by John 5 recently opened up about leaving David Lee Roth’s band to join Marilyn Manson. He shared details about Roth’s surprisingly supportive reaction during an appearance on The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan.
The guitarist recalled the difficult decision he faced when Marilyn Manson’s camp reached out to him while he was preparing to tour with Roth.
“Well, here’s the thing. Dave said, ‘Come over. Come over to the house. We’re going to practice some moves like you’re going to like crouch down. I’m going to kick over you.’ And I was like, ‘Like in the Panama video?’ and he’s like ‘Exactly.’ I’m like, ‘This is the greatest thing ever.’ And I feel bad about this. It’s even kind of hard to talk about. And then I get a call from Marilyn Manson camp,” John 5 said.
John 5 chose to join Manson’s band despite the timing. This decision could have damaged his relationship with Roth.
“I couldn’t do the live shows with Roth. Satan called. But I couldn’t do the live shows. I joined Manson. And I loved Manson. He understood. And I remember, cuz he’s a smart guy. He’s very smart, but he was very supportive. It’s just like he’s very rational, smart, smart, smart person,” he continued.
John 5 also revealed that he sought advice from Gene Simmons before making his final decision.
“I remember calling Gene and I’m, you know, you know, Gene and I said, ‘Gene, what should I do? should I join Manson or stay with Roth?’ And he goes, ‘Join Manson.’ It was Mechanical Animals just coming out. And that’s what I did. And I felt bad, but me and Dave are still great friends today. He’s always been so kind,” he added.
The 1998 decision marked a pivotal turning point in John 5’s career. It launched him into a new chapter with one of rock’s most controversial acts.
Wikipedia reported that John 5, whose real name is John Lowery, joined Marilyn Manson after the completion of the Mechanical Animals album when Manson needed a new live guitarist following the departure of Zim Zum. Marilyn Manson himself gave the guitarist his iconic stage name “John 5,” reflecting both a Biblical reference and his status as the fifth member of Manson’s band.
John 5’s tenure with Marilyn Manson lasted from 1998 to 2004. During this period, he toured extensively in support of Mechanical Animals during the Rock Is Dead tour. Reunion Blues noted that he contributed to the Grammy-nominated track “Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes.” He helped shape the live performances with his distinctive guitar style under the elaborate stage persona Manson cultivated for his band at that time.
The guitarist’s career continued to flourish after leaving Marilyn Manson. John 5’s official website detailed that he joined Rob Zombie’s band in 2005, where he stayed until 2022. He co-wrote multiple albums and diversified his musical career with over ten solo studio albums spanning various styles from 2004 to 2021.
John 5’s career has come full circle in recent years. He became Mötley Crüe’s guitarist in 2022, continuing into full membership in 2023. This cemented his status as one of rock’s most sought-after guitarists. His vast collaborations with numerous rock and metal acts, combined with his successful solo career, demonstrate that Gene Simmons’ advice to join Marilyn Manson ultimately set him on a path to becoming one of the most prolific guitarists in modern rock history.
