JOHN 5 reveals how ROB ZOMBIE responded to him joining MÖTLEY CRÜE | Revolver

JOHN 5 reveals how ROB ZOMBIE responded to him joining MÖTLEY CRÜE

They haven't spoken since
rob zombie john 5, Tim Mosenfelder / Contributor
Rob Zombie and John 5, Monster Energy Aftershock Music Festival, Sacramento, California, September 14, 2014
photograph by Tim Mosenfelder / Contributor

Last year, John 5 was given the biggest opportunity of his career when he was called up to become Mötley Crüe's new touring guitarist, replacing founding axman Mick Mars, who was retiring from touring and is now also out of the band entirely. 

For almost 20 years, 5 was the lead guitarist for Rob Zombie's backing band (who he joined after a years-long stint with Marilyn Manson), and he'd also built up a prolific solo discography of his own.

However, the chance to join glam-metal titans Mötley Crüe was by far the most high-profile offer he'd ever received, and in a new interview on Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, 5 said that he accepted the job before telling Zombie, and that he hasn't spoken with his former bandleader since. 

"I talked to Rob, and he understood. Rob is a smart, rational person. I mean, he wasn't psyched, but he understood," 5 said about joining the Crüe, as transcribed by Blabbermouth. "And I think that was amazing of him. And he was just, like, 'Go get 'em.' He was fine about it. And then they got [Mike] Riggs, who I think is a great addition. That's who he was using when Rob did the early solo records, and I think it's a great addition. And they're kicking ass."

5 went on to say that he agreed to join Mötley Crüe before he actually had a conversation with Zombie about it, but that he made sure to tell the "Dragula" singer before the news leaked out into the press.

"I told Rob before it got out in the press," 5 said. "But I agreed to Nikki. And I called Rob and I said, 'This is what's happening.' And we did a show, Louder Than Life, together, and that was my last show [with Zombie] in Kentucky. And then they got Riggs and were rehearsing with him and did the Aftershock show. And then it was announced — my time frame is not great, but then I believe it was announced a little bit after that.

"But it was no bad blood or anything; it wasn't anything bad; it wasn't dramatic or anything. And Rob was super cool. He was, like, 'Hey, I get it.' He was cool about it."

Even so, 5 also mentioned that he hasn't spoken to Zombie since leaving his band, but that he hopes they're still on good terms and would hate to lose that relationship. 

"To be honest, I haven't [spoken to him], and I miss talking with him and texting with him. I'm more worried about him not texting me back or not replying. I think that would really break my heart. That's the thing. I think I'd be really bummed out about that. But I haven't. To answer your question, no, I haven't."