The Red Hot Chili Peppers with their old/new line up with John Frusciante on guitar, but minus Chad Smith on drums, have taken part in a celebration of the life of Andrew Burkle.
Category Archives: Anthony Kiedis
The Band Death of a Klinghoffer… Josh Interview in Rolling Stone
“My nature is to get up and go, but there’s a weight that’s keeping me here because it’s the last time it’ll be just the four of us and I just want to sit here for a minute.”
Former RHCP guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, was interviewed a couple of days ago and the interview was posted online on the Rolling Stone website earlier today (US time/yesterday here).
The interview covers the day Josh was kicked out of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in detail. Heartbreaking quotes reveal the stunned shock of what unfurled, without warning, that day, and how Josh himself felt. The article also covers how other members of the band reacted. As suspected, Josh was fired on the plotting and instigation of Flea who had been meeting John and jamming with him in secret for months before. Chad is described as being very upset at the meeting that took place at Flea’s house. (Josh received a text from Chad before he’d even made it home after the meeting). Anthony is described as being subdued and looking upset.
It was less than an hour after it happened and at the time I thought, “Wow, that is crazy.” Flea put it up there; it was very clearly his composition. I was totally surprised. “
Josh was given no time to process the bombshell decision, or notify his family and friends, as the announcement that he’d “parted ways” with the band was posted online just an hour after he was told. He was not forewarned. Josh attributes the wording of the announcement to Flea [it was originally posted on RHCP’s Instagram account, but then Flea posted it on his social media accounts and for a while he was the only band member doing so]. Josh goes on to liken the actual design (white lettering on a black background), to a funeral announcement.
The interview also contains a lot of detail about the friendship between John Frusciante and Josh and how if faded out when Klinghoffer joined RHCP. Josh explains that he tried to reach out to John in October last year, as he knew they would meet a weeks later at Flea’s wedding, but that attempt does not appear to have been successful.
Do you think they’ll just scrap whatever was written?
All of it.How does that make you feel?
Sad.
Again, Josh confirms that a lot of material had been written for the new RHCP record and that he expects it to be effectively trashed now. He also talks about issues with working with Rick Rubin and how he would have liked his third album with the band to have sounded.
You can read the full, in-depth, interview on Rolling Stone.
Many thanks to Jenn 🙂
Josh Klinghoffer: The Interview on Leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Catch up…
Josh was interviewed by Marc Maron a few days after the news broke that he was no longer in the Red Hot Chili Peppers. However, the interview was only aired last week. The interview is over an hour long and in-depth talking about the split in part, but mostly about Josh’s musical career before, during and after RHCP. For the most part, Josh sounds happy and upbeat (especially when he was talking about his experiences of playing throughout the years), although there are some emotional moments (and it was hard listening in a number of places).
Summary of RHCP relevant information:
Josh was fired from the band. [The sources were accurate].
There was no reason given e.g. musical differences. It was purely because John Frusciante requested to come back.
The actual firing was a bombshell to Josh, as well as fans, as he had no idea that members of the band were working with Frusciante in secret. Josh did know that Frusciante was around (he spoke to him briefly at Flea’s wedding in October and he knew that JF had met up with Anthony Kiedis), and that he had started playing the guitar again, so comments that he’s not surprised, but he was still shocked when he was fired. He talks about this wave of love for the band hitting him.
It was at the instigation of Flea initially.
RHCP together with Josh had recorded a lot of material; over a year’s worth. Josh expects this won’t be used.
John apparently was surprised that the band carried on without him after he left as he expected them to stop because he had.
Josh talks about the process of joining RHCP and the events leading up to it.
Quotes:
Note: I’ve tried to make these as accurate as possible; I’ve concentrated on the relevant parts only.
(From the opening section of the interview)
Marc Maron: Did you know it was happening?
Josh Klinghoffer: No, Not at all. Complete shock, but not a surprise I guess
(From the last 15 minutes of the interview; again relevant sections only)
Josh Klinghoffer: If this change, you know John coming back and you know me leaving, had happened five years ago, half my time in, it probably would have destroyed me because it would have confirmed all the things that my mind used to tell me. That I suck, that I’m worthless, you know all those things, but, now I’ve done two… We were over a year into writing another a third, another album, so I’ve done a lot of writing with them.
Marc Maron: So there’s work that’s done that hasn’t been recorded yet?
Josh Klinghoffer: Yes, that’s just going to go away, I guess…
Marc Maron: So they liked writing with you so obviously you guys were doing stuff.
Josh Klinghoffer: Yeah, yeah… It’s a funny thing. I think it was all positive. It comes down to the history. It’s a funny position to be in, to be the person that… It’s absolutely John’s place to be in that band. So that’s why I’m happy for him, I’m happy that he’s back with them…
Marc Maron: So you think the intent is to do a new record with John?
Josh Klinghoffer: Yeah, I think that’s the thing… John and Flea specifically had a musical language and connection that as made when John was 17, 18. Flea, I don’t even think he was 30 yet. Hillel had just died… I’ll never be able to contend with the history that he and John had.
[Talks about the B-side album, I’m Beside You, which was his idea. Says the band were open to him and trusting of his ideas]
Josh Klinghoffer: Like I said if this had happened five years ago… but double that time. Ten years, two tours, almost three albums of writing, I’m really proud of what I did with them and I feel like we did create something and we did… and I feel like I brought something to the whole [band and touring] and I’m really proud of that.
Marc Maron: Five years ago you would have fallen into yourself?
[Josh agrees. Josh talks about having lunch with Flea a couple of days later]
Josh Klinghoffer: They all sat down with me. It was really sweet. I rode my bike over coz Flea’s living really close to me at the moment. They just said, ‘We’ll get right to it. We’ve decided to ask John to come back to the band.’ And I just sat there quiet for a second and I said, ‘I’m not surprised.’ And the only thing I could think to say was, ‘I wish I could have done something with you guys, musically or creatively, that would have made this an absolute impossibility.’ … But that’s next to impossible.
[Josh said he knew John had reached out to Anthony recently and had started playing guitar again as he hasn’t for a long time. Mentions John was at Flea’s wedding in October.]
Marc Maron: I’m gad you’re OK with it.
Josh Klinghoffer: I’ll have little moments… [quotes John and says how great it is to make music with friends]. When I was 10 or 11 all I wanted to be in a band playing with friends and I still want to do that.
You can hear the full interview here: WTF Interview with Josh Klinghoffer by Marc Maron
Josh News Update:
It’s not relevant for me to post Josh news here unless connected with RHCP in someway (which this interview clearly is), but as I am commenting I’ll add this in case people don’t know. Josh is to support Pearl Jam on the US leg of their upcoming tour with his Pluralone project.
RHCP on Tour 2019: Silverlake
Source: Chad Smith’s Instagram
Date: Saturday 2nd November, 2019
Location: Silverlake Conservatory of Music, LA
Notes: The annual benefit gala for the music school the RHCP’s Flea set up (Anthony Kiedis is on the Board of Directors).
Setlist:
Can’t Stop
The Zephyr Song
Dark Necessities (Setlist gives choice between this and Snow ((Hey Oh)) but DN was played)
Purple Stain
Don’t Forget Me
Suck My Kiss
Soul To Squeeze
By The Way
Source: Heirloom LA Catering (story videos)
Billboard Article:
Billboard have an article that features a detailed overview of the event which can be read HERE
There are a number of videos as posts on these pages:
Official RHCP Instagram
Gavin Polone
Thanks to everyone who posted and shared things from the night- so appreciated (sorry we can’t use it all!). A big thanks to David Mushegain for the Instagram livestream and to my Sisterwitch for researching the best links for me to use.
RHCP: Boys on Film
It has been rumoured and whispered about for some time that the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been filming a documentary. It was originally believed that the documentary was about the special RHCP concert at the pyramids in Cairo earlier this year, but speculation and some reliable sources have since suggested it contains more than that with recording taking place at other events too. However, the whole thing, rumours and gossip, have recently dried up… Until now. David Mushegain has just posted:
such a rad day previewing our new @chilipeppers documentary and hanging with @chadsmithofficial on his bday
Really hope this is going to be made public soon! Before Christmas release to hit the Christmas market? Would be perfect! We can only hope…
RHCP on Tour 2019: ‘Rebel With a Cause’ Charity Fundraiser
Date: 24th October, 2019
Location: The Water Garden, Santa Monica, California
Notes:
Held in support for research by the Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC (“Ellison Institute”).
Setlist:
Unknown but videos on social media showed that they played:
By The Way
Dark Necessities
Rehearsals:
Photos:
Both Getty Images and Zimbio have galleries of the event.
RHCP on Tour 2019: Oceana Benefit Concert
Date: Saturday 12th October, 2019
Location: Somewhere in Hollywood, California
Details: This was a fundraising event headlined by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, for Oceana (a maritime conservation charity). The concert was held in a private garden. Tickets cost between $2500 and $50,000 for a table.
Setlist:
Source: Event Eleven story on Instagram
Dark Necessities
Zephyr Song
Aeroplane
I Like Dirt
Californiction
Higher Ground
Don’t Forget Me
(By The Way Not played due to technical issues)*
Give It Away (shown on several videos)
Notes:
*Article on Billboard Website about the event and also detailing the song change from the set list:
By the way… how does it go again?
The finale of the night provided the lucky guests with a bizarre rarity: the Chili Peppers forgetting how to play one of their biggest hits. Flea and Klinghoffer turned to face each, apparently to start their 2002 smash “By the Way,” but looked completely perplexed by the horrendous, out-of-tune racket they created. For a good minute, the duo looked utterly stumped as guests giggled (“I blame the bass tech” quipped Kiedis) before Flea switched out his instrument and the band launched into a note-perfect “Give It Away.” As back-up plans go, it’s a pretty good one to have up your sleeve.
Social Media Posts:
Red Hot Chili Peppers played a backyard show next to my house tonight. Life isn’t suppose to work out like this… pic.twitter.com/kflhbZYwG0
— Brooks Wheelan (@brookswheelan) 13 October 2019
Thanks to people for posting on social media so we fans could see something of the concert! 🙂
RHCP Live 2019: Rock In Rio
Date: Thursday 3rd October, 2019
Location: Rock In Rio, Parque Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Setlist:
???? ALERTA DE SPOILER ????
Senhoras e senhores: o setlist desta noite do @rockinrio. Sim, é aquela música mesmo #RockInRiopic.twitter.com/pOzakXmhKZ
— RHCP Brasil (@BrazilRHCP) 4 October 2019
Can’t Stop
The Zephyr Song
Dark Necessities
Dani California
Hey
I Wanna Be Your Dog (by The Stooges; cover) … Right On Time
The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
Pea
Sikamikanico
Go Robot
Californication
What Is Soul? (by Funkadelic; cover)
Just What I Needed (by The Cars; cover)
Aeroplane
The Power of Equality
Soul to Squeeze
By the Way
***Encore***
I Don’t Wanna Grow Up (by Tom Waits; cover -Josh solo)
Goodbye Angels
Give It Away
Notes:
*The concert was broadcast live.
*The concert took place on Josh Klinghoffer’s 40th Birthday.
*The setlist was leaked pre-concert to much excitement about the inclusion of Sikamikanico which saw its live debut as a gift to Josh for his birthday.
Anthony Kiedis, at the end of Sikamikanico:
“That was our gift to Josh Klinghoffer. [Thank you]. It’s his birthday; and when he was a fifteen year old boy, out in the San Fernando Valley, he got a hold of that song and that time he was a drummer, wasn’t really playing the guitar. He was frickin’ killing the skins, one skin at a time, and he learned how to play that sh*t on the drums so now, what have we got, is it 25 years later?, he’s rocking that sh*t on the guitar. Happy Birthday, Josh!”
Video (full show):
Photos:
Professional concert photos here: Globo.com
RHCP Live 2019 Official Instagram Posts
RHCP on Tour 2019: Ohana Festival
Date: 29th September, 2019
Location: Ohana Festival, Dana Point, California
Setlist:
Source: Official RHCP Instagram
Can’t Stop
Otherside
Dark Necessities
Strip My Mind
I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges cover) … I Like Dirt
Snow ((Hey Oh))
Californication
Go Robot
Just What I Needed (The Cars cover)
Don’t Forget Me
Suck My Kiss
I Could Have Lied
By the Way
***Encore***
Give It Away
Notes:
Goodbye Angels listed on the setlist but was omitted due to time actually available for their set at the festival.
Eddie Vedder also played on The Cars cover, Just What I Needed. Josh (and Jack Irons) had previously guested on Vedder’s set covering Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd:
Photos:
Videos
Many thanks to Henrik, Shalhevet, Sisterwitch and also to anyone else who posted from the concert!