During a recent appearance on The Jasta Show, John 5 clarifies if he and Rob Zombie are on bad terms after leaving his band to join Mötley Crüe.
“We’re not on bad terms. And Rob wished me well,” the guitarist replied when asked if he’s kept in touch with Zombie since leaving his band. “And he was, like, ‘Go get ’em,’ and all that stuff. So we’re not on bad terms, but we just have not spoken; we haven’t spoken to each other.”
He continued, “But he’s doing great. He’s got a great new band, and he’s kicking a** out there. But we just haven’t talked. I don’t think there’s any bad blood or anything. I mean, 17 years and things like that, but it was just time to…”
“I think Rob, he’s doing awesome, and I think the band is awesome,” John 5 added about Rob’s band. “And I think it’s a wonderful band and people are enjoying it. And that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about people having fun and enjoying the music, and that’s what’s happening.”
The rocker quit Rob’s band in late 2022 to take Mick Mars’ place as Mötley Crüe’s guitarist. He also talked about leaving Zombie in an August chat with Talkin’ Rock with Meltdown. John 5 said, “Yeah, everyone I’ve ever played with or anything like that, I’ve always kept in touch because listen, life is short and I just love positivity and and things like that.”
He added, “It makes my life better but I don’t think we have any bad blood. I really don’t but we just haven’t engaged with each other. We haven’t conversed with each other.”
“I haven’t reached out because I think if I reach out and he doesn’t reach out, I’ll be like really bummed but I haven’t done that yet,” the musician explained. “He hasn’t done it. He’s busy. I’m busy. He’s just about to start a tour. So I don’t think there’s anything really bad or negative going on.”
John 5 previously said he had no regrets about leaving Rob Zombie, despite their close 17-year relationship. He explained that joining Mötley Crüe was a personal decision, and while it was difficult to leave, he felt it was the right choice for him.