# John 5 (guitarist)
**John 5** is the stage name of John William Lowery (born 1970), an American guitarist from [Grosse Pointe, Michigan](https://www.edgepedia.org/grosse-pointe-michigan), known for his work with [Marilyn Manson](https://www.edgepedia.org/marilyn-manson), Rob Zombie, and [Mötley Crüe](https://www.edgepedia.org/motley-crue), and for a parallel career as an instrumental solo artist rooted in country, bluegrass, western swing, jazz, and metal.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-5-mn0000221596) His official biography gives his date of birth as 1970, while the Encyclopaedia Metallum lists July 31, 1971; the discrepancy is unresolved between the two sources.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/John_5/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | John William Lowery, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, 1970 (official site); Metal Archives lists 1971[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [3](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/John_5/) |
| Bands | Marilyn Manson (1998–2004), Rob Zombie (2005–2022), Mötley Crüe (2022–present), plus his own band John 5 and The Creatures[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) |
| Solo albums | Eleven, from *Vertigo* (2004) to *Ghost* (2025)[4](https://www.vintageguitar.com/91405/john5s-haunting-rock/amp/) |
| Signature instrument | Fender Telecaster; he owns over 100 Teles and has multiple Fender signature models, including the Ghost (2023) and Phantom lines[5](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-on-the-squier-tele-that-competes-with-fender) |
| Style | Shred, metal, country, bluegrass, western swing, jazz, and flamenco, often mixed within a single set[6](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/i-made-it-my-mission-to-get-rid-of-the-slop-john-5-talks-tone-technique-and-telecasters) |
| Mötley Crüe role | Joined in 2022 as touring replacement for Mick Mars, made a full member in 2023; first single with him was "Dogs of War" (April 2024)[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [7](https://www.nme.com/news/music/motley-crue-interview-dogs-of-war-nikki-sixx-john-5-new-album-3751277) |
## Early life and session work
Lowery began playing guitar at age seven after watching the television series *Hee Haw* with his father, and he cites [Roy Clark](https://www.edgepedia.org/roy-clark), Buck Owens, KISS, and [Jimi Hendrix](https://www.edgepedia.org/jimi-hendrix) as early influences.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [6](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/i-made-it-my-mission-to-get-rid-of-the-slop-john-5-talks-tone-technique-and-telecasters) As a teenager he played in the Detroit scene with his first band, Dirty Trixx, which won a battle of the bands competition. At 18 he moved to Los Angeles to become a session guitarist; he was robbed on his first night in town, then landed his first break with the band Alligator Soup.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/)
A chance encounter there shaped his career. Bassist [Rudy Sarzo](https://www.edgepedia.org/rudy-sarzo) saw Lowery step in when the band's singer fell ill and introduced him to producer Bob Marlette, which opened session work with [Lita Ford](https://www.edgepedia.org/lita-ford) and [Randy Castillo](https://www.edgepedia.org/randy-castillo), including an EP called *Square*. Shortly after, he was chosen from 2,000 auditioning guitarists to tour with k.d. lang on her 1996–97 world tour.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [8](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/john-5-motley-crue) He then formed the industrial-rock band 2wo with Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford; their album *Voyeurs* was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/)
## Marilyn Manson
In 1998, after Marilyn Manson finished *Mechanical Animals*, his management contacted Lowery. At their first lunch meeting Manson gave him both the job and the name John 5.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) He spent about five years in the band, contributing to the Grammy-nominated "Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes," the 2000 album *Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)*, and *The Golden Age of Grotesque*.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) Both he and Manson agreed to part ways in 2004.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/)
## Solo career and The Creatures
After a chance meeting with [Les Paul](https://www.edgepedia.org/les-paul), John 5 kept the name Manson had given him and launched a solo career with the instrumental album *Vertigo* in 2004.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) His solo catalog has since grown to eleven albums, including *The Devil Knows My Name* (2007), *The Art of Malice* (2010), *Sinner* (2021), and *Ghost* (2025), which he calls his proudest achievement.[2](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-5-mn0000221596) • [4](https://www.vintageguitar.com/91405/john5s-haunting-rock/amp/) • [9](https://john-5.com/main/) In 2015 he formed his backing band The Creatures, with drummer Rodger Carter and bassist Ian Ross, and the group has recorded and toured with him since.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) In 2026 he undertook his first full solo headline tour of the UK and Europe, a 20-date run playing as a duo with a drummer.[9](https://john-5.com/main/) • [10](https://www.loudersound.com/music/john-5-get-your-phones-out)
## Rob Zombie
A short 2005 stint with [Rob Zombie](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-zombie) on the Ozzfest tour grew into a 17-year partnership. John 5 co-wrote and performed on Zombie's albums from *Educated Horses* (2006) through *The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy* (2021), and he composed the scores for two of Zombie's films, *The Lords of Salem* and *31*.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [8](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/john-5-motley-crue) During this period he also wrote for artists including [Meat Loaf](https://www.edgepedia.org/meat-loaf), Ozzy Osbourne, and [Lynyrd Skynyrd](https://www.edgepedia.org/lynyrd-skynyrd).[11](https://www.marshall.com/us/en/all/endorsers/john-5)
## Mötley Crüe
When [Mick Mars](https://www.edgepedia.org/mick-mars) retired from touring in 2022, John 5 was brought in as Mötley Crüe's guitarist, saying he was "honored to carry on Mick's legacy." After world tours co-headlining with [Def Leppard](https://www.edgepedia.org/def-leppard), he was made a full member in 2023.[1](https://john-5.com/main/biography/) • [12](https://www.motley.com/bio) The band's first release with him was the single "Dogs of War" in April 2024.[7](https://www.nme.com/news/music/motley-crue-interview-dogs-of-war-nikki-sixx-john-5-new-album-3751277) His stated approach to legacy material is fidelity: he plays other artists' songs as written rather than improvising on them, out of respect for the original.[13](https://guitar.com/news/music-news/john-5-improvise-playing-other-peoples-songs-respect/) • [14](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/john-5-van-halen-mick-mars-interview) Online accusations that the band used backing tracks, including a viral clip from a "Wild Side" performance, prompted him to respond with technique demonstrations; he later told MusicRadar he treats the accusations as a compliment.[15](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/john-5-says-it-is-a-compliment-when-people-accuse-motley-crue-of-using-backing-tracks)
## Style and gear
John 5's playing spans hyperspeed chicken-pickin', banjo-roll imitations, sweep-picked solos, jazz, and flamenco, and his live sets move between metal, country, and circus-flavored instrumentals within a single show.[6](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/i-made-it-my-mission-to-get-rid-of-the-slop-john-5-talks-tone-technique-and-telecasters) • [16](https://musicandgigs.com/reviews/john-5-live-review-the-live-rooms-chester/?region=uk) He follows a regimented daily practice schedule and describes himself as a student of the instrument's history.[17](https://escholarship.org/content/qt6qh4d3f0/qt6qh4d3f0_noSplash_941199bf67d90360245b4f0fee1e2c9e.pdf)
**Telecasters.** The Fender Telecaster is his defining instrument, a preference that traces back to watching [Buck Owens](https://www.edgepedia.org/buck-owens) and Don Rich on *Hee Haw*.[18](https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rig-rundown-john-5-2026) A Telecaster bought at a Hollywood Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard became the guitar that earned him his Fender endorsement, after a photo of him playing it appeared in a NAMM Show display before he was officially an endorsee.[19](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/the-telecaster-that-changed-john-5s-life) He owns over 100 Telecasters, launched his signature Ghost model in 2023, and in 2026 Fender and the Fender Custom Shop announced three new signature Telecasters in his name: the John 5 Phantom Telecaster, the John 5 Ghost Telecaster, and a Custom Shop "Phantom" model.[5](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-on-the-squier-tele-that-competes-with-fender) • [9](https://john-5.com/main/) Custom builder Ken Meyer has also made him one-off instruments, including a light-up Telecaster and a "Lava" T-style filled with antifreeze after a cold-weather mishap with an earlier version.[20](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-on-the-origins-of-his-light-up-telecaster) • [18](https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rig-rundown-john-5-2026)
## References
1. [John 5 Official Biography](https://john-5.com/main/biography/)
2. [John 5 – Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-5-mn0000221596)
3. [John 5 – Encyclopaedia Metallum](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/John_5/)
4. [John5's Haunting Rock, Vintage Guitar](https://www.vintageguitar.com/91405/john5s-haunting-rock/amp/)
5. [John 5 on the Squier Telecaster that competes with Fender, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-on-the-squier-tele-that-competes-with-fender)
6. ["I Made It My Mission to Get Rid of The Slop": John 5 Talks Tone, Technique, and Telecasters, Guitar Player](https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/i-made-it-my-mission-to-get-rid-of-the-slop-john-5-talks-tone-technique-and-telecasters)
7. [Mötley Crüe on 'Dogs Of War', NME](https://www.nme.com/news/music/motley-crue-interview-dogs-of-war-nikki-sixx-john-5-new-album-3751277)
8. [How John 5 joined Mötley Crüe, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/features/john-5-motley-crue)
9. [John 5 Official Site](https://john-5.com/main/)
10. [John 5 on why he's bucking the anti-phone movement at gigs, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/music/john-5-get-your-phones-out)
11. [John 5 – Endorser, Marshall](https://www.marshall.com/us/en/all/endorsers/john-5)
12. [Bio – Mötley Crüe](https://www.motley.com/bio)
13. [John 5 explains why he doesn't improvise when playing other people's songs, Guitar.com](https://guitar.com/news/music-news/john-5-improvise-playing-other-peoples-songs-respect/)
14. [John 5 reveals the secret to stepping into the shoes of respected guitarists, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/john-5-van-halen-mick-mars-interview)
15. [John 5 says it is a compliment when people accuse Mötley Crüe of using backing tracks, MusicRadar](https://www.musicradar.com/artists/john-5-says-it-is-a-compliment-when-people-accuse-motley-crue-of-using-backing-tracks)
16. [John 5 Live Review: The Live Rooms, Chester, Music & Gigs](https://musicandgigs.com/reviews/john-5-live-review-the-live-rooms-chester/?region=uk)
17. [University of California eScholarship thesis citing John 5's practice schedule](https://escholarship.org/content/qt6qh4d3f0/qt6qh4d3f0_noSplash_941199bf67d90360245b4f0fee1e2c9e.pdf)
18. [Rig Rundown: John 5 [2026], Premier Guitar](https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/rig-rundown-john-5-2026)
19. [The guitar that changed John 5's life, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/the-telecaster-that-changed-john-5s-life)
20. [John 5 on the origins of his light-up Telecaster, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/john-5-on-the-origins-of-his-light-up-telecaster)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Gothic and industrial*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license