John 5 (guitarist)
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| John 5 | |
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 John 5 with an Ibanez Ax120
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John William Lowery |
| Also known as | John 5 |
| Born | July 31, 1971 |
| Origin | Grosse Pointe, Michigan, United States |
| Genre(s) | Alternative metal, instrumental metal, bluegrass, country |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, bass |
| Years active | 1983 – present |
| Label(s) | Nothing, Interscope, Shrapnel, 60 Cycle Hum, Geffen |
| Associated acts | David Lee Roth Band, 2wo, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Loser |
| Website | www.john-5.com |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| John 5 Telecaster (J5 Telecaster) John 5 electro acoustic (J5 electro acoustic) J5 Triple Tele Deluxe | |
John 5, born John William Lowery in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, on July 31, 1971, is an American guitarist. His stage name was bestowed upon him back in 1998 when he joined rock group Marilyn Manson as their guitarist taking over from Zim Zum (Timothy M. Linton). He left Manson in 2004 and is currently the guitarist for Rob Zombie.
He is also a solo artist having recorded three critically acclaimed guitar albums: "Vertigo" (2004), "Songs For Sanity" and "The Devil Knows My Name" (2007). He also works as a staff writer for Chrysalis Records, working with artists such as Avril Lavigne, Garbage and FeFe Dobson.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life
John had a privileged upbringing, his parents being well off. He had a maid and other servants. John first started playing guitar at the age of seven after watching Buck Owens and Roy Clark's television show Hee Haw with his dad: His parents supported his playing as long as it never interfered with his education. They even went so far to accompany him at the adult bars he would play during the evening.[1]
[edit] Music Career
[edit] Early career
John 5 started his career as a session guitarist having moved to Los Angeles from Michigan at the age of 18. His first band in L.A. was Alligator Soup, which led to an important, chance meeting with Rudy Sarzo from Whitesnake that would give him his first real bit of exposure.
This also saw him meeting producer Bob Marlette, who has worked with, among others, Tracy Chapman, Rob Halford and Black Sabbath.
John began working on numerous projects with Marlette including TV show soundtracks, movie soundtracks including Speed 2: Cruise Control, and commercials and infomercials.
This in turn saw John being picked to play with Lita Ford, opening up for Kiss. He started another long time friendship with the various Kiss members, including a close friendship with Paul Stanley which in 2006 he repaid by guesting on Stanley's Live to Win album.
John's next role saw him working with the late Randy Castillo, in a shortlived project called Red Square Black. They produced a self titled EP, but the band disbanded when John was picked from 2000 guitarists to play with K.D. Lang on tour.
[edit] 2wo (Two)
In 1996 John went for his first audition with Marilyn Manson but narrowly missed out (he was late to the auditions) and the guitarist role at that time was taken by Mike (Timothy) Linton, who became known as Zim Zum.
Instead, John teamed up with ex-Judas Priest Rob Halford, along with Sid Riggs (drums) and James Wooley (bass), to work on an industrial metal inspired album, under the band name of 2wo (Two). The subsequent album (Voyeurs) was remixed by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and was released on Reznor's Nothing Records label, under the parent company, Interscope Records (Universal). The album itself was not a commercial hit but did produce one video, made by gay porn director Chi Chi Larue for the first single I'm a Pig.[2]. It featured some s&m scenes and so was not widely broadcast but was not banned as has been previously rumoured.
The band embarked on a world tour, and were part of the Ozzfest line-up but the tour was pulled and 2wo disbanded.
[edit] David Lee Roth
John's next piece of work came when he played on David Lee Roth's (ex-Van Halen) solo project album: The DLR Band."When I was little my dream was to play with David Lee Roth. One day I was sitting at my friend's house and... I wonder[ed] what... Roth is doing now. I'm gonna call up his manager and see if he needs any songs."-John 5[3]
John was already a fan of the band and was familiar with the playing style. He submitted six tracks he had written to Roth's management. Finding they suited, John submitted further tracks to Roth's management. Eventually David and John met and recorded "The DLR Band" album in two weeks. "I remember before we started he said, "If you can't do it in two takes, you can't do it." [4]
In 2003, whilst still in Marilyn Manson, John was invited by Lee Roth to write with him again and on the 2003 album Diamond Dave wrote the track Thug Pop.
[edit] Marilyn Manson
After the recording of "Mechanical Animals", Marilyn Manson was again looking for a guitarist to replace Zim Zum who left the band in pursuit of a solo career. Again John went to try out for the band. Following a tour with Rob Halford in Europe, John received a call from Manson's manager asking if he would like to meet Manson for lunch. At the meeting Manson asked John to join the band. [5] Taking the moniker, John 5, he signed on for the Mechanical Animals tour and to work on the next album. John's first live performance for Marilyn Manson came on the MTV Video Music Awards.
In 2004 John and Manson parted company. Confusion was rife as certain press reported that John had been dumped unceremoniously from the band, but in reality the two came to a mutual agreement that they wanted to go their separate ways.“What actually happened was, at the end of the tour, we were just on different roads. It was completely amicable. He just wanted to write with other members of the band, and I wanted to do other things." [6]
While working with Manson, John has stated he didn't do drugs, and he doesn't drink.
[edit] Loser
In 2004 John formed the band Loser . Recruiting vocalist Joe Grah, Charles Lee on bass and Glendon Crain on drums, they began working on their debut album "Just Like You".The band was also partly co-founded by friend and producer Bob Marlette. Vocalist Joe Grah already had a significant amount of success in his home state of Texas, with the band Jibe. Marlette recommended Grah to John and so John hopped on a plane to Texas to see the band play. Grah flew back to LA and was hired on the spot.
The name Loser came about as an affirmation to John's past: “I was from Grosse Pointe, Michigan, which is kind of an upper-class area, and I was always that rock kid," John explained. "I started playing guitar at age 7. I always had a rock shirt on, and I had that tattoo early on. I looked like a loser because everyone around me was wearing Polo and Brooks Brothers. But now if you go into a club wearing Polo, you're called a loser. So I think everyone can relate to that name, and the album title, Just Like You, sums it up." [7]
The band has initial success not long after signing with Island Records, when the track "Disposable Sunshine" became part of the Fantastic Four soundtrack.
During this time, during the recording of the soundtrack, Glendon briefly left the band and was replaced by drummer Elias Andra, a friend of Lee's. Elias had some success himself with the band Psycho Plague, his own creation, an industrial metal band, which toured as a headline act, with Linkin Park as an opening act at the time. However, no sooner had promotional shots been taken when Elias left and Glendon returned.
At the same time John was also working for Rob Zombie and a working conflict occurred. As Zombie was also touring, John tried to find a live replacement for him whilst Loser were touring on conflicting dates. However, even with promo material for the debut album out and a release date in the bag, Island Record didn't like the idea of Loser without John and so dropped the band from the label.
"Being the founding member of Loser, my decision to leave was not an easy one", said John 5 in a press release. "I've been juggling two careers both with Loser and Rob Zombie for over one year now. I found it impossible to be in two places at once." [8]
The album has been put on the backburner and no word on a release date has ever been issued. The official Loser Myspace page has tracks available for download (working on November 23, 2007). [9]
[edit] Rob Zombie
While John was working on radio rock band Loser, he also began to work with cult rock artist and movie director, Rob Zombie. Meeting at the Camp Freddy benefit gig, John and Zombie hit off immediately and Rob asked John to play for him for Ozzfest 2005.
|"I'm totally ecstatic about having the opportunity to play with Rob on Ozzfest! He has been one of my favourite artists for the longest time. I had the opportunity to play with him a few weeks back, and never thought that I would have the chance to share the stage with him playing the Zombie songs we all know and love!"[10]
It was reported that Zombie was looking to quit the music industry to concentrate on his movie career until he began to work with John 5.
“Camp Freddy asked me to do this benefit, just to play one song, at the Arrowhead Pond (in Anaheim, California) for this tsunami relief thing. And John was there, and we played one song, "Thunderkiss", and it kicked ass and he's a supercool guy and I was like, "this is perfect", John said, "Do you need a guitar player for Ozzfest?", I said, "Yes", he said, "I wanna do it", I said, "Perfect, done" -Rob Zombie on John 5 .[11]
John worked on Rob Zombie's 2006 album Educated Horses, writing eight out of eleven tracks. When he left Loser, John 5 took up the role of Rob Zombie guitarist as a permanent gig. “Rob is the best I have worked with. He is great. We have a great time on stage together. It has been the single greatest experience I have had working with someone, hands down."[12]
[edit] Solo career
Starting in 2004 with Vertigo, John 5 has gone on to record a total of 4 instrumental records. He has also released a instructional DVD, The Devil Knows My Name.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Solo
Albums
- Vertigo (2004)
- Songs for Sanity (2005)
- The Devil Knows My Name (April 3, 2007)
- Requiem (June 3, 2008)
DVD
- God is Closed Vol. 1 (bonus disc for Japanese release of Vertigo)
- The Devil Knows My Name (instructional DVD)[13]
[edit] Loser
Albums
- Just Like You (2006)
Singles
- Disposable Sunshine (2005) (on Fantastic Four soundtrack) [14]
- Nobody Knows (2006)
[edit] Marilyn Manson
Albums
- Mechanical Animals (credited as live guitarist, 1998)
- The Last Tour On Earth (live album, 1999)
- Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (2000)
- The Golden Age Of Grotesque (2003)
- Lest We Forget, (best of album released after John 5's departure, 2004. John is thanked along with bassist Twiggy Ramirez in the album credits.)
DVD & VHS
- God Is In The TV (1999)
- Guns, God and Government (2002)
- The Golden Age Of Grotesque Limited Edition DVD (2003)
[edit] Rob Zombie
Album
- Educated Horses (2006)
- Zombie Live (2007)
DVD
- Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest 10th Anniversary
[edit] David Lee Roth
Album
- The David Lee Roth Band (1998)
- Thug Pop from Diamond Dave album (2003)
[edit] 2wo
Album
- Voyeurs (1998)
[edit] Credits
- Dirty Trixx - 1983 - Guitarist, playing Van Halen covers in a Michigan bar
- Raven Payne - 1987 - Guitarist, at 16 years old
- John Wetton (of Asia) - John's first paid professional session. "It's one of the hardest I've ever done" states John 5.
- Robin Zander (Cheap Trick singer) Guitarist, recorded demos
- Pepperland - Guitarist, ghost player
- Wilson Phillips - Guitarist, ghost player
- Salt-N-Pepa - Live Performances including the Jay Leno Show
- Rick Springfield - Guitarist, The Day After Yesterday, Tracks 4 and 14
- Ozzy Osbourne - John 5 auditioned, unsuccessfully, for an open bass spot.
- Night Ranger - Guitarist, ghost player
- Red Square Black - 1994 - 'Square' EP, Lead Guitar
- Lita Ford - 1994-95 - Guitarist, ghost player
- Ryan Downe - 1996 - Guitar on track 'Japan' of The Hypocrite Album, plus guitar effects
- froSTed - 1996 - - Guitarist
- Leah Andreone - Former Girlfriend, Veiled, Guitar (1996), I Feel The Earth Move, Guitar (1997), Alchemy, Lap Steel Guitar/Guitar (1998), co-wrote ten tracks
- K.D. Lang - Guitarist
World Tour 1996, 1997. Onstage 'Live in Sydney' VHS Tape
- Various Artists, Speed 2: Cruise Control - 1997 - Guitar and Bass for Soundtrack
- Two - 1998 - Voyeurs album, guitar and bass.
- David Lee Roth - 1998 - Guitarist on DLR Band album
- Marilyn Manson (band) - 1998–2004 - Guitarist, where he got the nickname "John 5" after the bible section. "Tele addict" . Guitarist (May 2007). Future. Manson has claimed the name derives from Lowerys first name with the number 5 added since he was the bands fifth guitarist (unlike the Pin-up + serial killer name the members usually take).
- Garbage - 2003 - Additional guitar on "Never Be Free" b-side, possibly co-written by him as well [15][16]
- Loser - 2005–2006 - Guitarist and founder member of Loser. The band had a song on the Fantastic Four soundtrack (Disposable Sunshine) and had recorded their debut album Just Like You, but due to conflicting schedules with Rob Zombie, John left the band and Island Records [17] [18]
- Rob Zombie - 2005 – present - Guitarist, Ozzfest 2005 and albums Educated Horses and Zombie Live
- Meat Loaf - 2006 - Guitarist, song recorded and co-wrote with Nikki Sixx. From Bat out Of Hell III - The Monster's Loose.
- Paul Stanley – Co-writer and guitarist on "Where Angels Dare", a track from the album Live to Win.
- Static-X - First guitar solo on Cannibal (song).
- Mike Libertoski Solo on 72 Virgins.
- Scorpions - Co-writer and guitarist on "Hour 1", a track from the album Humanity - Hour 1.
- Filter - 2008 - Guitarist, on the album Anthems For The Damned, [19]co writer on Two tracks
[edit] References
- ^ www.john-5.com - Official Biography
- ^ Halford enlists Chi Chi Larue - MTV
- ^ Guitarist Magazine
- ^ Guitarist Magazine
- ^ [http://www.guitarplayer.com Guitar Player.com
- ^ John 5 says split with Manson was "amicable". Blabbermouth.com
- ^ Ex-Manson guitarist John 5 proud to be a Loser. MTV.com
- ^ Former Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 leaves Loser to focus on Rob Zombie. Blabbermouth.com
- ^ Myspace Loser
- ^ http://www.john-5.com www.john-5.com
- ^ http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=13126 Rob Zombie talks to metalunderground.com
- ^ http://www.thegauntlet.com/interviews/338/Zombie,-Rob.html thegauntlet.com/interviews
- ^ www.john-5.com - news
- ^ Fantastic Four soundtrack on Amazon
- ^ garbage-discography.co.uk
- ^ garbagediscobox.com
- ^ John 5 leaves Loser and Island, Blabbermouth
- ^ Loser Official My Space Page
- ^ Richard Patrick MTV interview
