John 5
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| - | At the young age of 7, Little John knew that music and | + | At the young age of 7, Little John knew that music and him were deeply bound. Everything started when John was watching a TV show with his father, called Hew Haw where he saw a young kid playing banjo, blowing up people's mind with his skills. In the same year John got his first rock album from whom would become one of his favourite artists and huge influence, we are talking about Love Gun from KISS and in the Christmas of that year, Little John got his first electric guitar, from that day he practiced and practiced to become a better guitar player. He knew back then that we wanted to become a musician. His parents approved his decision and helped him, however they could, but only if John didn't stop getting good grades at school. They also accompanied him to adult bars so he could play. And at the age of 12, with his band Dirty Trixx in a small bar in Michigan, John gave his first gig. |
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| - | With 17 years old, John moved to L.A | + | With 17 years old, John moved to L.A. That decision was one of the most important that he made because that way he managed to arrange a meeting with [[Rudy Sarzo]] from [[Whitesnake]]/[[Quiet Riot]] and the producer Bob Marlette, who both help him somehow enter in the music world, making him get some real exposure. |
Revision as of 12:06, 19 December 2010
Contents |
Brief Synopsis
John William Lowery (born July 31, 1971 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan), better known by his stage name John 5, is an American guitarist. He's known for being the guitarist of bands such as David Lee Roth Band, 2wo, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Loser and Red Square Black. He is also a solo artist having recorded five guitar albums so far: Vertigo(2004), Songs for Sanity(2005), The Devil Knows My Name(2007), Requiem(2008) and The Art of Malice (2010) and works as staff writer for Chrysalis Recods, working with artists such as Rob Halford, Meat Loaf, Scorpions and Lynyrd Skynyrd among others.
Early Life
At the young age of 7, Little John knew that music and him were deeply bound. Everything started when John was watching a TV show with his father, called Hew Haw where he saw a young kid playing banjo, blowing up people's mind with his skills. In the same year John got his first rock album from whom would become one of his favourite artists and huge influence, we are talking about Love Gun from KISS and in the Christmas of that year, Little John got his first electric guitar, from that day he practiced and practiced to become a better guitar player. He knew back then that we wanted to become a musician. His parents approved his decision and helped him, however they could, but only if John didn't stop getting good grades at school. They also accompanied him to adult bars so he could play. And at the age of 12, with his band Dirty Trixx in a small bar in Michigan, John gave his first gig.
Professional Career
With 17 years old, John moved to L.A. That decision was one of the most important that he made because that way he managed to arrange a meeting with Rudy Sarzo from Whitesnake/Quiet Riot and the producer Bob Marlette, who both help him somehow enter in the music world, making him get some real exposure.
After that John started a short-lived project called Red Square Black with Randy Castillo ( Ozzy Osbourne drummer at the time). but the band was soon disbanded as John was picked from 2000 guitarists to play with K.D lang on tour.
In 1996, John went to his first audition with Marilyn Manson, but narrowly missed, he was late to the audition and so Mike Linto, who become later known as Zim Zum took the guitarist role.
Instead, John joined forces with Rob Halford along with Sid Riggs, James Wooley and Ray Riendeua and started a project called2wo, all trough they only lasted two year before disbanding, they released an album in 1998 called Voyeurs. The album itself was not a commercial hit, but did produce one video, made by adult homosexual film director Chi Chi Larue for their first single I'm a Pig.
The band embarked on a world tour, and were part of Ozzfest, but the tour was cancelled and the band head up disbanding.
In 1998, John team up with David Lee Roth (ex-Van Halen) for his solo project album called The DLR Band. Roth invited John to write with him in 2003 and the track Thug Pop from Diamond Dave was written.
After the recording of Mechanical Animals, Marilyn Manson was once more looking for a guitarist to replace Zim Zum who had been dismissed from the band during the recording process. Again John tried an audiction, lucky this time didn't get late, he meet Manson on a lunch, who asked John to join the band. In 2004 Lowery and Manson parted company, the two came to a mutual agreement that they wanted to go in separate ways.
In 2005 John formed the band Loser. Recruiting vocalist Joe Grah, Charles Lee on bass and Glendon Crain on drums, they soon began working on their debut album Just Like you. The band earn an initial success when the song Disposable Sunshine became part of the Fantasitc Four soundtrack.
At the same time John was working with Rob Zombie and the worse happened, he just couldn't be at two times at the same time while Loser and Rob Zombie were touring at the same time, so he started to looked for a player to replace him on gigs that he couldn't manage to play. However, even with promo material for the debut album out and a release date, Island Record didn't like and dropped the band from the label, this was a difficult decision for John since he was the founder member, but the working conflicts were just to much, so Loser was disband.
Solo Career
After departing from Manson in 2004, John released his first Solo album called Vertido, this album showed us traces from music genres such as Country and Heavy Metal, also John took advantage of his Gothic visual and song names( that were reference to serial killers, etc etc), mixing a funny and a horrifying atmosphere creating a unique feeling.
Following this line, John released in 2005 Songs for Sanity, this album had the exclusive participation of the virtuoso guitarist Steve Vai.
In 2007, John released his 3º Solo Album, The Devil Knowns My Name, counting with guest guitarists such as, Satriani, Jim Root from Sliknot and Eric Johnson, this album also had the participation of Rob Zombie band members.
In 2008 John, released his 4º album, in this album John played both guitar and the bass, having Tomy Clufetos on the drums.
2009, John released a remix album, the cover of the album is a tribute to 3º and last album of Jimi Hendrix. in 2010 Rob released his 2º album with John, entitle of Hellbily Deluxe 2, in the same year John recorded his 5º album The Art of Malice.
Signature Gear
Model Name J5 Triple Tele® Deluxe
Model Number 013-0050-(306)
Series Artist Series
Colors (306) Black, (Polyester Finish)
Body Alder
Neck Maple, ‘60s “C” Shape, (Gloss Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 12” Radius (305mm)
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Pickups:
3 Chrome Covered Enforcer™ “Wide Range”
Humbucking Pickups (Neck, Middle and Bridge)
Controls Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Machine Heads Fender®/Schaller® Vintage “F” Style Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome: Pickguard 1-Ply Chrome Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm) Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
Model Name J5 Telecaster®
Model Number 015-5000-(806)
Series Custom Artist Series
Colors (806) Black, (Polyurethane Finish)
Body Premium Ash
Neck Maple, Modern “C” Shape, (Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 12″ Radius (305mm)
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Pickups: 3 Chrome Covered Enforcer™ “Wide Range” Humbucking Pickups (Neck, Middle and Bridge)
Controls Volume (Neck Pickup), Volume (Bridge Pickup)
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge American Tele 6-Saddle Humbucker Bridge
Machine Heads Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome: Pickguard 1-Ply Chrome Scale Length 25.5″ (648 mm) Width at Nut 1.6875″ (43 mm)
Model Name J5 Bigsby® Telecaster®
Model Number 015-5500-(806)
Series Custom Artist Series
Colors 806) Black, (Polyurethane Finish)
Body Premium Ash
Neck Maple, Modern “C” Shape, (Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 12″ Radius (305mm)
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Pickups: 1 Custom Shop “Twisted” Tele® Single-Coil (Neck), 1 Seymour® Duncan Hot Rails™ Humbucking Pickup (Bridge)
Controls Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups Position 3. Neck Pickup
Bridge 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge with Fender Bigsby® Vibrato Tailpiece
Machine Heads Fender®/Schaller® Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking Tuning Machines
Hardware Chrome: Pickguard 1-Ply Chrome Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm) Width at Nut 1.6875” (43 mm)
Model Name J5
Model Number 095-8801-006
Series Artist Signature Series
Colors (006) Black
Body Style Super Folk Cutaway Acoustic / Electric
Finish Gloss, (Polyurethane)
Top Solid Spruce
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo Frets
Bracing X Bracing
Back and Sides Laminated Premium Mahogany
Neck Mahogany
Fingerboard Rosewood
Bridge Rosewood with Compensated Saddle
Machine Heads: Black, (Die-Cast) Electronics Fender/Fishman® Classic 4T™ Pickup System with Active On-Board Pre-Amp which Features: Integrated Electronic Tuner with On/Off Switch, Volume,
Electronics: Bass, Mid, Treble, Body (Mid-Sweep), Low Battery Indicator Light
Scale Length 25.3″ (643mm) Body Depth 3.3″ (Front), 3.58″ (Rear) Width at Nut 1.69″ (43mm) Width at Heel 2.24″ (57mm)
40 amazing presets by John 5 himself
Zoom ZFX-3 24-bit/96KHz digital multi-effects processor
40kHz frequency response
Built-in drum machine and harmonized pitch shifter
54 effects types / 8 modules
80 patches (40 signature sounds and 40 user defined)
Operates on 4 AA batteries or included AC power adapter
Includes a custom poster, patch list, specially designed pick and a greeting card from the artist
Style
It's hard to describe his style, for exemple in some songs you may thing, "oh a country guitarist", 30 seconds later he's playing full metal riff, making him a hell of a verstail guitarist going to metal chaging to country passing to Bluegrass mixing somehow with Avent-grade. So here are some track of his albuns solo.
Ps: if you wanna see some really sherd stuff i recommend you listen to "Scavenger's daughter"
Discography & Bands Chronology
Solo ( 2004 - present)
Albums:
2004: Vertigo
2005: Songs for Sanity
2007: The Devil Knows My Name
2008: Requiem
2009: Remixploitation (Remix album)
2010: The Art of Malice
DVD's:
2004: God is Closed Vol. 1 (2004, bonus disc for Japanese release of Vertigo)
2007: The Devil Knows My Name (instructional DVD)
2008: IMV Behind the Player (instructional DVD with Tommy Clufetos, on which John 5 appears)
Loser (2005-2006)
Albums:
2006: Just Like You Unreleased
Marilyn Manson (1998-2004)
Albums:
1998: Mechanical Animals (1998, credited as live guitarist)
1999: The Last Tour On Earth (1999, live album)
2000: Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)
2003: The Golden Age of Grotesque
2004: Lest We Forget (album released in 2004 after John 5's departure; he is thanked in the album credits)
DVD & VHS
1999: God is in the TV
2002: Guns, God and Government
2003: Doppelherz (2003, released as a The Golden Age of Grotesque bonus DVD)
Rob Zombie(2005-present)
Album:
2006: Educated Horses
2007: Zombie Live
2010: Hellbilly Deluxe 2
DVD
2005: Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest 10th Anniversary
2wo(1996-1998)
Album:
1998: Voyeurs
David Lee Roth(1998-2003)
Album:
1998: DLR Band
2003: Diamond Dave ( co-wrote "Thug Pop")
Paul Stanley(2006)
Album:
2006: Live to Win (co-wrote "Where Angels Dare")
Original Posted by - MonkeyDAthos
