Although widely known as Rob Zombie’s guitarist for the last 14 years, and Marilyn Manson’s before that, John 5 has garnered many fans during his solo career, having recorded eight instrumental albums with one in the works. When not on the road with Rob Zombie, the guitarist tours in his band John 5 and the Creatures.
Nearing the end of the North American Invasion 2019 tour, John 5 and the Creatures and Jared James Nichols played to a packed Parish House at Anaheim House of Blues. Nichols opened his set up “Last Chance,” a hard, guitar-driven number, and it became apparent that there were stark differences in appearance and musical style between the two bands.
The denim-clad Nichols, who resembles Ted Nugent from his Amboy Dukes days, sang and played his guitar with a spirited, heavy blues style. Accompanied by Ronnie Elvis James on bass and Dennis Holm on drums—both amazing musicians—Nichols clinched the deal with a toe-curling version of Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen.”
John 5, bassist Ian Ross, and drummer Logan Miles Nix took the stage (which was decked in horror movie props) and aptly began with “Season of the Witch.” John 5, on a pedestal center stage, was gowned in a white smock with pieces of feather boa, and wearing ghoulish face painting the neon-saturated light.
The guitarist played one rock genre-defying solo after another, on guitar, on banjo, and on mandolin. The Creatures, Ross and Nix (who were both dressed in normal clothing), provided a rhythmic platform for John 5’s virtuosic playing.
Covering older and more recent material from his solo album catalog, John 5 used several different guitars, showing the crowd the chops that set him apart from many guitarists in the business.
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Photos by Charlie Steffens
