Biography
Renowned for his inventive guitar technique and a striking visual aesthetic drawn from horror and pop culture, John 5—born John William Lowery—began as a studio musician before establishing himself as lead guitarist for prominent hard rock acts such as David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, and Rob Zombie. He initiated his solo output in 2004 with Vertigo, the first in a series of inventive instrumental collections that included Devil Knows My Name (2007), God Told Me Too (2012), and Sinner (2021), each highlighting his technical mastery on the instrument. Beyond his own projects, Lowery has composed material for and worked alongside an array of varied performers including Avril Lavigne, Rob Halford, Garbage, Meat Loaf, Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Lowery first took up the guitar at age seven and received the moniker John 5 upon entering Marilyn Manson’s group. After relocating to Los Angeles at eighteen, the adaptable session player—recognized for both his rapid execution and distinctive goth-inspired attire—secured prominent touring positions with Lita Ford and k.d. lang through his earlier soundtrack and commercial recordings produced with Bob Marlette. Further studio engagements followed, encompassing contributions to Rob Halford’s industrial metal outfit Two and to ex-Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth’s The DLR Band album.
Although initially turned down during his first audition for Manson, John 5 received an invitation to join the Rock Is Dead tour after guitarist Zim Zum exited. He completed two albums with the band, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) and The Golden Age of Grotesque, before departing to focus on solo work. His debut solo effort, Vertigo, appeared in 2004; that same year he formed the more radio-accessible group Loser alongside vocalist Joe Grah of Jibe. Songs for Sanity arrived in 2005, coinciding with his collaboration with Rob Zombie of White Zombie for Ozzfest. Lowery played on most tracks of Zombie’s 2006 album Educated Horses and subsequently dissolved Loser to tour with Zombie throughout the following year. His third solo release, Devil Knows My Name, earned acclaim when a Guitar World readers’ poll named it Best Shred Album of the Year.
While preparing albums for Rob Zombie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Filter, Lowery issued his fourth solo collection, Requiem, in June 2008 and supported it with a West Coast Guitar Center retail-chain tour. After completing Hellbilly Deluxe 2 with Zombie, he resumed instrumental writing, resulting in The Art of Malice in May 2010. He returned in 2012 with God Told Me So, which incorporated both acoustic and electric pieces along with a cover of the Michael Jackson hit “Beat It,” and followed that in 2014 with Careful with That Axe, his seventh solo album. Two years later he rejoined Zombie’s band for The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, while a fresh solo instrumental set, Season of Witch, surfaced in 2017. After the 2018 live album It’s Alive and a guest appearance on former Journey singer Steve Perry’s Traces LP, Lowery released Invasion and then the concert follow-up Live Invasion. The year 2021 brought both Rob Zombie’s The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy and Lowery’s own Sinner.
Raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Lowery first took up the guitar at age seven and received the moniker John 5 upon entering Marilyn Manson’s group. After relocating to Los Angeles at eighteen, the adaptable session player—recognized for both his rapid execution and distinctive goth-inspired attire—secured prominent touring positions with Lita Ford and k.d. lang through his earlier soundtrack and commercial recordings produced with Bob Marlette. Further studio engagements followed, encompassing contributions to Rob Halford’s industrial metal outfit Two and to ex-Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth’s The DLR Band album.
Although initially turned down during his first audition for Manson, John 5 received an invitation to join the Rock Is Dead tour after guitarist Zim Zum exited. He completed two albums with the band, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) and The Golden Age of Grotesque, before departing to focus on solo work. His debut solo effort, Vertigo, appeared in 2004; that same year he formed the more radio-accessible group Loser alongside vocalist Joe Grah of Jibe. Songs for Sanity arrived in 2005, coinciding with his collaboration with Rob Zombie of White Zombie for Ozzfest. Lowery played on most tracks of Zombie’s 2006 album Educated Horses and subsequently dissolved Loser to tour with Zombie throughout the following year. His third solo release, Devil Knows My Name, earned acclaim when a Guitar World readers’ poll named it Best Shred Album of the Year.
While preparing albums for Rob Zombie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Filter, Lowery issued his fourth solo collection, Requiem, in June 2008 and supported it with a West Coast Guitar Center retail-chain tour. After completing Hellbilly Deluxe 2 with Zombie, he resumed instrumental writing, resulting in The Art of Malice in May 2010. He returned in 2012 with God Told Me So, which incorporated both acoustic and electric pieces along with a cover of the Michael Jackson hit “Beat It,” and followed that in 2014 with Careful with That Axe, his seventh solo album. Two years later he rejoined Zombie’s band for The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser, while a fresh solo instrumental set, Season of Witch, surfaced in 2017. After the 2018 live album It’s Alive and a guest appearance on former Journey singer Steve Perry’s Traces LP, Lowery released Invasion and then the concert follow-up Live Invasion. The year 2021 brought both Rob Zombie’s The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy and Lowery’s own Sinner.
Albums
Singles
