Team Player And Lone Wolf

John Frusciante has been quite busy ever since he returned to the Chili Peppers but still he has time for another solo album.

John Frusciante joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in summer ‘88 at the young age of 18. Not least due to his guitar playing “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” (‘91) has become one of the most exciting Peppers-records. However, in may ‘92 he left the band in the middle of their japan-tour. Stress, drugs and alcohol affected him badly. In the following years he recorded two albums “Niandra Lades & Usually Just A T-Shirt” and “Smile From The Streets You Hold”. Quite unlistenable stuff – odd, abstruse, without a common theme. John Frusciante was on his way to become the Syd Barrett of his Generation.

It was not until Peppers-bassist Flea phoned him that he found on the right track again. Frusciante was back and together they recorded “Californication”. Nowadays the 30 year old is clean and “in a better shape than ever before”. Even the marathon tourne of the Chilis is unable to harm him. “At the beginning of the tour I was badly off but now we’ve got a yoga teacher with us and everyone’s going strong.” he says and he’s even feeling so well again that he recorded another album. “To Record Only Water For Ten Days” has turned out more accessible and listenable unlike its predecessors. Often the songs remind of the Chili Pepper’s powerful hits. Frusciante’s characteristic guitar playing and his confident singing is central. As his idols he surprisingly lists some German electronics like Kraftwerk and Neu! and also Depeche Mode, OMD and Joy Division. Does he as a passionate esoteric have a message that he wants to spread? “I try to persuade people to think in the 4th and 5th dimension.” Aha.

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