Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea recalled the emotions the group was dealing with when they fired the band’s guitarist for a decade — Josh Klinghoffer — upon John Frusciante‘s return to the band. Klinghoffer, who started out as Frusciante’s guitar tech, as now tours as Pearl Jam‘s supplemental live guitarist, was let go by the Chili Peppers in December 2019.
Flea told Classic Rock that it was decision he didn’t take lightly: “I crashed my car into the garage, I was so freaked out about it. Look, Josh is an amazing person. He was helpful for me personally, as someone I could go to when I was hurting and crying on the road. He played great, he contributed, he’s an awesome person. But we had a language with John that we developed when we were all much younger.”
He went on to explain the allure of John Frusciante as a guitarist and bandmember: “John Frusciante is the best musician I’ve ever played with. It’s in everything from the little details to the big picture. His relationship to music is so pure and has so much integrity and knowledge and work and practice. Every note he plays is born of this immense heart. It’s so beautiful.”
John Frusciante, who has already quit the Chili Peppers twice before, was pressed as to whether the third go-’round with the band will be for good, and explained, “There’s no way to see into the future. . . The beauty of playing with this band is that we really do love listening to each other. I love hearing the way they make me sound. We have a chemical effect on each other. We bring things out of each other that we can’t bring out of ourselves. The way I play guitar with them is a style I can’t play on my own. The chance to make another record like that has meant everything to me. We’re all just glad this is happening right now. Our hearts are in it, and so it feels right.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers next perform on June 4th in Seville, Spain at Estadio La Cartuja De Sevilla.
- Red Hot Chili Peppers North American dates tour dates (subject to change):
July 23 – Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High (with HAIM and Thundercat)
July 27 – San Diego, CA – Petco Park (with HAIM and Thundercat)
July 29 – Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium (with Beck and Thundercat)
July 31 – Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium (with Beck and Thundercat)
August 3 – Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 6 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium (with The Strokes and King Princess)
August 10 – Atlanta, GA – Truist Park (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 12 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 14 – Detroit, MI – Comerica Park (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 17 – East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 19 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 21 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
August 30 – Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
September 1 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
September 3 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
September 8 – Washington, DC – Nationals Park (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
September 10 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park (with St. Vincent and Thundercat)
September 15 – Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
September 18 – Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field (with The Strokes and Thundercat)
September 25 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival
October 7, 8, 9 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival – RHCP performance date TBA
October 14, 15, 16 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Music Festival – RHCP performance date TBA
TL; DR
- Flea spoke about ousted Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, telling Classic Rock: “Josh is an amazing person. He was helpful for me personally, as someone I could go to when I was hurting and crying on the road. He played great, he contributed, he’s an awesome person.
DID YOU KNOW???
In addition to his road work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Josh Klinghoffer is featured on the band’s releases:
- I’m With You (2011)
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Live: I’m With You (2011)
- “Official Bootlegs” (2011 – 2018)
- 2011 Live EP (2012)
- Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Covers EP (2012)
- I’m With You Sessions (2012 – 2013)
- I’m Beside You (2013)
- The Getaway (2016)
- Live In Paris EP (2016)
FAST FACTS
- Last month, the latest Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Unlimited Love, debuted at Number One, marking the band’s first chart-topper since 2006’s Stadium Arcadium.
CHECK IT OUT: Josh Klinghoffer vs. John Frusciante: