“I’m Ashamed to Say…”: Sophie Lloyd’s shocking Confession About John 5

sophie and john

In a recent Guitar World interview, guitarist Sophie Lloyd opened up about the legends who have influenced her playing style, listing icons like Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour, Slash, and Mötley Crüe’s John 5. Among her inspirations, Lloyd confessed her late discovery of John 5’s talent and shared how he left a lasting impression.

“I’m kind of ashamed to say I discovered John 5 relatively recently,” Lloyd admitted. “I’m a Mötley Crüe fan, and when I saw he’d joined the band, I started researching him. Last year, while touring with Machine Gun Kelly, we played a lot of festivals alongside Mötley Crüe. Watching their performances from the side of the stage was incredible—John 5 is one of the most phenomenal live guitarists I’ve ever heard.”

Lloyd highlighted John 5’s unique blend of technical skill and stage presence, noting how his ability to captivate an audience goes beyond just playing guitar. “His showmanship is something I really took from him,” she explained. “A lot of people can play guitar really well, but he understands that presentation and energy matter just as much. He’s got this crazy light-up guitar, and those touches really make a difference in a live setting. It gives the audience something to talk about. The fun and energy he brings to his performances are so inspiring—it all just looks like so much fun!”

A Personal Connection to Mötley Crüe

Lloyd’s admiration for Mötley Crüe extends beyond her respect for John 5. She revealed that the band’s fifth studio album, Dr. Feelgood, played a pivotal role in her musical journey.

“‘Kickstart My Heart’ was one of the first songs I learned to play,” Lloyd shared in an interview with Metal Hammer. “Not that I played it very well—I was 14 and just trying! I’d invite people to my room to listen to me play it on my little Line 6 Spider amp. I even performed it at a rock band camp in front of all the parents.”

Fast forward thirteen years, and Lloyd paid homage to the band that inspired her early days by covering “Kickstart My Heart” and sharing it on her YouTube channel. Reflecting on the experience of meeting Mötley Crüe and watching them perform side-stage during her recent tour, she described it as a full-circle moment in her career.

From bedroom practice sessions to sharing the stage with her heroes, Sophie Lloyd’s journey exemplifies how musical idols can shape and inspire a guitarist’s evolution.

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