{"id":2148,"date":"2012-04-26T10:01:24","date_gmt":"2012-04-26T10:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/?p=2148"},"modified":"2012-04-26T10:01:24","modified_gmt":"2012-04-26T10:01:24","slug":"john-5-the-grass-is-not-always-greener-and-im-really-happy-with-what-im-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2012\/04\/26\/john-5-the-grass-is-not-always-greener-and-im-really-happy-with-what-im-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"John 5: ‘The Grass Is Not Always Greener, And I\u2019m Really Happy With What I\u2019m Doing’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GodMetalInsider’s<\/a> Zach Shaw recently sat down with John 5 for a new interview. In it he disucsses “challenges of creating acoustic material over electric, how he constantly learns from every musician he works with, the upcoming projects he\u2019s been working on”.<\/p>\n

Chances are John 5 is best known for his work with Rob Zombie. However, the collection of musicians the guitarist has performed and written music with reads as a \u201cwho\u2019s who\u201d list: everyone from Marilyn Manson to David Lee Roth, from Rob Halford to Lynyrd Skynard, and from Meatloaf to K.D. Lang. Yet despite keeping himself busy with other musicians and Rob Zombie, John 5 still finds the time to record instrumental solo material that pushes the boundaries of traditional guitar playing. And on May 8, John 5 will release his sixth solo album God Told Me To.<\/p>\n

Somehow, John 5 found a spare moment to talk with Metal Insider. During our chat, the guitarist discussed the challenges of creating acoustic material over electric, how he constantly learns from every musician he works with, the upcoming projects he\u2019s been working on (including new music with Rob Zombie AND Rod Stewart), and how he continues to love working with Zombie.<\/em><\/p>\n

I just want to start off talking about your new solo album, God Told Me To, which features half electric and acoustic songs. Do you find playing or writing in one style more difficult than the other?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That is a good question. I kind of look at it as, \u2018I want to keep this song interesting and have a good melody in it.\u2019 So I guess both are very difficult in a sense because I want to make it really good. Maybe the acoustic is a little more difficult, especially something like \u201cNoche Acosador\u201d because its flamenco music and it\u2019s something I don\u2019t rock every day, but I wanted to make it authentic and sound really good. So something like that is a lot more difficult then something I\u2019ll write every day. So yeah, I think the acoustic stuff is a little bit more difficult because I\u2019m not playing acoustic every day like I am electric.<\/em> <\/p>\n

Maybe the right word might be more \u201cchallenging\u201d? Because I can hear that you\u2019re a little more hesitant to say difficult.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, I don\u2019t know because it\u2019s kind of hard to describe. It\u2019s like trying to describe the color blue or something like that. You get into a different mind frame when you\u2019re doing acoustic music.<\/em><\/p>\n

I was kind of surprised this was the first time you released acoustic material.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, I have done little acoustic pieces on other albums, but never a whole half of a record. I took the acoustic music to a different level instead of just playing a ballad with nice melodies. I did rhythmic tapping on the body of the guitar, on the wood of the guitar. I\u2019m using violin bow a lot; I\u2019m using mandolin. It\u2019s a little more challenging in that way instead of just playing a ballad on an acoustic or something. So it is a little more challenging, acoustic music. Bbut a lot of fun for me because I love challenges. So that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about for me, if it\u2019s a challenge and it comes out to be a nice piece of music then I\u2019m really happy with the outcome. Especially with this record, I\u2019m very, very, very happy with the outcome of the music. I\u2019ll listen to it and be like \u201cOh that came out really good!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

This is your sixth solo album. How do you approach writing solo material differently than in a group setting as with Rob Zombie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes I\u2019ll start out with a riff, and the riffs are just good rock riffs like you would hear on the radio. But instead of a vocal coming in, it\u2019s a crazy guitar. I would think that same question when I first started doing this instrumental music back with Vertigo. I would think \u201cHow am I going to do this? Is this just an extended guitar solo through the song?\u201d which it\u2019s not. I try to give it a verse, a B section and a chorus just as you would in other songs. And other guitar instrumentalists do the same thing and they have a nice verse, with a cool guitar thing going on, a B section and a melodic chorus. That\u2019s the kind of instrumental music I like. I\u2019m not really a big fan of instrumental music that\u2019s just a big long guitar solo over a rock track. I just don\u2019t think there\u2019s a lot of thought into that. Like the big guys, that\u2019s who I listen to and that\u2019s where I got a lot of my inspiration for writing and doing instrumental music. There\u2019s so many great ones out there now too, it\u2019s great I love it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Correct me if I\u2019m wrong, but is this your first solo album via Rocket Science Ventures and Sony Red?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think I did another one with them. I think I did Art of Malice with them as well.<\/em><\/p>\n

Because I know you did 60 Cycle Hum for a while.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s my label. And I think Rocket Science did the last one too. They kind of just distribute it. but everything is still under 60 Cycle Hum [laughs] which is a cool name for a label.<\/em><\/p>\n

What the hardest part of distributing your own music?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, luckily I don\u2019t have to that, so I don\u2019t that. They do that, but I guess distributing your own music is a REALLY difficult thing, especially nowadays because there\u2019s no record stores left, or CD stores or anything. I think my CD is going into Guitar Center, which is the smartest place it could go into [laughs]. I think it\u2019s the best place for that CD to live.<\/em><\/p>\n

Going back to Rob Zombie for just a second; I know that the plan is to go into the studio following the tour with Megadeth. How\u2019s the writing for the new record going?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s going really well. We\u2019re going to start recording it in June. So we are excited. I\u2019m really psyched at how the riffs are coming out. I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s going to sound like in the studio and what Rob\u2019s going to want to use or not use. I really love his stuff. It\u2019s really heavy, it\u2019s got a groove and its aggressive. I love it. I really, really love it a lot. So we\u2019ll see what Rob wants to use and what he doesn\u2019t want to use.<\/em><\/p>\n

Has Ginger Fish [who joined Zombie\u2019s band last year] brought a lot to the table in regards to the new music?<\/strong><\/p>\n

He\u2019s been working on drum parts and loops and cool sound effect parts. That\u2019s what he\u2019s really, really good with. So we\u2019re excited to get in the studio with him because he has such a great groove in him. I mean, he really has a great feel and that\u2019s something you can\u2019t really teach. I\u2019ve done many records with him before and he\u2019s just a really solid, backbeat, great drummer. We\u2019re really happy to have him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Besides Rob Zombie, you\u2019ve worked with so many influential musicians. Just to name some would really do an injustice to what you\u2019ve done. Is there any one particular musician or artist that you would say you\u2019ve learned the most from during your time working with them?
\n<\/strong>
\nI\u2019ve learned a lot from everybody. I\u2019m like a sponge. Everybody I\u2019ve worked for has had a massive, massive career. So whenever they talked, I listened. I\u2019m not like that guy who says \u201cOh, they don\u2019t know what they\u2019re talking about\u2026\u201d, because they DO know what they\u2019re talking about because they have done it. So I always listen to everything they say. When they talk, I\u2019m like E.F. Hutten, I listen! I\u2019m like, listening, listening, listening. I\u2019ve learned so much from everybody, from Manson to David Lee Roth. But I think I\u2019ve learned the most, and I\u2019m not just saying this, I\u2019ll say this always. I think I\u2019ve learned the most from Rob Zombie. I mean, Jesus Christ, the guy\u2019s so smart and he\u2019s so successful. So I\u2019ve really learned a lot from him.<\/em><\/p>\n

Not to make you say dirt or anything but is there one musician that you\u2019ve had difficulty working with?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, I don\u2019t think that I\u2019ve had difficulty working with any of them. I think the public portrays it as \u201cOh, he had a hard time with Manson.\u201d But I didn\u2019t really at all, it was just portrayed that way. I haven\u2019t really had a hard situation with any of them. With what people see on YouTube with Manson, I had a death in the family. I was a mess at that time, and a lot of people don\u2019t know that. So that\u2019s why certain things occurred.<\/em><\/p>\n

You\u2019re talking about the video of you and Manson fighting onstage?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right.<\/em><\/p>\n

That must have been a learning experience in itself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah. I mean, that was something that I shouldn\u2019t have done. It was something where I had a death in the family and it was a really hard time in my life, and it was tough. It\u2019s life, you know? But I think the public\u2019s perception is like \u201cOh, do you guys get along?\u201d Yeah, we talked and there\u2019s no hard feelings at all. And I wish nothing but the best for him, that\u2019s for sure.
\n<\/em>
\nYou\u2019ve previously said that the one artist you\u2019d love to work with is Prince. I know that you\u2019ve stated that you want to work with Zombie as long as you can. But if Prince was to walk into the room or call you right now and say \u201cHey, I want you to go on tour with me\u201d or \u201ccome into the studio with me ASAP,\u201d what would you do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t do it, not for any amount of money. And here\u2019s the reason why: I\u2019ve been in this business long enough, and you can totally quote me on this one, the grass is not always greener. I\u2019m in such a great situation. And if someone comes around and offers more money or private jets, that\u2019s not what it\u2019s about. If you\u2019re happy in a situation and it\u2019s great\u2026 I mean, you\u2019re not going to leave your wife if some other girl comes around. The grass is not always greener, and I\u2019m really happy with what I\u2019m doing. So no, I wouldn\u2019t do it, no way.<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s really cool to hear you talk about how happy you are playing with Zombie still after so many years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, it\u2019s been like seven years or something like that.
\n<\/em>
\nRight, and Educated Horses came out in 2005\/2006?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah that\u2019s a long time, that\u2019s a long time. I don\u2019t even know when it came out, if it came out in 2005. I\u2019m really bad with years. But I think we did our Ozzfest Tour in 2005 if I\u2019m not mistaken.<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh that\u2019s right! So it came out in 2006, because I remember seeing you and Zombie on what I think was the Educated Horses tour at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. That might have been in 2006 now that think of it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s funny how quick time goes by. But what I\u2019ve learned over the years is that the grass is not always greener. People all the time leave gigs thinking \u201cOh this is a bigger gig or this is more money.\u201d It doesn\u2019t always work out that way. You just gotta learn about these things.
\n<\/em>
\nIn addition to God Told Me To and the new Rob Zombie album, you just recorded a guest appearance on Steven Adler\u2019s new album as well as scoring Zombies new movie Lords of Salem. Are there any new projects or collaborations that are on the table right now or about to get worked out?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I just submitted a bunch of songs to Lynyrd Skynyrd. So they\u2019re recording those songs right now for their new record. I also did a little work for Rod Stewart. He\u2019s got a new record he\u2019s working on. And just doing the Lords of Salem thing, and just getting ready for this tour. So it\u2019s just a lot of stuff.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hearing you talk about Lynyrd Skynyrd or even earlier about David Lee Roth, is there one musician that you\u2019ve worked where found yourself saying aloud \u201cOh my god, I was just in the studio with that person\u2026\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, absolutely and I think it all comes from your childhood. And I think that person was when I recorded music with Paul Stanly for his album [2006\u2019s Live To Win]. I mean KISS when I was super little, that was it. I didn\u2019t even use to think they were real, and I was so little. And they\u2019re all my great friends, but working on music with them is just a different thing. And David Lee Roth too, I was young and a kid and that was it for me, Van Halen and KISS. It\u2019s a major thing in someone\u2019s life. It\u2019s like if you were really obsessed with Frankenstein and Frankenstein was like \u201cHey, come and make a movie with me.\u201d You\u2019re like \u201cOh my god, this is crazy!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In it he disucsses “challenges of creating acoustic material over electric, how he constantly learns from every musician he works with, the upcoming projects he\u2019s been working on”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[129,620,13,30,271,14,191],"class_list":["post-2148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interview","tag-god-told-me-to","tag-interview","tag-john-5","tag-marilyn-manson","tag-metalinsider","tag-rob-zombie","tag-rod-stewart","tw-post-no-content"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1qFj4-yE","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":616170,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2019\/09\/09\/john-5-speaks-to-revolver-mag-about-marilyn-manson-playing-for-prince-new-rob-zombie-album-more\/","url_meta":{"origin":2148,"position":0},"title":"John 5 speaks to Revolver Mag about MARILYN MANSON, PLAYING FOR PRINCE, NEW ROB ZOMBIE ALBUM & more","author":"Dillon - 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Team John 5","date":"February 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Ahead of the release of the new album \"Season of the Witch\" Music Mania had John 5 on their podcast to chat about the new album, touring with Rob Zombie, working with David Lee Roth, Rob Halford, Marilyn Manson and much much more.","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"John 5 Music Mania Podcast","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/john-5-music-mania.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/john-5-music-mania.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/john-5-music-mania.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":857235,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2023\/10\/20\/watch-john-5-discusses-his-remarkable-journey-with-kenny-aronoff\/","url_meta":{"origin":2148,"position":3},"title":"[Watch] John 5 discusses his remarkable journey with Kenny Aronoff","author":"Dillon - 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