{"id":3777,"date":"2013-07-29T19:38:44","date_gmt":"2013-07-29T18:38:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/?p=3777"},"modified":"2013-07-29T19:38:44","modified_gmt":"2013-07-29T18:38:44","slug":"j5-on-rz-ive-been-offered-to-join-a-ton-of-bands-but-i-wouldnt-leave-this-for-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2013\/07\/29\/j5-on-rz-ive-been-offered-to-join-a-ton-of-bands-but-i-wouldnt-leave-this-for-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"J5 on RZ: ‘I\u2019ve been offered to join a ton of bands but I wouldn\u2019t leave this for the world’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Rob<\/p>\n

In this very relaxed interview with The Spill Magazine<\/a>, John 5 talks about what it means to be a member of Rob Zombies band, working on his next solo album (and throws ideas around with the interviewer about who could<\/em> play as guest), having his son come to see him perform for the first time and much much more.<\/p>\n

Enjoy!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pentagrams, Naked Women And Phantom Strangers:<\/b><\/strong>
\nAn Interview With John 5 of Rob Zombie by<\/p>\n

\u2013 Ariel Dawn Lando\u00a0(Twitter @ArielDawnLando)<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks to The Spill:\u00a0http:\/\/www.spillmagazine.com\/features.html<\/a><\/i><\/div>\n

He\u2019s been a part of some of metal\u2019s most controversial bands, known for his antics in Marilyn Manson and now as a member of Rob Zombie\u2019s gruesome crew. On the afternoon of ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK\u2019S Mayhem Festival\u2019s stop in Toronto, The Spill Magazine had a chance to sit down with the legendary, John 5. I await his arrival aboard the floating press area around the Molson Amphitheatre\u2019s Echo Beach, where dozens of reporters are conducting interviews. He walks in wearing a slouchy wool hat and a denim jacket, unseasonably warm attire for Canada in July. I stood to shake the hand of the man, whose music had such a profound impact on my youth, suppressing the inner fangirl inside me. It\u2019s been an extremely productive year for this highly celebrated guitarist and I couldn\u2019t wait to get down to the details.<\/p>\n

As we sat down, I congratulated him on being the recipient of the Revolver Golden Gods Award: Best Guitarist of the Year. He smiles, \u201cThank you, yeah it\u2019s pretty exciting! It\u2019s pretty cool to get an award for something you just sit around and do all day. But I don\u2019t take it for granted. I love playing guitar, so you know, to be recognized for it is awesome.\u201d Taking a glance at the video clip of his acceptance speech will demonstrate his humble demeanour, ending in a dedication of the award to the late, Jeff Hanneman of Slayer.<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, John 5 has an incredibly calm energy about him. Our interview feels like a relaxed conversation, two friends just chatting over an invisible cup of coffee. He smiles a lot, stretching out in his chair and lazily playing with my new Rob Zombie tour shirt I had placed on the table. I quickly move the conversation along to the release of Rob Zombie\u2019s latest tongue twister of an album,\u00a0Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor<\/em>\u00a0which I had written in front of me in huge, bold letters.<\/p>\n

John 5 lets out a hearty laugh about the title, \u201cIt\u2019s very large too, I know\u201d noticing the paper I laid out. He commends me for my correct pronunciation, \u201cIt\u2019s quite the name!\u201d I add, \u201cSo tell me why it was a good fit for the album and how you guys came up with it\u201d He responds, \u201cWell, Rob (Zombie) thought it just sounded cool and it came out of his mouth \u2026but I think that the songs kind of sound venomous and dirty. So I kind of look at the music as the title as well, just sounding aggressive and dirty and things like that\u201d<\/p>\n

John 5 was also credited as the main writer of the score on Rob Zombie\u2019s latest horror flick,\u00a0The Lords of Salem.<\/em>\u00a0Creating these eerie tracks, coupled with writing for the simultaneous release of Zombie\u2019s latest album sounded like an immense amount of pressure. \u201cIt was a lot of work, but there is always enough hours in the day I always say. Because I love working and with time, you have to learn how to set everything up just perfectly. If you have to go somewhere then you have to go and if you can, you can\u2019t stay long. You have to keep on a schedule. That\u2019s kind of what I did. I didn\u2019t sleep much.\u201d he continues, \u201cBut now here we are on tour, doing interviews about it and it\u2019s great! Because this isn\u2019t like work, it\u2019s more like a vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n

I laugh, pointing out his jacket, \u201cYeah, and I hear you like hot days!\u201d he lights up, \u201cI do, I love hot days! See,\u201d he pauses, looking down. \u201cI have a jacket on, It\u2019s weird. I don\u2019t know why I\u2019m like that but everyone else in the band hates it. I just hate the cold.\u201d We both share a laugh over our common hatred of Canada\u2019s wintery months.<\/p>\n

Curious about the writing process of Zombie\u2019s new movie I ask how he went about recording the score. \u201cWell, with a lot of scores, it\u2019s a lot of violin music, cello, viola… and I used this thing called an EBow, it vibrates the strings, it\u2019s really cool. I fingered my guitar and tuned it really high while using the EBow and it sounded just like a violin. And I would tune it back down for a viola sound and then way down for a cello sound. I did a lot of the score that way\u201d John explains, \u201cFor the main witches theme of the movie I used this big cello bow across the strings. It created this really eerie theme to it. Just a few notes, but Rob was saying, \u2018give me something really memorable, like a\u00a0Jaws<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0The Twilight Zone\u00a0<\/em>type of thing\u2019, so it came out really well, I\u2019m really proud of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The distinctive notes certainly carry the movie\u2019s spine-tingling aura to the next level. Interested in the old school horror clips Rob Zombie is often inspired by, I ask John 5 if he too uses them as a basis for creating songs. He grins, \u201cI really have always loved taking clips and I did a whole instrumental record called,\u00a0Remixploitation<\/em>\u00a0that is just my songs and little samples from old horror movies\u2026like, \u2018Bride of Frankenstein\u2019 you know, \u2018Dracula\u2019 and \u2018American Psycho\u2019, stuff like that\u201d<\/p>\n

I decided to delve into an episode of John 5\u2019s past, concerning the Manson days, \u201cI know you\u2019re now in a band with Ginger Fish (former drummer of Manson) and I was wondering how it compares to your experience in Rob Zombie now?<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it. I\u2019ve been offered to join a ton of bands but I wouldn\u2019t leave this for the world\u201d he said peacefully, \u201cBut compared to Manson, you never knew what was going to happen. You never knew if we were going to play or not, how many songs we were going to play, and with this, we\u2019ve got to be there on time and do things just right. Because the show is so big, there is no room for error whatsoever. And also, with our crew and everything, when you see it, you\u2019ll know what I\u2019m talking about. You have to even know where to stand at certain parts. And being in Manson, it was very unpredictable, which is very fun too! I wouldn\u2019t change my past for anything. I\u2019m very proud of being in Manson and those times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning back to the show tonight, I ask about the theatrics that were about to unfold, \u201cI saw a preview of some of the costumes for the tour, which look completely insane and I was wondering who designs them and puts it all together?\u201d John replies, \u201cI just kind of thought about it and designed this costume for the opening number. I had this woman Cody, make it for me. She\u2019s this woman in Melrose and she\u2019s amazing with a needle and thread, so anything I can think of she kind of puts together. So this is a big one, it takes a long time to get on and off!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d I joke, \u201cI\u2019m surprised you can even see the guitar while you\u2019re playing!\u201d He chuckles in agreement, \u201cI know, it\u2019s tough, sometimes I have to adjust myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

As I begin asking about what he has prepared in the future for his solo projects, John says something that throws me completely off guard, \u201cI\u2019m working on a new record\u2014well, I\u2019m always working, doing things like that\u201d he pauses, a soft twinkle catching his eye, \u201cI\u2019m trying to get some guest players on and I\u2019m taking suggestions from people\u2026so who do you suggest?\u201d
\nThinking quickly on my feet, I spit out the first person that comes to my mind, \u201cOhmygosh\u2026 do you think Jack White would ever be a pick for you?\u201d I almost wince as he responds, \u201cI don\u2019t know but that\u2019s a great one! Very smart, okay, I\u2019ll take that!\u201d<\/p>\n

Happy he didn\u2019t bash my reflex suggestion, we begin discussing his favorite moment on Mayhem\u2019s tour thus far, \u201cThe first show was around L.A. and my son who\u2019s seventeen got to come to the show and he\u2019d never seen me live before, because the ex-devil-wife never let him. I mean all those years in Marilyn Manson and all these other tours that I\u2019ve done, he never got to go. He got a chance to come to the show and he freaked out, he lost his mind. He got in the pit and everything!\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a tangible moment of connectivity and joy as he recounts this memory of his son moshing in front of him. Following a path down memory lane, I ask, \u201cWho\u2019s been your favorite tour collaborator?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m friends with everybody. But it\u2019s always fun to tour with these bands. Even out of the business, I\u2019m friends with Kerry King and we did that Slayer tour, the Megadeth guys, Alice Cooper and Marilyn Manson. We\u2019ve had really good luck on all these tours. It is a very small world and a small music business, too. So it\u2019s good to be friends with everybody because you\u2019re probably going to tour with them eventually. Whatever I\u2019m doing I try to enjoy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet sharing a stage with Alice Cooper was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes of course. At that time I was really getting into Alice and I read his book, so it was really fun to be on the road and see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is John 5\u2019s eighth year of being the guitarist for Rob Zombie, so I was compelled to ask about his favorite part about joining such an industrious project. \u201cWell, first, I love playing the songs. I think that\u2019s really imperative. And then, being great friends with them. It\u2019s almost like brothers. You grow really close to someone, which is great because it\u2019s no fun being in a band with somebody you can\u2019t get along with. And, luckily, we get along great\u201d he interrupts himself, staring off quizzically, \u201cIs this thing rocking?\u201d he asks, indicating the steady rhythm of the deck we\u2019re aboard \u201cIt totally is, we\u2019re on water\u201d I giggle. He continues, \u201cAnd you know, writing music and everything. I am just in such a great place, I\u2019m really happy and I wouldn\u2019t change it for the world\u201d<\/p>\n

I had one last question for John 5 before I bid him farewell, \u201cSo the Red Hot Chili Peppers do a preshow ritual before they go on, do you guys have anything you do before a set?\u201d His eyes widen, thinking for a moment, \u201cYou know, it\u2019s seems a little demystifying but we kinda just get ready and I sit and play guitar\u2026What do they do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I hear they do a type of meditation circle together before heading on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughs, \u201cWow, that\u2019s crazy. I just sit and play guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell that can be a form of meditation in some ways!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I guess\u2026or masturbation\u201d he mentions casually, leaving me in a state of bewildered amusement and laughing heavily.<\/p>\n

John\u2019s incredible honesty and keen sense of humor made him a pleasure to talk to. As we parted ways, I felt a surge of excitement for Rob Zombie\u2019s show that night and suffice it to say, it did not disappoint. Rob Zombie will lure you into their kaleidoscope world of pentagrams, naked women and phantom strangers, which are sure to please. Check out The Spill\u2019s full review of Mayhem Festival\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and keep on the lookout for Mayhem\u2019s latest tour dates in a town near you!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this very relaxed interview with The Spill Magazine, John 5 talks about what it means to be a member of Rob Zombies band, working on his next solo album (and throws ideas around with the interviewer about who could play as guest), having his son come to see him perform for the first time and much much more. <\/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":[3,1],"tags":[620,13,14,248,346],"class_list":["post-3777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interview","category-news","tag-interview","tag-john-5","tag-rob-zombie","tag-the-lords-of-salem","tag-venomous-rat-regeneration-vendor","tw-post-no-content"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1qFj4-YV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6991,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2018\/03\/03\/john-5-talks-to-in-the-loop-about-touring-kiss-and-the-forthcoming-rob-zombie-album\/","url_meta":{"origin":3777,"position":0},"title":"John 5 talks to In The Loop about touring, KISS and the forthcoming Rob Zombie album","author":"Dillon - Team John 5","date":"March 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"John 5 spoke to In The Loop Magazine ahead of their recent show at Reggies Rock Club in Chicago to discuss touring, his KISS collection and the brand new Rob Zombie album.","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/john-5-in-the-loop.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\/2018\/03\/john-5-in-the-loop.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/john-5-in-the-loop.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":843626,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2022\/04\/19\/interview-john-5-talks-sinner-tips-for-touring-and-new-gigs-with-rob-zombie-via-ghost-cult-mag\/","url_meta":{"origin":3777,"position":1},"title":"[Interview] John 5 talks “Sinner”, tips for touring and new gigs with Rob Zombie – via Ghost Cult Mag.","author":"Dillon - Team John 5","date":"April 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Ghost Cult Magazine chats to John about tour plans, tips for successful touring, his guitar rig, his playing regimen, the upcoming\u00a0\u201cFreaks on Parade\u201d\u00a0with\u00a0\u00a0Rob Zombie\u00a0 \u2013 \u00a0Mudvayne\u00a0\u2013 Static- X\u00a0\u2013 and \u00a0Powerman 5000 !","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"John 5 Ghost Cult Magazine","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/john_5_ghost_cult.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/john_5_ghost_cult.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/john_5_ghost_cult.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/john_5_ghost_cult.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/john_5_ghost_cult.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"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":3777,"position":2},"title":"John 5 speaks to Revolver Mag about MARILYN MANSON, PLAYING FOR PRINCE, NEW ROB ZOMBIE ALBUM & more","author":"Dillon - Team John 5","date":"September 9, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"John 5 speaks to Revolver Magazine about his new album Invasion, Marilyn Manson, the new Rob Zombie album and much more.","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"John 5 Revolver Magazine Interview","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/john-5-revolver-magazine.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\/2019\/09\/john-5-revolver-magazine.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/john-5-revolver-magazine.jpg?fit=550%2C307&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3521,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2013\/06\/03\/john-5-talks-to-pghmusicmag-about-rockstar-mayhem-festival-much-more\/","url_meta":{"origin":3777,"position":3},"title":"John 5 talks to PGHMUSICMAG About Rockstar Mayhem Festival & Much More!","author":"Dillon - Team John 5","date":"June 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Pittsburgh Music Magazine have conducted an audio interview with John 5. Taking time from the pre-Mayhem production work in L.A. John 5 talks about the experience of the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and what Rob Zombie and company have in store and more","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"john-5-interview","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/john-5-interview.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/john-5-interview.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/john-5-interview.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5346,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2016\/02\/17\/j5-talks-solo-tour-new-zombie-record-more-with-pittsburgh-music-mag\/","url_meta":{"origin":3777,"position":4},"title":"J5 TALKS SOLO TOUR, NEW ZOMBIE RECORD, & MORE WITH Pittsburgh Music Mag","author":"Dillon - Team John 5","date":"February 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"John 5 speaks ahead of his March 2016 The Creatures tour to Pittsburgh Music Magazine","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"John 5 Rob Fenn","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/J5-crop-Rob-Fenn.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/J5-crop-Rob-Fenn.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/J5-crop-Rob-Fenn.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3993,"url":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/2013\/11\/21\/watch-john-5-talks-to-metaltitans\/","url_meta":{"origin":3777,"position":5},"title":"[Watch] John 5 talks to MetalTitans","author":"Dillon - Team John 5","date":"November 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Watch this interview with John 5, conducted as Rob Zombie's Great American Nightmare wrapped up earlier this November. MetalTitan's Char Tupper speaks to John about GAN, tattoos, touring smaller venues, working on Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor and a lot more.","rel":"","context":"In "Interview"","block_context":{"text":"Interview","link":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/category\/interview\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Metaltitans John 5","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/metaltitans-j5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/metaltitans-j5.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/metaltitans-j5.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3777"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3777\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/john-5.com\/main\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}