Quotes from John 5

If you go out to dinner with a group of people, pay for the dinner at a nice restaurant, for the amount of money for that dinner, you can get a John 5 Squier Telecaster and have it for the rest of your life.

I remember this vividly: It was 1977, and I was in Sears with my mom. And I saw this display, and it was for 'Love Gun.' I bought the record just because of the look of that display. Because I really loved monsters.

I love meeting the fans, and I love shaking hands, and that's what it's all about. It really is.

I wanted to do this so badly, to be a successful musician.

I would love to work with a Beatle: Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr.

I've been putting out records for so long, but I didn't want to tour because I didn't think anybody really cared.

I can get inspired, like anyone, from movies or music or TV or a certain way people think.

I always play so many different styles that I don't think anything I do surprises anyone.

I'm a Telecaster connoisseur, and I love my Teles. I have one from almost every year since the very beginning, in 1950. I'm so obsessed with them.

Chet Atkins, I love his singer style and the country thing that he did. He really had a huge impact in my life, just his style - western swing and the country thing he did - it really changed my life.

Oh my God, Guns N' Roses - it's like, jeez, that's what made me move out to Los Angeles. 'Welcome to the Jungle,' you know - it's been a huge inspiration for me.

I, like, prayed inside of my head as a little kid. I didn't grow up in a religious home, but we went to Midnight Mass. That was the only time I'd go to church, but when I did, I prayed that I wanted to be a successful musician. I got my wish.

I wanted to be a guitar player and musician so badly, and I prayed to get this the very few times I went to church, and I feel like I got my prayer answered.

You can go pretty much anywhere in the world, and people know 'Beat It.' When I was growing up, you heard it everywhere. I remember being a kid and going to school dances and stuff, and they always played it.

I know it sounds corny, but I think the meaning of life is to do what you love and be happy.

I find the macabre fascinating; it's all over history.

Being the founding member of Loser, my decision to leave was not an easy one.

I love watching documentaries on people like 'clean freaks,' because it's just so interesting to me for some reason.

Branching out to other genres - I think it's why people put me apart from other guitar instrumentalists.

I'm playing all the time. It's a gift, and I'm so happy for that gift. It's really engulfed my life in a good way. I make time.

I never wished to be a 'rock star.' I just wanted to be a working musician. My dreams didn't even go past a session player or a working musician. It was too far beyond my dreams.

I've been playing live since I was in sixth grade.

I'll watch the Grammys and think, 'You hardly even see people playing guitar,' and it freaks me out.

Ever since I was a kid, I've been a Fender connoisseur. And to have my name associated with greatness like that, it's amazing. I couldn't be more proud of anything. My children, and then being associated with Fender. In that order!