JOHN 5

Basic Information:

Born: John William Lowery
Instrument (s): Guitar
D.O.B: July 31, 1971
Birth Place: Grosse Point, Michigan
Name Origin: Two reasons have been given: 1) Bible reference 2) Fifth member of band

This is a condensed version of the biography that appears on www.john-5.com (the official John 5 website). This is used with permission.

EARLY YEARS

John 5 has one of the most impressive resumes in rock. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry and is known as one of the best modern shredders today.

John 5 was born John Lowery, in Grosse Point Michigan. He started playing guitar at the age of seven, inspired by saturday morning TV show Hee Haw: "I didn't know any...musical genres. I was just in awe of the players". (2) His parents were supportive of his learning and permitted him to play in bars and clubs on the condition that he kept his grades up. Aged 18, John moved to California to pursue a career as a professional session guitarist.

LA WORKING

John began working on a number of projects for producer Bob Marlette, including TV shows, commercials and film soundtracks. This in turn saw a major break with Lita Ford, opening up with her in support of KISS. John then met Ozzy Osbourne drummer Randy Castillo and formed "Red Square Black". However, RSB was a short-lived project after John was selected from 2000 guitarists to tour with KD Lang.

In 1996, John narrowly missed out on an audition with Marilyn Manson following the departure of original guitarist Daisy Berkowitz. John teamed up with Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and formed industrial/classic rock band "2wo" (Two). John's next project came in 1998 when he teamed up with ex Van Halen front man Dave Lee Roth. John wrote six tracks and submitted them to Roth's manager. Familiar to the style Roth played John used this to help write "The DLR Band" album in the space of two weeks.

THE MANSON YEARS

In 1998 John was asked to lunch by Marilyn Manson: "...he asked me to join the band - right there". (4) The name John 5 bestowed on him that day, John joined Manson et al, for the Rock is Dead tour. Following the tragic events of April 1999, at Columbine High School, the group began work on "Holywood: In The Shadow of the Valley of Death", an angry response to the media witch-hunt the band suffered, and was the first album John wrote on.

During this time, John also continued working a session guitarist contributing works to several albums, including the Jimi Hendrix Tribute album "Hazy Days" and reuniting with Dave Lee Roth for the track "Thug Pop".

In 2003, John released his first custom guitar - The John Lowery Signature Fender Telecaster. Guitarist Magazine called it "the sexiest new signature guitar on the market". 2003 also saw the release of Marilyn Manson's The Golden Age of Grotesque.

PARTING WAYS

In 2004, John 5 and Marilyn Manson parted company. "I had a great run with Marilyn Manson. It was a lot of fun [but now] I'm busier...than I was on tour". (5) Work began in earnest on Vertigo, a deeply autobiographical album pulled from turbulent personal memories on the last Manson tour

John also began working on a new "radio rock project" Loser, comprising the vocal talents of Joe Grah, formerly of Texas band Jibe. Added to that, John began working with cult rock artist and movie director, Rob Zombie. John joined Rob for 2005's Ozzfest tour: "[I] never thought I would have the chance to share the stage with him playing the Zombie songs we all know and love". (8)

In 2005 John releasied Songs For Sanity, a second solo album, grittier than the first: Guesting on the album were Steve Vai and Albert Lee.

Work with Rob Zombie continued and John contributed to eight out of eleven tracks on 2006's Educated Horses. Due to conflicting commitments with Zonbie and Loser, John had to make a hard decision: "Being the founding member of Loser, my decision to leave was not an easy one." (10) Touring continued with Zombie and John also contributed works to Meatloaf, Paul Stanley and FeFe Dobson.

After touring for almost a year, John took time out to begin work on his third solo album. The album sees contributions from Joe Satriani and Jim Root.