Red Hot Change-Up
John Frusciante’s out and Josh Klinghoffer is in, as the Chili Peppers return to action.
When the Red Hot Chili Peppers announced they were taking an “indefinite hiatus” after 2006-2007’s Stadium Arcadium tour, rumours quickly spread that all wasn’t right between the band and guitarist John Frusciante.
Frusciante recently put all speculation to rest and confirmed that he doesn’t want to be a Pepper anymore – for the second time, no less. (He first split in 1992 and descended into heroin addiction; he rejoined the group in 1998 after kicking drugs cold turkey.). Witing on his web site, Johnfrusciante.com, the guitarist said that his “musical interests have led [him] in a different direction” and that “there was no drama or anger involved”.
“I really love the band and what we did,” he wrote. “I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests. For me, art has never been something done out of a sense od duty. It is something I do because it is really fun, exciting and interesting.
“Over the last 12 years, I have changed, as a person and artist, to such a degree that to do further work along the lines I did with the band would be to go against my own nature.’
Last October, the Chili Peppers began working with Josh Klinghoffer, an L.A. guitarist/producer who has played with PJ Harvey and Beck, among others, and as Guitar World was going to press, Klinghoffer announced that he was now, indeed, the new Pepper on the block. Well, apparently not that new – Klinghoffer performed with the band as second guitarist on the Stadium Arcadium tour and has played on some of Frusciante’s solo albums.
— Joe Bosso
