Exclusive: Legendary guitarist John 5 talks cornhole, baseball & hidden talents

World-renowned guitarist John 5 has résumé like no other. Not only is John 5 the long-time guitarist and collaborator of Rob Zombie, but he has also spent time in the bands of Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, k.d. lang, and Rob Halford's 2wo. John 5's credits also include work with Steve Perry, Paul Stanley, Ricky Martin, Avril Lavigne, Ace Frehley, Garbage, Filter, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Halestorm, Rod Stewart, and the Scorpions.

John 5 has also been prolific as a solo artist, releasing Season Of The Witch in 2017 and the live album It's Alive last year. Summer 2019 is scheduled to see the unveiling of the next full-length from John 5 & The Creatures, Invasion. This week, the first single from Invasion was released -- a two-part track entitled "Crank It - Living With Ghosts" -- as accompanied by a video directed by Israel Perez, produced by Nicole Hatley and featuring costuming by Forgotten Saints LA and Scott Blake's Yordreem Creations.

A North American tour by John 5 & The Creatures kicks off on February 26th at Mesa, Arizona's Club Red, eventually taking the power trio through Texas, New York, Quebec, L.A. and everywhere in between. The tour is scheduled to wrap in San Diego on April 14th.

I had the pleasure of speaking with John 5 by phone for an upcoming episode of the Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz and below are some sports-centric highlights from that chat. Tour dates and more info related to John 5 can be found online at www.john-5.com.

Is there something that you wish more people knew about John 5 at this point in time? For example, on the show TrunkFest you showed that you're a hell of a cornhole player.

John 5: (laughs) I love cornhole. You know, that's a great question because it's really interesting... I can play guitar and everybody kind of knows that I never hide anything. I don't need to hide anything. I'm honest with people.

But the one thing maybe people don't know about me, I can play guitar but the other thing I can do well in my life, is I can throw a ball and I can hit a ball -- hit a baseball and throw a baseball. I don't know why, but I can hit a 99-mile-an-hour ball with no problem. It's very strange.

Were you a big sports fan growing up?

John 5: I was not. I mean, I was on a baseball team and I was really really good, but I was such a guitar freak that I just didn't think about it or give it a second thought. But for some reason, I can throw a ball and I can hit a ball -- no problem whatsoever.

Has the opportunity to play the national anthem at a sporting event ever come up?

John 5: It has. It has quite a bit. I never really have taken that opportunity, I don't know why. Maybe because I'm busy or out of town or doing something.

So finally, John, any last words for the kids?

John 5: Words for the kids, I would say, "play what you love, everything will fall into place." That's the best advice I can give.