John 5 is the stage name of American guitarist John William Lowery, born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, in 1970 or 1971 depending on the source. He began as a session player in Los Angeles and later worked with David Lee Roth, Rob Halford, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and Mötley Crüe. His solo career began in 2004 with Vertigo, followed by a series of instrumental albums that emphasize technical guitar work and hard rock or metal styles. He is also known for live performances that feature extended guitar playing and material drawn from both his solo catalog and his work with major rock acts.