John 5 Saves Mötley Crüe From Summerfest Sound Nightmare

Mötley Crüe’s headlining set at Summerfest faced disastrous sound issues that marred their performance, but new guitarist John 5 saved the show with his dazzling solos. Despite a blaring, hideous low end that obscured the band for the first seven songs, John 5’s performance provided a silver lining in an otherwise disappointing night. The amphitheater, which had seen better days, had entire bleacher sections and pockets of seats in the lower bowl empty.

Vince Neil’s vocals were mercifully low in the mix, sparing the audience from his weak performance. However, John 5 brought some fiery flair to classics like Primal Scream and Wild Side, and his five-minute solo reset the sound mix, showcasing his incredible talent.

The setlist featured hits like Too Fast for Love, Shout at the Devil, and Kickstart My Heart, with John 5’s guitar work on Girls, Girls, Girls culminating in a performance of The Star-Spangled Banner played with his teeth.