I Heart Guitar blog’s Peter Hodgson recently conducted an interview with JOHN 5 (ROB ZOMBIE/ex-MARILYN MANSON)

In the interview the guitarist talks about his new solo album The Art Of Malice, his tribute to DAVID LEE ROTH, his signature Fender guitars, tentative plans for Rob Zombie to tour Australia in February and more. Read excerpts from the interview below:

I Heart Guitar: Did you start with a concept for The Art Of Malice?

John 5: “Well it was my fifth instrumental record, so it was very special for me. It was something that was… I wanted everything in there. Everything and the kitchen sink. All kinds of music, all bits and pieces going everywhere. Country, heavy rock, metal, acoustic, Spanish flamenco, everything is in there. So I wanted to do it all.”

I Heart Guitar: But I read that with David Lee Roth, when you recorded the DAVID LEE ROTH BAND album, that was only two weeks?

John 5: “Yeah! We recorded and mixed it and everything in two weeks. And it was all done at like six o’clock in the morning, too! I was playing with ROB HALFORD (JUDAS PRIEST) too, so we would rehearse at noon, and Dave would want be before Rob Halford, so we would rehearse at six in the morning. True story!”

I Heart Guitar: Now: guitar talk! The Fender J5 Triple Tele Deluxe is awesome!

John 5: “Thanks! Everybody knows I love my Telecasters. It was the first solidbody electric guitar in 1950, and I just started playing Teles early on in my life, but no-one really played them in rock and metal that much, so I kinda wanted to design them so more people were able to enjoy this incredible instrument. So that’s why I designed the Triple Tele. It’s kind of like the Black Beauty Les Paul. And there’s a lot of chrome on it and it looks amazing and it sounds incredible. But I just put out a Squier version of my main model, and it’s priced to sell. Everyone can afford one of those, and they’re great guitars. You’ll have those forever. I have one with me in the studio. All the guitars Fender produces for me are unbelievable.”

I Heart Guitars: Do you have any plans to come down to Australia any time soon?

John 5: “Actually yes! We might come down there with Zombie in February. I’m hoping, because it’s one of my favourite places in the world, but that plane ride’s a son of a bitch! It’s a long one.”

To read the entire interview go here.