This JOHN 5/BACKING TRACKS Controversy May Have a TWIST!

This JOHN 5/BACKING TRACKS Controversy May Have a TWIST!
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[@dhokanson55]

I'm far more concerned with Vince Neil's terrible vocals.

[@DFlores2009]

vince meal*

[@Mognam]

@suspicionofdeceit 🤣

[@spod32827]

He sounds like a MacBeth witch. And looks like all three of them.

[@doctoribanez]

Guys old. Give him a break. If I were going to a show I'd rather see old crappy Vince than someone else . I guess.

[@friedrudibega6384]

Hi-Yah!

[@northernbrother1258]

The click track and ProTools grid killed rock's groove!

[@georgeprice4212]

I’d like to point out that when The Who Did “Won’t Get Fooled Again” live, the tape with the keyboards also has an Acoustic Guitar as well. (As the tape is basically not only what’s on the album, but what’s on the album is from the original Demo version, which includes an overdubbed Acoustic Guitar!)

[@JohnLampson]

I'm not bothered by flying in a backing track for this part to keep up the full sound. If it turns out he used a looper pedal to do this I doubt it would be as highly criticized.

[@Whateves73]

I don’t think they “bring in” rhythm guitar “when needed”. I think he IS playing, but along to a pre-recorded guitar track throughout the ENTIRE song. And I’m willing to bet that the pre-recorded guitar track is in the mix louder than the live one, until a lead is being played. Hammer ons don’t sound as loud or as strong as picking the strings. In this video, there is no difference in volume/power. The whole band is playing along to a recording.

[@CineBlade]

🎸Many amateurs and non-players just don't understand that there are many guitarists that don't strum or pick every note. If you study my picking hand in my Red Blooded American music vid, it can throw you off and make you think I'm not playing along to my solo correctly (it sometimes messes with my eyes, watching it also), but my chord hand on the frets is right on time. But if you play guitar well with hammer-ons/offs, you'll be able to tell that my picking is correct, just not every note, as I'm letting the hammer parts of my left hand strike the notes that my picking hand is not. And because I do this alot, as do other guitarists, I tend to add a little flair of movement to the picking hand, when it's not striking a string, just as seen in the black shirt scene, when I finish a lick and throw my right hand down, below pick guard, although still playing notes with left hand. I am not a fan of John 5, but respect his talent - yet, I can still vouch for him not faking, as to what I just mentioned. 😊

[@HannahCope88]

🤘🏻🔥 Love this. Super interesting to hear about what could be going on here. I do prefer the old school way myself too 🙂. Podcast studio looks absolutely amazing! Really looking forward to the first podcast video in the new setup. Congrats on 888k Subscribers too!

[@mightyV444]

Lots of 8's around this comment! 😀

[@FrozenByFire]

I'm more than fine with having a 2nd guitar come in during the solos to fill in the sound. But if they did hire someone, Scott Ian from Anthrax would be perfect, he only plays rhythm, and he loves Motley and knows them. Then they could shut up all the haters out there.

[@ohanlonsean582]

Your my favourite music teacher u have thought me most of what I know and for that I thank you

[@ryanbenedetti-kp2yx]

My real concern is here. Big jam band fan, and huge Classic rock fan first and foremost. Trey Anastasio of Phish started using a loop pedal live, in late 94-95ish. It totally changed the sound of the band, IMO for the better, but would end up being a downgrade in some peoples mind. The thing is Trey still played those lines, night in, and night out within the loop, with himself that night in the moment. Then he would double himself and lay down the leads over it, if need be. The amount of time and access to gear that these legends have, leads me to believe it's just laziness. And the fans dont care because they get to see The Crue again for the 7th last time. I love both bands, but just be honest in your stage appearance. John 5 could have easily looped his Rhythm track, but i dont think thats whats happening here. Its just the old ways of rock and roll production. Vince and the other members just throwing in whatever, to make a great show. Yes they used a backing track, but they should have either done it in the correct way. Or admitted to using a prerecored track. Who knows if John 5 even knew...

[@jimmccoys5778]

This is the exact comment I made on Justin Hawkins video. They have the rhythm on a track that is brought in during solos and John5 may not know. I do not know what he hears in his ear piece. I can promise you he is not faking his playing. This dude is as solid as there is!! He needs no help. Virtuoso players can make things look so easy that it seems unbelievable. Nuno is another guy that makes it look too easy. Like any other profession, there are different levels of talent. I have seen it too many times. Guys that are great at something in the neighborhood are nowhere near the level of virtuoso professionals! The fact is, there are people who are good based on their local competition and then there are guys that are super elite!! These guys that look at a video and swear these guys are faking because they can’t meet that level is laughable!!

[@flyballhdeg9775]

A click track would make using a looper an option, also. Not really much difference in the end, but at least the looper is "progammed" live. It's well known by now they use backing tracks. As long as people keep paying to see them do this, it won't stop. Live means live.

[@erikolsen1333]

6:27 He’s way too good to pretend.

[@rjramone4051]

Confirms what Mick Mars has been talking about.

[@Pepperoni1005]

These days you dont have to play with a click, to programm the lights for it. Many common light-softwares are auto-syncing to a tempo, that may change

[@RocknSpirits-qe2jd]

I don't mind them using tracks ASLONG as it is JUST TO SUPPLEMENT/compliment parts and they are still playing and singing live.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Well Iron Maiden were busted with extra guitarists playing in the wings back in the 80s, and ZZ Top were definitely using backing tracks when I saw them in 87/88, it's nothing new.

[@gribblegreeble]

why don't you think that the rhythm track was looped from before he did the solo? he's playing to a click, so as long as he's in time, they can just pop it in. tech guys on the wings of the stage have been engaging pedals and FX for a long time.

[@cort_tempered]

Johnny Ramone would never use backing tracks

[@KENMAN1357]

If they do use backing tracks and rhythm guitar parts during the solos then just admit it and be done with the debate. Just PLAY the song without all the extra stuff....LIVE should be LIVE

[@Onethingneeded]

Rush, Aerosmith and Dream Theater without Portnoy does this. Tons of bands do. It makes them tighter

[@grantskelton1219]

I saw the Crüe play at Wembley arena back in 05. It was even clear back then that they were using backing tracks.

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Maybe Crue wouldn't be scrutinized so much if they hadn't had incidents with Lee's drums and Sixx's bass playing? I'm old school, rather see a band play live and raw! Maybe they have the tracked rhythm guitar so it doesn't expose Nikki's bass playing as much while 5 plays lead?

[@EjSinner13]

What incident with Tommy’s drums? And don’t say, there’s video of him not behind his kit and you can hear the hi hat count off the song. That’s a click counting off for the next song. So that video has been “debunked” by every musician that’s seen it.😂 So is there another “incident” with Tommy’s drums?

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Regarding Lee, that is the only "incident" I'm aware of. But to the primary point, whether debunked or somehow the click was audible to the audience (by mistake or whatever), all of these "incidents" brought more attention and unwanted scrutiny to the band. Then toss in some of the Mars drama, the band is looked at under a microscope with people trying to find any flaws. And of course in the KZbin universe these stories are amplified 1000+ times with everyone trying to get views and clicks off the story! Later and keep it loud and proud!!! 🤘

[@David_S_ST5]

Love that white SG !!

[@MrDaneBrammage]

I'm sure the crew has tracks for every part on every song. Aside from bringing in supplementary rhythm guitar tracks, they probably do replace the live performance when they're not playing up to scratch. (The other guys, not John 5. He doesn't need any help.)

[@tonyp1313]

I'm sure John 5 could loop that rhythm with a pedal and play lead over it, that's fair and acceptable imho. Hell, most bar bands do that now.

[@AaaaZ-lk9pd]

I don't know why y'all are opposing backing tracks. One thing is if the musician is miming, in that case I get why you would oppose them, but if it's for making up for the lack of musicians, so be it. Some things can't even be replicated by musicians live, unless you want to be slipknot and hire samplers or turntablists. "But those classic rock bands did fine cause they were REAL MUSICIANS": well the new ones ain't holograms either. The fact is that Classic Rock arrangements, even if musically complex, are pretty minimal or streamlined instrument wise. But you know, 55 years passed and arrangements got incredibly detailed. Have you ever heard Chop Suey by System Of A Down? It's a super big arrangement with a lot of instruments and guitar parts in the studio. No matter what Daron Malakian does on stage, he will always sound like one guitar compared to the like 8 tracks playing at the same time on the record. You can hear in any live performance that the sound is super empty. And that has nothing to do with his skills or the rest of the band's. Also, that song is 23 years old, things have just become more complex. "Well just hire other musicians duh": tell me you never played a live show without telling me. You think musicians are free? A small to medium band simply cannot afford to get additional live members and to earn money/not to lose money at the same time.

[@LuisJimenez-pb3ge]

John5 is absolutely amazing and I love hearing him play these songs.

[@leviathan_is_me]

I'm cool with it, but if I want to hear produced tight music... That's what the studio recordings are for. When I go to a show, I wanna hear the band 100% live. Fuck ups and all.

[@Krullmatic]

It's actually Mick playing backstage. 😂 edit: When you compared the tracks, I preferred the one without the rhythm guitar.

[@rainshadowband3161]

As long as he's playing his instrument, who cares? It's a band and music from 40 years ago! John 5 isn't a young buck himself, but is new-to-the-band the way I get excited about buying a new-to-me guitar. If they use a pre-recorded guitar track to beef up a couple parts (like the guitar solo) then even better. It's all good. The only time to feel cheated on the ticket price is if they mime playing their instruments or if Vince Neil sounds anywhere near good. Dude hasn't sounded good for over 30 years now XD

[@BatFan1]

Is it possible the rhythm track is done using a looper? someone backstage records the rhythm bit from an earlier section of the performance and then when J5 goes into a solo they activate the looper?

[@alfiend331]

I'm old school too. Forget the click track and the rhythm tracks out and just play. Or hire someone (like Aerosmith does) to fill in the gaps. But don't fake it just to make it sound better.

[@Studio42dotCom-Real]

As an audio engineer who has done monitors and FOH, I'm there to mix a band, not play a bunch of tracks of of DAW. While i do get the "Well, we only have one guitarist" and as you pointed out, needing backing and lead tracks in the same area(which is easily done in the studio), my take is "just hire another musician as a side-man doing a job and PLAY LIVE". OR even "well, we have these keyboard parts from the album".... well then hire a keyboardist who can probably also trigger other sounds and sound effects, or maybe that person can also cover the guitar parts? Yes, we can take the parts in and out as needed. My attitude is always: If you're not playing, stay home. Don't waste people's time and money when you're not willing to go on that stage and play your music. I"m waiting for concerts to be about live music again and not "playback tracks featuring people who may or may not have been involved in their creation". SO, John 5 is playing, that's great. Maybe the rest of the band can step up and start playing again too. Maybe Vince can try to get himself into a shape other than "round" and remember the lyrics and how to sing again too.

[@marcedhk]

The thing about Vince Neil too is that he has NEVER been a great singer to begin with, and fans of the band have always been fine with that, so there is no reason other than lack of dedication that he can’t get his voice back to where it used to be. Nobody is expecting Rob Halford level vocals from Vince. Really there is no excuse.

[@lawndart188s]

I definitely don’t like it. When you pay $2,500 for a ticket you’re supposed to get a LIVE show.

[@Crinkle65]

Accusing John 5 of mimicking guitar parts is like saying Pavorati lip-synced

[@tadgray9114]

I don't get the issue. It's not like John is a sloppy guitarist. The dude is one of the most talented guys playing today. He can play the songs perfectly. No issue with limited backing tracks for those kinds of things.

[@J.Lee83]

Liking that SG.

[@Realasadonut]

Your tone sounds good here. Is this amps and pedals or computer simulator? I'm old school so I don't know how to use the new computer stuff. I obviously use computers but not to play guitar.

[@andrediaz392]

The guitar player behind the curtain is Lil Wayne

[@timothyruiz4317]

I think a lot use the click track. I just saw Buckethead here in LA, his 1st song hes playing and theres drums and bass and nobody else, not till the 2nd song did his drummer and bass player come out

[@trixdropd]

it's totally Nikki's killer bass tone, it even has guitar mixed in it lol. Not. backing track

[@andrecolon9035]

So I can't say what happened here in this case BUT, I saw Motley in PR years ago and a band called "LA Secta" opened up (for reference) I see pretty close to stage and seating was on an incline. Anyway at that show there was 100% another player off stage playing, not just audibly but I saw him numerous times during the show. He did not come out after to take a bow so it seemed like they wanted to hide him. I remember thinking it was no big deal because 1 guitar couldn't do rhythm and leads and back then Vince was too busy scoping girls to be even a mid level player onstage, so I guess it just made songs better. That said, at that show, there was DEFINITELY some help with guitars, if they use a backing track now, I won't doubt it because even in their heyday they needed help. Don't get me wrong, I Fukin love Motley and would have given my left nut to see them on the theater tour, but they didn't go to PR back then.

[@Meatball2022]

Fun fact. RUSH used to play to a click track. The click track was named Neil Peart…

[@maverick_trail]

You just brought a gun to a (butter) knife fight.

[@davethomas1641]

@@maverick_trail "But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off." ........

[@RIVURSTIX666]

Drum solo of life

[@nickmastro6870]

Rush actually did use some backing tracks/samples for keyboard sounds, which can be kinda excused, it was only when it was physically impossible for them to play. master musicians

[@mikeb.7183]

Actually they talk about using a click in the studio on a few tracks. They found it to sterile. As far as the samples, and sequence portions that they used in later years they would use on stage triggers over tracks running in the back ground. In other words just short maybe one bar long samples.

[@BillJones]

"Backing tracks at a mötley crüe concert" I'll take redundant terms for $400, Alex.

[@nickeiben4635]

Dimebag didnt use a backing track during solos live and it didnt suffer. It also showed how good Rex is holding the groove

[@metalpuppet5798]

It works in their context. It doesnt in many other contexts. It has nothing to do with skill

[@CorbCorbin]

Neither did Jimi Hendrix, and nearly 70 years of other rock guitarists.

[@elvisjsax]

Unpopular opinion but if Pantera had a backing guitar for the solos they would sound a lot better live I'm a fan of the band, Dime being one of my favorite guitar players

[@Madmetalmaniac42069]

@@elvisjsax I agree with this. They always sounded kind of thin live. Same reason that Zep tributes like Get The Led out have 2/3 guitar players - fills it out like the studio cuts.

[@jmacc9876]

Even on record for a lot of their stuff. The cool thing was the bass really pops out up front in the mix with no rhythm guitar, so even though it's a facemelting Dime solo it's also the part of the song where you can appreciate Rex' playing the most.

[@TribalGuitars]

I was not even 10 feet away from Nuno at a small club date and watched him play (not just chords, not just double-stops, PLAY! ) for 1-2 minutes while he got a drink of water and talked something over with the drummer for a while. I remember my guitarist and drummer friends and I looking at each other with our jaws on the floor saying "Holy shit!" over and over. This was for their "Waiting for the Punchline" tour.

[@Emolga2225]

he likes to yawn during the Play With Me solo

[@copperstaterocketguy1640]

Mattie Hoffman of Escape the Fate can do that too!! 👍👍... Nuno rocks!!!

[@COwens]

Don't tell Eddie Trunk!

[@Scott__C]

No one says when EVH played without backing tracks it sounded empty. If you want a second part, get someone onstage to play it. The click is done for everything but the music. Concerts should go back to being music first, lighting/show second.

[@redskullz1249]

I love me some Eddie Van Halen, but they literally had a guy playing keyboards hidden side stage or under the stage. VH was not above using some trickery to sound bigger when they wanted to.

[@georgeprice4212]

@@redskullz1249but, if I remember correctly, VH had said that they would use offstage keys or tapes.

[@redskullz1249]

@@georgeprice4212 That's exactly what Im saying. They had an keyboardist playing off stage. IMO thats just as tricky as using a click track.

[@brutalbasspro]

Bass player in a 3 piece here, when the guitar takes a solo i click on some extra gain/grit and its my solo too. Im not sure 2 guitars is always necessary.

[@PolarTrance]

Depends on the style whether it sounds fitting without the rhythm guitar. If the rhythm guitar does stuff that is more interesting than just the bassline with powerchords, chances are it's going to be very different sounding without the extra guitar. But play something like most modern metal and you're an idiot to not play the extra powerchords, you just castrated the entire solo, no matter how good it might be, the audience notices more the lack of power (a bass does not compensate enough), for the sake of being "more real" or whatever, which basically nobody actually cares about.

[@independentjames1]

Led Zep, Black Sabbath, Rush,,, Real musicians in real bands . The best only need one guitarist ( but Motley doesn’t havethe talent to pull it off

[@jeremysteffen7853]

As much as certain older musicians get flack for "not sounding like they used to" (especially singers) I appreciate the ones that still do it old skool. I think the click, and more to the point miming, is more for Nikki than anyone else in this band. "If you can't do it in blue jeans and a T-shirt under one light bulb, you can't do it." - David Lee Roth Oh, and John 5 definitely is playing. He could play these songs while playing other songs simultaneously. He's just that practiced.

[@fallenshallrise]

Totally agree. All these excuses that "it's better" when it really isn't. The lighting tech can trigger the cues for the lights, the sound engineer can press a button and trigger that siren at the board, the sound engineer knows when the guitar solo is coming and can push up the guitar level by 3 db. None of this requires backing tracks or playing to a click. I just don't think anyone is going to go back and watch these performances because there is no rawness or excitement. Everyone could storm off stage leaving only Tommy Lee there by himself and would the end of the song really sound any different? The bass, rhythm guitars, backing vocals, keyboards would all still be there.

[@mathgod]

Practiced? Dude is a god!

[@lMrFresno559l]

Crue has been using a backing guitar during leads since Mick. They did it with Mick too. This isnt a new thing since John 5.

[@naadde]

But Mick was honest about it. He hated it. He called it "Britney Spears"

[@Scott__C]

@VincentEllis-John8-12 Doesn't mean he liked it, just that he got out voted on it.

[@vaporman442]

There is a pretty easy way to know if they are using backing tracks. Just download the same song from two different shows. Then load the clips into video software that can sync multi-cam clips by analyzing the audio. If the waveforms match, the clips will synch-and you’ll know they used backing tracks. I did this several years ago with KISS. The songs sung by Paul synched right up. The songs sung by Gene did not. Eric singing Beth also did synch. This would not necessarily mean the whole song was pre-recorded. For instance, Eric might have actually been singing, but the piano might have been pre-recorded. As long as there is one consistent waveform that matches exactly, it will synch.

[@rodrigoaperales]

You should make some videos with this process, it would be very popular if u prove it 😎

[@lutephilips5550]

I think the issue is past accusations of Vince not singing and of course history of Nikki Sixx not playing according to Bob Rock and others

[@teresathomley3703]

I totally agree with you about the version without a rhythm guitar track. It sounds better. I've never been a big fan of overdubs.

[@jasondorsey7110]

Rush sounds big and they recorded live takes

[@Busbybeats]

A bigger question is why is anybody still going to see Motley Crue concerts or watching them on youtube?

[@softjones3128]

Alcoholism

[@MNskins11]

👏👏👏

[@turboteabag08]

Now I want a comedy “The Office” style show of a musician who performs behind the curtain during live shows 😂

[@rkchang77]

I don't think we need a mockumentary. I'm willing to bet there's enough material to fill a real documentary about this. Just ask any heavy rock band of the 80s/90s that had an unseen keyboardist. Hell, I'll bet Ozzy employed a good set of these musicians, including Robert Mason who sang as a behind-the-scenes backup singer for him.

[@turboteabag08]

@@rkchang77 watched a documentary about house bands that perform for A list musician’s…thought it was pretty cool Thou at least they got to perform in front of a crowd

[@DamnedEyez]

Personally, I wish bands with only one guitarist wouldn't have the rhythm track behind the solo even on the album. Pantera did it on some of their songs and it sounded fine.

[@lovescarguitar]

Fact of the matter is, if you have it one way, but play it another way live, people will notice. For better or worse. So if a song has a rhythm guitar on the album in a certain part, then at least hire a rhythm guitarist while on tour.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@lovescarguitar It depends on the song and the band. For a fair bit of Crue stuff, Nikki's bass could be lifted in the mix, or he could kick on a fuzz or something.

[@gumballthechewy]

Not having a rhythm track in the background makes the solo guitar pop more.

[@MrDaneBrammage]

As Rev. Horton Heat once said, "Yeah, the bottom drops out during the guitar solo. It's *supposed* to do that."

[@WednesdayAddams5150]

@@lovescarguitarthat’s what Green Day does

[@Lance37a]

Ain't no way Nikki Sixx is playing the bass on any of their songs.

[@mikepalmer1971]

I am wondering how much he actually played on the albums as well to be honest.

[@philipkarovski281]

​@@mikepalmer1971 probably had ghost musicians playing

[@christopherewalker]

I don't even think he tries to pretend to play

[@stefanwikander1336]

Sixx is just a figure. He never played live nor in studio.

[@stefanwikander1336]

@@mikepalmer1971 you're correct. I know for a fact he does not play anything. Live or studio.

[@AntoineHorns]

This might be personal prefference but I don't think there should be rythm guitar backing track. If your songs don't sound right with one guitar, hire a second guitarist IMO.

[@srt4b]

why not just pay a touring musician to play rythym?

[@DravenSongs802]

​@@srt4b Or the guitar tech?

[@V01D72]

I saw John 5 and backing track in the title and immediately was ready to defend John 5. But I see you really examined this closely so thanks for that :)

[@codacreator6162]

The comment that there may be a guitarist off stage reminds me of a KISS show I was backstage at (Hot in the Shade Tour) where there was a keyboardist off stage behind Gene’s curtain who also sang backing vocals. I was his guest for the evening, so I was right there during virtually the entire show.

[@gfacedirty]

Hot in the Shade Tour ! That was the first concert I ever went to.... But it was to see the opening act Slaughter...! I of course knew how KISS was my older siblings had the older records.

[@harbosonius]

When Jerry Cantrell first started touring again after AIC broke up I remember he came to TX and the show was like half Jerry's solo stuff and half AIC songs and the dude that actually sings for AIC now was on that first tour and he was offstage basically out of the lights singing all of Layne's parts.

[@rwieber79]

I agree with you 100%, I said the same thing as soon as I saw the video's. Not to mention there are video's from the last tour with Mick where someone got access to the actual click track and it did have some backup guitar and vocals in there as well some other sound effects. A lot of it came out when Mick sued the band after the Stadium tour.

[@briandriver301]

Is it possible that John engages a loop pedal for leads? By the way, Motley Crue sounded like shit live even in the 80's.

[@mikepalmer1971]

Maybe they should just get a rhythm guitar player. I am sick of all this fake crap.

[@ColForbin613]

Is it possible John 5 is looping his rhythm part before the solo? since there's a click there would be no tempo drift.

[@BrianBergen-hp6uy]

You’re Spot on Mike. I don’t like the extra guitar track live. It’s not needed I hated when motley starting using this stuff and the canned backgrounds.

[@JohnSpo]

what are the chances that he uses a looper, and recorded himself playing and solo'd over the loop?

[@Birkguitars]

My take on live performances is "what woukd Rush do?". And watching the first ten minutes or so of Dua Lipa on the TV coverage of Glastonbury tonight I was honestly wondering how much or how little of what I was hearing was actually being done live. When I see a band live I expect it to be live. I am 100% happy with changes to accommodate limitations on instruments. I saw Noah Guthrie earlier this year on his solo UK tour. Just him and a guitar. And it was great. Not like the recordings but still great. That is the essence of live performance.

[@bufordteejustice1119]

Does it matter? The Crue sound terrible. It's not Johns fault.

[@j.r.shartzer]

I don't go to concerts to hear a perfect duplication of a studio track. I want it to feel like a unique performance that'll never happen again anywhere else. I want a band to have to have that conversation, "how on earth are we going to play this live?" I want creative solutions to that problem, not, "we'll just play a track for what we can't bring with us." Hire a multi-insturmentalist who can play guitar and keyboard. Don't hide them in the back. Put them off to the side of the stage if you must, but let us see a person making those sounds.

[@crimsonhawk4912]

That's funny , the new generation wants " studio/ album tone" live. So backing tracks are welcome. Different philosophy

[@luckyjones22]

I’m fine with them building off the click track. It’s about the big rock show. If you want to hear them as serious musicians, buy the MC94 album with John Corabi.

[@FTFJohn]

Keep it Old School 👍🏻 Good luck with the Pod Cast. I’m sure it will be a success man.

[@whiskey11niner]

Yeah, as someone who’s played guitar on and off for 20 years. Whenever I first saw the video of him supposedly miming I immediately realized he was just playing with his fretting hand, I don’t have any problem with them using backing tracks for rhythm guitar in certain parts where there would be none otherwise, being just a single guitar band, my real problem with Mötley Crüe nowadays is Vince’s voice and how they tried to screw over Mick

[@jaycer71]

Having played this song 8 bazillion times, it was obvious that they have rhythm tracks going even when John is playing. It's not just him playing everything you hear. He missed those chords and you hear pick strikes not hammer ons. It's Motley Crue these days sadly. It's about the show more than the music.

[@travisspaulding2222]

You don't hear pick strikes, lol. If we were listing to the isolated guitar from the show, then you would be able to hear it, but to say that you hear pick strikes on that recording from a phone in the audience, with the drums, bass, and vocals all included, is just bias. You don't hear pick strikes. You just think you do. I'm not saying whether or not he's playing to a track, I'm just saying that there is no way to tell with 100% certainty that we are hearing the pick hit the strings.

[@channingsmith7859]

Not too much different then my guitarist using his looper to keep a backing track under solos. It takes a bit more skill and practice to do it right but I’m sure if you asked our guy he’d happily have someone else do it😂

[@SFloyd794]

I'm old school...I want to hear Guitars, real amps, real bass amps, drums, and the singers voice,. (no auto tuning) LIVE concert music. Thank You for analysis. I feel you are correct.

[@davidp7833]

John 5 knows the material inside and out. I have every confidence in him. I liked both versions of the solo, with or without rhythm guitar. It's a good solo

[@MrMllx]

Could have looped the part

[@MariUSukulele]

i‘d rather have it raw

[@yourmomlovespenis]

What a coincidence, so does your mum!

[@michaelbujanda8785]

John 5 is using that fancy delay /loop pedal or something!!!! 🤔 Where you play a few bars of rhythm playing then you click on that pedal with the loop function and there you go another player playing rhythm guitar I think!!! 😊😮 🤔

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I don’t think so. He’s running around that stage so much and unless that looper is synced up with the main click, it’s just too risky to do live. Just my opinion.

[@michaelbujanda8785]

@TheArtofGuitar you are probably right!!! 🙂 Your demonstration kind of proved that some of those guitar parts can be played by not necessarily using both hands 😀 !!!! I like 👍 your channel!! Very interesting and informative!!!🙂❤️👍👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@SmittysShop]

If ever there was a player NOT faking, it's John5! One of the most talented "natural" players of our time! Anyone who thinks he is not playing should follow him on social media for a bit. The guy literally Eats, sleeps, and breathes guitar! However, as the saying goes, "You sleep with dogs, you get fleas"! No surprise he gets dragged into the controversy.

[@johnnyriffs]

The rhythm guitar behind the solo is probably the only real proof I have heard or seen. Nikki ”lifting his hands” is not really a proof to me either… kzbin.infoSf_1GHgynX4?si=17-ToJcAZMz6eVy1 Backing tracks on background vocals has been known for years though, but I really dont think its a big deal as long as they don’t play the studio album. They would probably sound a LOT better live if most of it was playback 😉

[@damonsdeliberatedetour492]

I say look yes Raw is awesome we all love us a great Raw band like Badlands, Led Zeppelin and the Blizzard of Ozz band, That said we have reached a point where bands are creating the studio version out on the road because they can with help from computers. I don't deny the bands talent I think a good portion of these musicians have the talent I think they just try to create the best show possible and for far less cost. Let's face facts they take musicians out on tour to recreate the studio version they would go broke fast. So maybe write songs that playing them out live can take a bit of a hit with certain things missing.

[@bobsbarnworkshop]

Being a solo artist using backing tracks I have to modify the tracks I purchase so if I’m playing a song where I play the chords, but then go into a lead, I have to bring up the rhythm guitar during that solo, otherwise, like you said, it sounds too empty. I pretty much have to edit every track I use to suit my needs.

[@hike2it911]

I’ve used a loop station as part of my pedal board to thicken up certain parts of a song, while playing live…

[@phile3741]

It’s like how many guitarists does Tool have right?

[@SlyRyFry]

I prefer to just have the bass playing most of the time during solos instead of resorting to a backing track, when possible. I only use a backing track if it's really necessary for the song, and even then, it's only for the short time during parts where my hands are occupied playing another part. At least when it comes to guitar. I don't know many serious local musicians, so I record my own tracks for all the other instruments and sounds

[@SISU_LIFE]

Just say no to backing tracks. Lame.

[@metalpuppet5798]

Then everyone would have to stop composing with extra instrumentation like synths, orchestra etc all together. Which is a stupid idea. Every musician should write the stuff they want to write at all times. If that includes full orchestration, synths, sound effects etc then so be it. If they restrict their creativity they will just burn out because thats not what they truly want to sound like. But then they need backing tracks live because its often financially and logistically impossible to tour with all the extra musicians you would need.

[@lastbestplace8112]

no shot...there was a full couple strums that he didnt' do

[@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy]

Knowing Motley Crue, John 5 is CERTAINLY using a backing track. They tried forcing Mars to use a backing track but he was always against it. Mars did the right thing leaving, he’s earned it and they treated him like shit. John 5 can even come close to filling the gap Mars left in the band, I’m sorry.

[@GerryBlue]

Well they've been know to use tracks, and that didn't seem like a hammer on chord, but what do I know

[@keenanmurray65]

What I want to know is why they sounded so bad (muddy, bass heavy or something) when I saw them in Phoenix with Def Leppard. All the other bands (Joan Jett, Poison, Def Leppard) had great sound, just the Crue sounded bad. Maybe it was the sound guy, who knows, but I was disappointed in their sound that night.

[@Raven5790]

Everyone who knows John 5 knows exactly that he is not mimicking at all, he always plays live, but yes there are backing tracks, of course every one of those tracks are part of the rhythm section, but they still playing live, I don't talk for Nikky, he's clearly more for the business, but Tommy and John are masters on their thing and even Vince is singing live, he's not like the old days, but he does it live..

[@bernieconatser1028]

Not a fan of any backing tracks of actual instruments or vocals. Siren is fine, but that’s about it.

[@lethargicj]

They've been doing this for years. Here's a clip of Mick getting attacked by a fan onstage. He stops playing, then the rest of the band stops playing. Yet the guitar keeps going. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqKYZIWaedGUpLcsi=lfOWF93XF-B5Z8Ip

[@joeyd3324]

Fakey Fakes...Notley Crue... I saw Motley on Shout at the Devil Tour w/ Frahley's Comet and both were pretty weak...But also great... between bands a friend iI met up with said "Ace was Pretty Weak"...we all busted out laughing...I was 18...

[@michaelbujanda8785]

John 5 is a professional with integrity!!!! 😮😊 It could be a rhythm track added to that siren sound and keyboard sound in the end of Wild Side!!!! I don't know the true story!!!! I still want to like Motley Crue!!!! 😯😞 It Bums me out a bit!!!! Motley Crue should have stayed retired like they promised!!!! Then Nikki Sixx could have started another band with John 5!!!! 😮 and have Tommy Lee and Vince Neil make guest appearances on album recordings!!!!! But I get it now !!!! Motley Crue is a BIG entertainment corporation now!!!! That plays music by Motley Crue for the big mass of people!!!! It's kind of like McDonald's selling Big Macs and Quarter Pounder Cheese burgers!!!!! LOL 😄 😆 🤣

[@henriklowendal1779]

I don't think it's wrong that they have some recorded rhythm guitar in some places, it sounds much better and that's how it is on the records. Now I think a group should have two guitarists, but now Mötley has never had one and then they shouldn't get one in the fall of age.

[@icaanul]

Fake Motley Crue with Nikki the faker, Tommy the poser, and Vince the devour of all, possibly caught faking things? Such a controversy!!!

[@chrispage2782]

I’m just sorry you had to spend so much time watching Crue videos to deduce this…