“I wouldn’t wanna do anything else on Halloween but perform.”
When guitarist John 5 hits the stage in Orlando Halloween night, it won’t just be just another stop on his tour with Richie Kotzen; it’ll be a full-blown monster mash of metal and melody.
“I really love being on the road,” John 5 tells Orlando Weekly. “You know, a lot of people aren’t cut out for it, but I just really, really enjoy it. It’s super relaxing.”
This fall’s co-headlining Ghost tour is his latest solo adventure, showcasing songs from his 11th studio album, Ghost, an entirely instrumental outing that blends horror-inspired aesthetics with virtuosic guitar work.
“I have a guitar that came out a couple of years ago called the Ghost,” John 5 explains. “It’s all white, beautiful and it just fits me perfectly. And it’s attributed to the guitar, but also we all live with ghosts, and we don’t even really know it. It is like we’re surrounded by ghosts, so it just felt like the right title.”
The Ghost record, like much of John 5’s work, moves between genres with eerie ease — from jazz and rock to blues, country twang and straight-up metal.
“There’s an amalgamation of all these different styles of music,” John 5 says. “We’re incorporating that in the show too, and recording all these concerts. I want to put out a live album called A Live Ghost. We’re going to record a bunch on Halloween, so that’ll be special.”
For John 5, both a solo artist and an in-demand sideman with sundry grisly metal acts, there’s no better time to tour than around Halloween. His lifelong love of classic Universal horror movies, from Frankenstein to The Creature From the Black Lagoon, is woven through music.
“I remember having a little Frankenstein doll when I was five,” John 5 recalls. “I loved all those Universal movies: Dracula, The Wolf Man, The Mummy. That love never goes away. I incorporate that in my show, and it really is a perfect time for me to tour around Halloween because it just fits so perfectly. The fans eat it up. It’s still with me today; nothing really has changed since I was a little kid. ”
The Halloween show in Orlando is personal for the axman, too.
“My kids live in Florida, so it’s gonna be a wonderful experience. I’m looking forward to that show more than any show on the whole tour,” he says.
His admiration for horror runs deep and seeps into his shows, where visuals and lightning-fast riffs create a creature between a rock concert and a haunted house.
“I love The Shining, Carrie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist,” John 5 says. “Those really stand the test of time, and that’s what is difficult with horror movies. They’ll always be relevant.”
Despite his macabre inspirations, John 5’s work ethic is as disciplined as it is daring. With Ghost, he recorded the album live in the studio, no studio stitching or endless edits.
“I loved it,” he says. “I don’t have a home studio, so I just love to get things down so you don’t even have to think. And that’s how musicians were like back in the day. Just rehearsing these songs before I go into the studio, and it really helps you be a better musician.”
That same dedication shows up onstage and even in his daily routine.
“I am very health-conscious all the time but especially on the road,” John 5 explains. “I try to go to bed around the same time every night because getting sleep is the most important thing you can do, eat right, and take vitamins. It’s not the rock & roll answer people expect, but it’s true. That’s how I stay ready for 50 shows in a row.”
Between Ghost and his time with Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie and Mötley Crüe, John 5’s career continues to evolve without losing its spark.
“It was one of the best touring experiences of my life, and to get to play with the guys and play those great songs, I don’t know if that’ll ever be topped,” John 5 says of his time with the Crüe in particular. “It was just so much fun.”
John 5 started touring in 1994, at the age of 24. Next year, he’ll be embarking on a 50-show, 50-state tour — with no days off — slated to begin in Alaska in October. But, still, his focus remains on evolution.
“I am always trying to improve,” he explains. “A lot of people get comfortable, but I’m always learning and doing research and getting as good as possible.”
For John 5, Halloween night in Orlando is a celebration of everything that’s shaped him: the monsters, the music and the magic of doing what he loves most.
“I’m so lucky and I’m so fortunate to be doing what I am doing. I think that’s the meaning of life — doing what you love — and luckily that’s what I’m doing,” he says.
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This article appears in Oct. 29–Nov. 4, 2025.
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