Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe recently opened up about how the addition of John 5 as the band’s new guitarist has revitalized the group. Describing John 5 as both reliable and adaptable, Sixx emphasized how fortunate they’ve been to welcome the guitarist, known for his past work with Rob Zombie.
John 5’s impact has been so profound that even Mick Mars, despite the ongoing legal dispute with his former bandmates, acknowledged the positive change brought by the new recruit.
John 5’s connection to Mötley Crüe runs deep. Not only is he a longtime friend of Sixx, but he’s also a lifelong fan of the band, making him an ideal fit for the veteran rockers. His arrival seems to have reinvigorated the group, which turns 44 next January. Together, they’ve even released a new EP, Cancelled, with John 5’s fresh riffs driving the music forward.
However, this isn’t the first time Sixx and John 5 have collaborated. The two had previously worked on hits like “Lies of the Beautiful People” for Sixx: A.M. and contributed to the titular track for Mötley Crüe’s biopic, The Dirt. Speaking to Bass Player, Sixx expressed how comfortable he feels sharing the stage with John 5:
“His precision on stage is so comforting to me. I know John has got it on lock no matter what. That feels great. I love being in a band with him. He’s a great guy – we’re very fortunate.”
Sixx also highlighted John 5’s impressive ability to adapt during songwriting sessions, blending seamlessly into the band’s sound while introducing new ideas. Recalling their work on Cancelled, Sixx mentioned John 5’s knack for enhancing the creative process:
“I’m a person who has a pretty clear vision, at least starting out – in a band, sometimes it gets diluted or added to, just by team effort. You could be the greatest quarterback in the world, but if you don’t have a good team, you’re going to get fucking sacked every time.”
He continued: “What I love about John is he’s really good at adapting to the room. On the song ‘Cancelled’, we were working on some cool riffs, and he would bring in these ideas that went on top.”
Despite their years of friendship, Sixx admitted he only recently learned how deeply John 5 admired Mötley Crüe. Reflecting on this, Sixx shared that John 5’s enthusiasm for the band’s music has been eye-opening:
“I wasn’t aware he was a big fan for all the years we knew each other. I knew he liked the band, but I didn’t know he knew our catalog so deeply. He’ll mention songs to me – like the lyrics from ‘Louder than Hell‘ – and say, ‘Man, those are genius.’ I’m like, ‘That’s 1985! That’s amazing!'”
John 5’s ability to both respect Mötley Crüe’s legacy and push their sound forward has made him a perfect fit for the band. As Sixx put it, John 5 can both stay grounded in their signature sound and “go off the rails” when the music calls for it—showcasing a balance that has brought new life to Mötley Crüe.
