John 5 / KK’s Steelmill / Wolverhampton
We headed over for the second time in a week to Wolverhampton, and this time to the amazing KK’s Steelmill to catch American guitarist John 5 on his first UK solo tour.
KK’s is a wonderful place, it’s a big black disused warehouse, turned into a music venue. Great sound, great lighting and made for metal !
First up in support is Dan Byrne. I’ve heard so much about him but hadn’t caught him live yet so was excited to see what we got tonight. Dan and his band didn’t disappoint, and delivered a rock solid performance.
With a definate blues element to their sound Dan has an ability to mix hard rocking riffs with catchy chorus sections that engage the Wolverhampton crowd right from the off. The melodies are intricate and powerful and are the perfect backdrop for Dan’s signature vocal style. I was thoroughly impressed with the performance, Dan himself is a dynamic frontman and interacts with ease with the crowd throughout the set. With the likes of Dan Byrne on the scene, the future of British rock is certainly safe !
But now it’s time for tonight’s headliner, John William Lowery. Better known by his stage name of John 5, he is perhaps best known as a guitarist with Rob Zombie and Marylin Manson. John 5 is currently plying his trade with Mötley Crüe.
But tonight in Wolverhampton, it’s all about John 5, and his guitar…..
And the spotlight sits well with him. Known for his technical precision and tone quality John 5, supported only by a drummer delivered a virtuoso performance of rock guitar. Mixing styles and genres, John almost makes hs guitar sing as he transitions from classic riffs to modern rock and back again wowwing everyone in attendance.
As we listen intently to every note and riff, delivered with breathtaking precision, you can clearly identify the influences of metal, bluegrass, rock, classical and folk. John 5 has the uncanny abillity to switch style and sound without you even noticing and blending different genres onto one magical creation.
I particularly enjoyed his performance of Crank It – Living with Ghosts which delivered a harder tone, reminiscent of his work with Rob Zombie, showing that he is equally able to deliver powerful heavy rock as much as the more intricate material. For me it has a decidedly industrial feel and reminds me somewhat of the likes of CombiChrist. By contrast You Me and the Devil Makes Three from the 2025 album “Ghost” has a distinctly bluegrass country vibe going on, and has that toe tappin’ feel you just can’t resist moving to. His fretwork had us all mesmerised.
Another change in direction and tone as we listen to Moon Glow also from “Ghost” which has that New York Speakeasy bar vibe going on. Laid back and almost laconic in style, it just needs a standing bass and you’d be propping up that bar with a bourdon on your hand. Stunning stuff.
If You Me and the Devil Makes Three had us all mesmerised, then some of the riffs in I Am John 5 from 2019’s “Invasion” tipped us over the edge trying to keep up watching his fingerwork. The notes so fast, it sounds like a frantic bee buzzing. Blisteringly fast and intricate in equal measure. There’s a delicious funky untertone to the track too which I loved.
A huge rolling drum intro welcomes us into The Black Grass Plague from 2017’s “Season of the Witch” If the devil ever met a guitar player on his way to Georgia, I’m sure this is the track that would defeat him ! Fast, furious and note perfect.
I’ve seen many great guitarists live Satriani, Bonamassa, Vai…. But none have made me feel quite like John 5. The intricacy, the intensity and precision are matched by a perfect tone and technical ability, but what impresses most is his ability to switch genre and move with ease from delicate to raucous in an instant, and et maintain your attention throughout.
And this variety is what makes a night spent in the company of John 5 so special. If you get the chance…….. go see him !
