ADVANCED WARNING! ALBUMS IN THE PIPELINE

THIS MONTH:

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

EXPECTED JUNE 2002

SUBJECT TO EVERYONE HAVING THEIR SAY

It seemed obscene to stay in this enormous studio just to cut vocals,” says Red Hot Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis, explaining his decision to finish his contribution to the band’s still untitled eighth album while staying at Los Angeles’s Chateau Marmont hotel.

Sessions began last October at Cello Studios on Sunset Boulevard, with Rick Rubin, who produced 1999’s multi-platinum Californication, once again in charge. Ultimately, though, Kiedis preferred the comfort of the Marmont’s bungalow-sized
“rooms”. Besides, the band’s guitarist John Frusciante lives there.

‘With technology being what it is I thought, Why not do it there?’ says Kiedis. ‘We got Room 78 and built a little ProTool recording action. I sang in the bedroom, the computer was in the living room and there was lots of tea in the kitchen.”

Frusciante added vocal harmonies and keyboards, adding an electronic element to the band’s sound that Kiedis describes as the “perfect continuation” of Californication. All that’s left is to decide the running order.

‘We have way more music than we could ever fit on a CD,” explains Kiedis. “So we each make a list of the 15 songs we think should be on there and those with the most votes are included. It’s a real democracy. Some days it’s great, and some days it sucks and you can see why Mussolini took charge.”