by John 5 recently opened up about Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil’s remarkable perseverance during their Las Vegas residency. He shared heartfelt praise in an interview with WRIF.
The guitarist expressed his excitement about the residency while highlighting the challenges Neil overcame to deliver outstanding performances night after night.
“So, here’s the thing: I was so excited for it, ’cause I’ve never done a residency,” John 5 said. “And I’ve always wanted to do a residency. I love Vegas. I love the desert. And I was so excited. I was so excited.”
John 5 then shifted focus to what he described as the “real magic” of the residency—Vince Neil’s determination despite serious health struggles.
“The real magic was Vince Neil,” he continued. “What he went through and his struggles and how he performed and how he sang, I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life. He did such a great job, and I was so proud of him because I knew what hell he went through, and I was so happy for the guy.”
The guitarist revealed the severity of Neil’s physical challenges. He noted that the singer had to relearn basic mobility.
“What he said — he even said it — he was in a wheelchair and then he had to learn how to walk again,” John 5 explained. “And I was, like, ‘Oh my God.’ The struggle and how terrifying that must have been. So that was the real magic of that residency.”
John 5 concluded by defending the quality of every performance. He addressed critics who may have questioned the shows.
“And I’m telling you right now — every single show was amazing,” he stated. “There wasn’t a bad show. And I listen and I read those comments and I listen and I’m so focused in on every show. And every show was awesome. I was so proud of him.”
The comments offer rare insight into the behind-the-scenes challenges faced during the high-profile Las Vegas residency and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Neil’s recovery.
Fox News reported that Vince Neil suffered a severe stroke in December 2024 that left his entire left side paralyzed. The medical emergency forced him to spend nearly a year relearning to walk. He progressed from needing to be carried, to a wheelchair, then a walker and cane, and finally regaining nearly full mobility at 90-95% of his previous level.
Doctors initially doubted Neil would ever perform on stage again. However, after extensive physical therapy at his Nashville home, Neil defied those expectations. He returned to perform as Mötley Crüe resumed their postponed Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM in fall 2025.
As American Songwriter detailed, Neil described the recovery process as a “full-time job.” He credited his therapeutic regimen and mindset for his comeback to performing. “I’m gonna do it. Watch and see,” Neil said about his determination to return to the stage.
The band had to cancel and postpone residency shows to accommodate Neil’s medical needs and rehabilitation schedule. John 5, who joined Mötley Crüe as guitarist during this Las Vegas residency, witnessed firsthand Neil’s resilience and the personal challenges the frontman faced during rehearsals and offstage moments. This provided him with unique insight into the recovery journey that made each performance even more meaningful.
