Josh Klinghoffer es un experimentado guitarrista que comenzó a hacer sus pinitos en la música con tan sólo 15 años y que ha trabajado con grupos de renombre, como los propios Red Hot Chili Peppers, el mismo John Frusciante o PJ Harvey. "Mentalmente John (Frusciante) lleva fuera del grupo mucho tiempo. Está interesado en hacer su propio material, sus propios álbumes... la gran maquinaria rock que es la banda ya no parece interesarle más", añade la misma fuente. En cualquier caso, tal y como indica Music Radar, la marcha de Frusciante no debería sorprender a nadie y menos en medio de ese descanso indefinido en el que se hallan los Red Hot Chili Peppers desde hace unos años.
A principios de este mismo año, durante una entrevista en la que se le preguntaba por el estatus de la banda, Frusciante guardó medio minuto de silencio antes de contestar con la boca pequeña que los Red Hot no tenían "planes" a la vista. De la misma manera, el guitarrista, que tiene a sus espaldas más de una decena de discos en solitario, rechazó que se le presentara como el "guitarrista de los Red Hot Chili Peppers" y pidió que se le calificara simplemente como guitarrista.
Frusciante ya abandonó los Red Hot Chili Peppers en 1992, después del éxito y el salto a la fama que para la banda supuso el disco Blood Sugar Sex Magik. El guitarrista no supo lidiar con ese enorme éxito y se recluyó en su casa durante varios años. El músico se convirtió en un adicto a la heroína que logró publicar su primer disco en solitario poco después, Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt (1994) hasta que regresó en 1999 con su antigua banda para otro gran éxito discográfico Californication.
John Frusciante Quits Red Hot Chili Peppers With “No Drama”
12/17/09, 9:17 am EST
Photo: Allen/WireImage
Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has confirmed that he has “quit” the band, writing in a MySpace blog post, “To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction.” The Peppers are reportedly working on their follow-up to 2006’s Stadium Arcadium, and rumors began circulating last week that Frusciante had permanently left RHCP and was replaced by guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who along with Frusciante toured with the band in 2007 and also appeared on Frusciante’s 2009 solo album The Empyrean. Until now, representatives for the RHCPs would not confirm the news of Frusciante’s departure to Rolling Stone. Frusciante clarifies in his MySpace post that he actually left the band over a year ago when they were on indefinite hiatus.
“I really love the band and what we did,” Frusciante writes, adding that there was no drama or anger involved in his decision to leave. “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. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.”
Check out photos of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, onstage and off.
Frusciante’s statement ends his second stint with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After appearing on 1989’s Mother’s Milk and 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Frusciante left the Peppers in 1992. Following RHCP’s brief Dave Navarro era, Frusciante rejoined the band for their three most recent albums: Californication, By The Way and Stadium Arcadium. In September, the band was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; as RS revealed earlier this week, the Peppers will not be a part of the Hall’s class of 2010.
Read Frusciante’s full letter to fans here:
“When I quit the band, over a year ago, we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved, and the other guys were very understanding. They are supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy and that goes both ways.
To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction. Upon rejoining, and throughout my time in the band, I was very excited about exploring the musical possibilities inherent in a rock band, and doing so with those people in particular. A couple of years ago, I began to feel that same excitement again, but this time it was about making a different kind of music, alone, and being my own engineer.
I really love the band and what we did. 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 of 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. There was no choice involved in this decision. I simply have to be what I am, and have to do what I must do.
Sending love and gratitude to you all.”
