Photos By: Travis Tutwiler
So, let me tell you about seeing guitar ghoul John 5 the other night, Dear Reader. I had been aware of Mr. 5 for some time through his contributions to David Lee Roth’s solo album, DLR (I’m a fan), simply credited as John Lowery in those days, and further membership in the bands of Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie (decidedly not a fan of either). However, I really began to take note of the man and his incendiary guitar-playing through his appearances as guest virtuoso on That Metal Show. At the time and perhaps since, I had never seen/heard guitar pyrotechnics quite like his.
I was lucky enough to have met John 5 a couple years ago on a scorching summer day at some festival, while he was playing with Rob Zombie. He had a scheduled meet-and-greet and I was shocked and chagrined to learn I was a bit late to the party (routinely my fate) and thus had to endure quite a wait in line before I was to be met and greeted. Who knew John 5 had this kind of drawing power?! By the time I got to the guy, I was hailed by a soft-spoken, affable young man in a cowboy hat, with a sculpted beard and aviator sunglasses, smiling and seeming more relaxed than is reasonable. There were no vestiges of his garish onstage persona, for which I was grateful. That’s not exactly my milieu. Feel me? He came across as a shy, unassuming kid from SoCal, which I found refreshing. We chatted for a bit, he autographed my CD, we posed like long-lost friends for a photo and the moment passed, an entry into the personal history book.