accepted the offer. “And I was like, ‘OK. Yeah, I love your music, and I would love to be a part of it.'”
Manson then presented a slightly unusual condition: “And he goes, ‘You just have to shave your eyebrows off and you’re in.'”
“And I was like, ‘OK. … Here? ‘ ‘No, no, no, later!'”
Remarkably, John 5’s first live performance with Marilyn Manson was also his first time ever seeing the band perform, taking the stage with them at the 1998 Video Music Awards. He remained a key part of Marilyn Manson’s band for six years, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the shock-rock scene.
John 5, one of the most acclaimed guitarists today who's played with Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and David Lee Roth, found inspiration as a child by watching "Hee Haw."
Solo Ventures and the Birth of John 5 and the Creatures
After departing Marilyn Manson, John 5 initially considered a different path. “After I left Marilyn Manson, I didn’t really know what to do, so I was like, well, maybe I’ll make an instrumental record. And I wanted to make if for my friends at Christmas time and give it to them as a gift. I thought that’ll be a fun gift.”
This simple idea unexpectedly launched his successful solo career. “And this small record company said, ‘We want to release this.’ I thought. ‘Oh that’s odd, you know? But OK, cool!’ And they put it out. And it was so, it’s just amazing, but it had such a great response. They put me on the cover of Guitar Player and all this stuff, because it was different. I played this heavy metal music and country, all these crazy styles. And people just loved it.”
The instrumental album resonated with audiences and critics alike, highlighting John 5’s genre-bending guitar prowess. “And I didn’t do it for anything but just to give it to my friends. And I love playing guitar and appreciate music and, it was just done from the heart.”
Despite the positive reception, touring was still not on his radar. “But I never wanted to tour. Every interviewer asked me, ‘Are you gonna go on tour? ‘ I said, ‘No,’ because really in the back of my mind I thought, Nobody will want to see this. Nobody wants to see this stuff! I really thought that. I’m being honest. My wife was like, ‘You should go out and play shows.’ Really? And it was just so successful, and I thank the crowd every night, and I was shocked but people really enjoy it, maybe because I enjoy it so much, I love it.”
This marked the beginning of John 5 and the Creatures, his instrumental project that showcases his diverse musical tastes and exceptional guitar skills. To date, John 5 has released 13 solo albums and albums with The Creatures, in addition to his extensive work with Rob Zombie, David Lee Roth, 2wo, Paul Stanley, Sebastian Bach, and many others. His discography is a testament to his versatility, ranging from heavy tracks like “Midnight Mass” to the country-infused “Howdy” and the funky grooves of “I Like the Funk.” His album “Sinner” further exemplifies his eclectic approach, blending heavy metal with jazz standards like “How High the Moon” and “Georgia On My Mind.”
John 5, one of the most acclaimed guitarists today who's played with Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and David Lee Roth, found inspiration as a child by watching "Hee Haw."
Constant Inspiration and the Modern Musician
John 5’s musical journey is fueled by a constant search for inspiration. “I always look for inspiration, and I’ve gone through epiphanies, always, starting with ‘Hee Haw’ [and] Roy Clark,” he said. “And seeing Jimi Hendrix when they were playing the movie ‘Woodstock’ on cable, I got obsessed with Jimi Hendrix. And then I got into Kiss, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the greatest.’ And then I was so obsessed with Kiss, I got the first Van Halen record ’cause on the back it said ‘Gene Simmons.’ I was getting anything I could Kiss. And then going from Kiss to Van Halen, then Yngwie Malmsteen, then Chet Atkins, the list goes on and on. But I’m always, always looking for inspiration.”
He also embraces modern tools for musical discovery. “I think nowadays Instagram is such a wonderful tool for that. Because if you look up, like, a guitar player in your feed, you’ll see other guitar players. Just like if you look up cooking you will get in your feed a bunch of cooking stuff. So, I use that as a tool, not just promoting yourself or having your own TV channel if you will, but for education, to see other guitar players, learn things. It’s a wonderful tool.”
Currently, John 5 and the Creatures are actively touring North America, bringing his unique blend of instrumental guitar music to audiences.
A Dream Realized Through Dedication
Looking back at his career, John 5 expresses a sense of disbelief and gratitude. “I never dreamt about any of this. I didn’t even think anyone would ever want to talk to me, I just wanted to be a session musician. So, I never dreamt or hoped for any of this at all. I just wanted to play guitar. I love guitar and music so much, that’s all I wanted to do. Now doing what I do, it doesn’t matter how cold, or how rainy, or anything like that — anywhere I am, if I have a guitar in my hand, playing for people, I just appreciate it so much.”
His dedication to his craft remains unwavering. “I practice all the time. If I wouldn’t be talking to you I would be playing right now,” he said. “It’s a terrible, terrible thing, because it’s really kind of taken over my life so much. Sometimes I’ll be playing and I’ll start in the morning, and I’ll be like, it’s dark; I better eat and go to the bathroom. That will happen when no one is around. Like, if I’m on tour and no one is with me and I have the day off, I just lose track of time. It’s a crazy obsession, but it’s a good obsession, at least I’m not doing anything to hurt anybody or hurt myself or anything like that. So I’m OK with it and hopefully making a couple of people smile along the way.”
For John 5, it all comes down to the joy of performing and connecting with fans. “I just love going out playing for people. And I love meeting the people and hearing their stories. It really is a dream. I really think the meaning of life is just doing what you love. It’s been wonderful.”
John 5’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and embracing musical diversity. From “Hee Haw” inspiration to heavy metal stages and instrumental explorations, he continues to redefine what it means to be a guitarist in the modern music landscape.
