John Hayes was born April 22, 1960 in Detroit Michigan at St. John's Hospital on Detroit's northeast side. John grew up listening to the local radio station CKLW, which was Motown music in his mother’s home and car radios.
John took guitar lessons from age 10 to age 12 at Novak Music Studio in East Detroit on Gratiot avenue learning the Mel Bay’s learning methods from Books 1, 2, and 3. After that John began learning how to play songs by ear, applying his musical teachings.
A month after graduating from high school, John entered the United States Air Force at the age of 18. He became a born again Christian after attending the Knob Noster Missionary Baptist church in Missouri where he was stationed, and was lead to Jesus by Pastor Eddie C. Wright after a Sunday morning church service in the barracks parking lot at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri. John began singing live with his guitar in the local church at the age of 18. He played and sang at nursing homes, and in rescue missions. John did this in Missouri for 4 years. After his 4 year military enlistment ended, John moved back to Michigan and stayed in churches playing in solos, duos, trios, quartets, and choir music. John played guitar and sang in church services from 1979 – 1991.
In 1992 John joined his first Rock and Roll band called Stained Glass. The band had 6 members including a bassist, John on guitar, a drummer, a keyboardist, and two female singers, and the band played at clubs in Farmington, Milford, and St. Clair Shores Michigan.
In 1994 John founded the Mojo Rhythm Blues Rock Band, which had 4 members including a bassist, John on guitar, a drummer, and a male lead singer. The band stayed together for 3 years playing in clubs in Detroit and Metro Detroit.
In 1997, John and his neighbor friend Eric Bolen formed The Johnny Guitar Blues Band, a power trio consisting of John on guitar, Eric Bolen on bass, and they had various drummers together. They played in various clubs in the Detroit Metro area.
In 2005 John collaborated with Darrell Franklin and joined a band called The Franklin\Hayes Project. John Hayes and Darrell Franklin, two lead guitarists with lead vocal ability, shared guitar leads, rhythm leads, and vocals in the band, with Bob Bennett on bass, and Dennis Defrancisco on drums. The band later added vocalist Denise Wickersham. The band stayed together and played at clubs steadily every month, and for over a year, playing various styles including Rock, R&B, Jazz, Blues, and Funk in several clubs in the Detroit and metro Detroit area.
From 2005 – 2007 John also played in the Cyclops Classic Rock Band. His friend Kevin Soave on drums wanted a 2nd guitar player in his bandana he talked John into joining his group. The band played several clubs and concert venues in the metro Detroit area.
In 2008 John formed a band called 3 Hour Tour, a power trio playing classic rock, alternative rock, and modern rock. Dave Wilkinson is on bass and sings lead vocals. Pat Dery is on drums. John is on lead guitar and sings lead vocals. John and Dave back each other up on the harmony vocals. The band is still together to this day playing clubs like Izzys in Roseville, The Berkley American Legion, and parks and festivals. The band has live music videos on youtube.
In the summer of 2012, John Hayes joined his friend John Wildcat to form the group The Motives of Existence. John Hayes mostly plays bass guitar and vocals and harmonica for John Wildcat’s original music that he wrote during his lifetime. John Hayes also switches and plays guitar on some cover songs, and John Wildcat switches to the bass for these tunes. John Wildcat and John Hayes was fortunate to get drummer friend Dave Hengstebeck, who was their friend from the past, who also played in Detroit bands, to join them in a power trio to create The Motives of Existence Band. The 3 band mates only practiced together for a couple weeks before starting to play out at clubs on a weekly basis. The band is alternating between clubs like The End of the Park in Hazel Park, The Stage Coach in Detroit, and The Token Lounge in Westland. The band has live music videos on youtube. The group has their sites set on being a warm up band for major acts playing in the Detroit area, and also to get some original music out on the airwaves.
The Whole Story!
Motives of Existence is a Detroit based musical group the Motives of Existence are rockin’ up the tunes no matter where they play. John Wildcat leads the way with a collection of original tunes mixed in with a few covers that audiences from all around are applauding. With fellow band mates John Hayes and Dave Hengstebeck, Wildcat taps the electric creative energy that sets The Motives of Existence apart from anything else. The Motives of Existence will rock yourworld!....
