John 5, the acclaimed guitarist, recently opened up about his approach to performing Mötley Crüe songs originally played by Mick Mars. In an interview with Red Monkey Designs, John 5 discussed his commitment to faithfully recreating the sound of these iconic tracks, ensuring that fans hear the songs just as they remember them.
When reflecting on his process, John 5 explained that his goal was to replicate the recordings as closely as possible. For him, it’s important to preserve the authenticity of the music that fans have known and loved for years.
“So when I started really dissecting the Mötley Crüe stuff, I wanted it to play exactly what was on the record,” John 5 said. “And because the reason why is you and me, we listen to these, we’ve listened to these songs our whole lives. So we’ve heard it one way. So when there is something different, it kind of makes you go, ‘Oh,’ and it kind of throws you a little bit, but I like playing them exactly how they’ve were written and recorded.”
John 5’s dedication to playing the songs as they were originally written is a reflection of his respect for Mötley Crüe’s musical legacy. He recognizes how deeply connected fans are to these tracks and aims to keep that connection intact by staying true to the original recordings.
Further delving into his technical approach, John 5 discussed the importance of maintaining the clean guitar tones that characterized the original recordings.
“Now, if you break down like if you listen and you can listen to this on YouTube, like guitars only, like ‘Wild Side’ guitars only, those guitars are pretty clean,” he continued. “If you listen to the real recording, they’re pretty clean. So, I just I’ve always tried to play exactly what is on the record and execute it just like as clean as possible cuz people are all recording.”
This focus on clean execution shows John 5’s technical prowess and his commitment to delivering the most authentic performance possible. For him, every note matters, especially when fans have easy access to recordings of live shows through their phones.
In fact, John 5 addressed the modern trend of fan recordings, expressing his appreciation for fans capturing live performances. He explained that this reality has made him even more conscious of delivering high-quality performances.
“They’re recording with their phones, which I love. I support that. I love when people record the shows on their phones because the reason why with that I’m going on that subject a little bit is, you know, people might not have the money to go to a show. They might be not well,” he said. “That’s why I like to play as clean as possible for cuz it’s everything’s being recorded. So, and I want to do these songs justice, what they deserve.”
John 5’s support for fan recordings underscores his dedication to ensuring every performance is up to the highest standard, knowing that fans might want to revisit those moments in the future.
He further compared his approach to reading sheet music, emphasizing that respect for the original compositions is paramount.
“If you see a piece of sheet music, that’s what is supposed to be, that’s what was written,” he explained. “So, like who am I to like go, ‘Oh, well, I’m going to change this.’ Well, no, because that’s how it was written. You know, if I do songs like that I’ve worked on with Mötley, that’s different.”
John 5’s approach to Mötley Crüe’s music speaks volumes about his dedication to the integrity of the original material. It’s clear that he values the legacy of the band and wants to present their songs in the most faithful and respectful way possible.
Beyond his studio work, John 5’s commitment to preserving the essence of Mötley Crüe’s music extends into his live performances and his ongoing musical projects. His respect for the music is evident, and his fans can count on hearing the iconic Mötley Crüe sound just as they remember it.
