For the first time ever, guitar greats John 5 and Richie Kotzen will head out on the road together this year. The trek will launch October 16th and run through November, hitting markets across the U.S.
Says John 5, “I’ve got a brand-new show and a whole bunch of songs we haven’t played in a long time plus all your favorites. I’m super excited! I love touring with other great guitarists like Richie Kotzen. It’s gonna be a Noodle-Palooza.”
Adds Kotzen, “I am very much looking forward to this USA tour, but what makes this even more exciting than last year’s run of dates is that I’ll be out this time with my good friend John 5! I think this is going to be a great night not only for guitar fanatics but for general music lovers as well. I can’t wait to hit the stage this fall.”
Find the full tour itinerary below. Reserved seating tickets will go on sale May 16th though a fan presale will begin today at noon local time and fans are strongly encouraged to buy early to get the best seats. Find more information at John-5.com.
Today, John 5 also announces more details of his anticipated new album. Called Ghost, which will be released October 10th and is led by the new track Fiend, featuring Kenny Aronoff.
On May 16th, you can see the music video for Fiend. Before then, see the teaser video for the song below.
John 5 and Richie Kotzen fall 2025 tour dates:
October 16 – El Cajon, CA @ Magnolia
October 17 – Riverside, CA @ Fox Performing Arts
October 18 – Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
October 19 – San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
October 21 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
October 22 – Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo Theatre
October 24 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
October 25 – Leander, TX @ The Haute Spot
October 27 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
October 28 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall
October 29 – Nashville, TN @ Fogg Street Lawn Club
October 30 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
October 31 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
November 1 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room
November 2 – Clearwater, FL @ Capitol Theatre
November 4 – Richmond, VA @ The National
November 5 – Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater
November 6 – Patchogue, NY @ Patchogue Theatre
November 11 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
November 12 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
November 13 – Foxborough, MA @ Six String Grill & Stage
November 14 – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
November 15 – Lorain, OH @ Lorain Palace Theatre
November 16 – Columbus, OH @ The King Of Clubs
November 17 – Warrendale, PA @ Jergels
November 19 – Wyandotte, MI @ District 142
November 20 – Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
November 21 – Fort Wayne, IN @ Piere’s
November 22 – St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre
November 23 – Belvidere, IL @ Apollo Theatre
November 25 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
November 29 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s*
* John 5 only
For over 30 years, John 5 has been one of the most in-demand guitar players on the planet. As well as being a songwriter/guitarist for hire, John 5 has shared the stage as axe-man for Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson and Rob Halford. He has also worked with an impressive array of names, from all walks of music, including KD Lang, Rod Stewart, David Lee Roth, Alice Cooper, Tina Guo, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, Dolly Parton and Ricky Martin. In October 2022, it was announced that John 5 would be joining Mötley Crüe as their guitarist following the Mick Mars‘s decision to retire from the road. John 5 continues to tour with Mötley Crüe , including an upcoming residency in Las Vegas in 2025.
Kotzen released his latest solo studio album, titled Nomad (hear the single here), last September via BMG. The effort was made available digitally, on CD and standard black vinyl. Written, recorded and produced by Kotzen, Nomad featured eight new tracks showcasing Richie‘s multi-faceted musical styles, with Kotzen playing almost every instrument on the album. On Nomad, Kotzen expressed his diverse techniques and influences, from hard rock to ’70s-infused soul and funk, jazz fusion to R&B. It’s all intertwined with his own unique playing and songwriting approach, while retaining his ever-evolving signature style.
12 Responses
Am I the only one that doesn’t think John 5 is that great of a guitarist? I mean, he is good but I don’t see the hype he gets, sorry. I can think of DOZENS of other guitar players that don’t get the attention he gets.
John 5 seems like an affable man, but some, perhaps many, would state that his touring partner, Kotzen, is the far better guitar player, and all around musician.
I like John Lowery the human being. I think he’s a good person. I thought he was great on the DLR Band record. I enjoyed most of his stuff with Zombie. Never really got into Manson. I don’t think he’s a good fit for Motley Crue. Overall, he’s a good guitar player who loves what he does. But no, I don’t consider him as one of the all time greats. And there are better sounding guitarist out there that should be getting the same amount of coverage but don’t.
RPS, I concur with your comment. John seems like he is a very affable person, and I think he is a skilled guitarist. And I 100% agree that he DOES NOT “fit” with Motley Crue. I just don’t think his style of playing blends with Crue’s “raunchy” sound. Mick Mars’ playing WAS Motley Crue.
Yeah, John gets a lot of coverage….maybe its because of his likability in addition to his talent. I’ve always considered him one of the “good guys” in rock, kinda like Dave Grohl (before his recent admission). And there are better guitarists out there that I personally like their playing better than John 5’s playing. I guess that just proves that sometimes it takes more than just skill to be a celebrated musician….i.e. Lars Ulrich.
Not sure how many people here are guitar players (I’ve been playing for 40+ years), but John 5 is a musician’s musician and a monster guitar player. Now whether he’s “one of the all-time greats,” well, that’s subjective. Plus – and this is key – a lot of guitarists who are considered “all-time greats” also wrote classic songs that still get played constantly (Jimi Hendrix, EVH, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, etc). John 5’s writing has been largely “niche” and now mostly limited to playing Mick Mars lines. However, from a purely technical point of view, he’s brilliant – especially how he incorporates other genres’ styles (ie. chicken pickin’) into a hard rock/heavy metal context.
RTunes,
I think for many, who do not play guitar, but can appreciate talent, it is very difficult, to listen to instrumentals, especially shredders. That is why, someone like Yngwie Malmsteen, who is obviously talented, can only be taken in small doses.
In my humble opinion, Eric Johnson, is probably, my favorite instrumental guitarist. He’s got great tone, writes melodic, catchy melodies and occasionally sings. Ah Via Musicom is a great record, and I cannot recommend it, enough.
Dana -I totally agree with you on the difficulty of appreciating instrumental shredders. Even as a guitar player, I get bored very quickly by Yngwie types. After a few minutes, it’s like listening to a crazed bumblebee. That’s why I said in my original response that guitarists who are considered “all-time greats” also write classic SONGS. John 5 is a great guitarist from a technical standpoint, but he still has not written that classic SONG that appeals to the masses.
You make a great point about classic songs.
Dana, I agree with you about Eric Johnson’s “Ah Via Musicom” being a great album. My favorite instrumental guitarist is Joe Satriani, and my fave album is “Surfing With the Alien.” I agree about Yngwie’s playing being like a ‘crazed bumblebee”, but I really do enjoy his Rising Force album. And does Yngwie belong in the RRHOF??? After all, he inspired a whole new genre of neo classical shred guitar playing…..
Rattle,
There is no question, Malmsteen, belongs in that sham of an institution. He is an innovator (even if my long lost love (RIP) stated he ripped off Paganini) and clearly a prodigy.
As for Eric Johnson, he even sings 🙂 While no John Sykes (RIP), his vocals are decent, as I love Desert Rose.
John is a very good guitar player , ritchie kotzen is a great singer and guitar player ,should be a great show, as far as Dave grohls admission , lots of people condemned him for having an affair something that almost every rock star has done since the beginning of recorded history , in other news water is wet –
I heard John 5 was the least sociable during the Motley tour and doesn’t fit in well with the other members at all. I personally don’t want to see a frail Mick Mars up on stage but you know if he was able the switch would have already happened.