Mayhem Festival

Picking yourself up off the canvas is never an easy thing. Losing a lead singer and band member is about the hardest thing a band can endure, nevermind losing a close friend. But, less than two years after the unfortunate passing of singer Mitch Lucker, Suicide Silence is back, unleashing a new record unto the world and starting their bold ascent back up the mountain. Here to share a few words about overcoming loss and starting again, is Mark Heylmun, on the road at Mayhem Fest.

Let's get right to business. On the road for Mayhem Fest, fresh off putting the polishing touches on a new record due out in the fall, three members of the Texas Hippie Coalition were gracious enough to sit down with us (again) to take on a few questions. We corralled the red dirt metallers long enough to talk their new record, the theory of their music and old-school recording techniques. Read on:

John 5 is one of those rare talents on guitar who manages to stand tall, outside the shadow of the hugely popular frontman of whatever band he's playing in. Much the same as Dave Navarro shines equally to Perry Farrell, Zakk Wylde was equal to Ozzy and Slash overcame the overbearing Axl Rose, John 5 has done the same in both Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie. Disarmingly polite and soft-spoken in person, we sat down with John 5 to find out what makes him tick, what music he loves, and naturally, to talk about the new Rob Zombie record.