Category Archives: Past Band Members

Josh Klinghoffer interviewed for American Songwriter

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You recently released your debut LP, To Be One With You. Do you feel different in any respect now that the solo record is out?

That’s hard to answer accurately because of what happened three weeks after its release. It didn’t really feel different at all and probably would have just been this little record that was out there. The few people who knew to look would find it, and that’d be about it. I was about to get back to the writing, then recording the Red Hot Chili Peppers album, when there was a bit of a personnel change [Klinghoffer was replaced by former RHCP guitarist, John Frusciante]. It’s the most amazing stroke of luck that I just happened to have an album out. I keep thinking about what it would’ve been like to start recording one in the wake of leaving the band. It

There’s another interview with Josh Klinghoffer. RHCP are inevitably mentioned, although more in passing, and nothing really different to Josh’s comments in previous interviews. You can read the interview HERE

‘RHCP’ Live 2020: Beverly Hills Memorial Performance

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Note: This was a total surprise yesterday and I posted as things came in. Doing a ‘proper’ format post now with updated information, but please refer to original post for video links as there’s no point adding them twice.

 

Date: Saturday 8th February, 2020

Location: Private residence; Green Acres Estate, Beverly Hills, California.

Reason: This was a memorial concert to Andrew Buckley who died suddenly at the beginning of January. His father, Ron Buckley, was honoured at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Benefit in November last year.

Notes:

The first live performance featuring the return of John Frusciante following Josh Klinghoffer’s enforced exit.

Chad Smith did not play with the band with drums being played by Jane’s Addiction drummer, Stephen Perkins, instead.

Thelonius Monster and others played the event. Jane’s Addiction also played and Frusciante joined them on stage for a few seconds.

Since Jane’s Addiction were there, ex-RHCP guitarist, Dave Navarro, was obviously present and he was photographed with members of RHCP.

Set List:

Give It Away by RHCP

I Wanna Be Your Dog cover (original by Iggy Pop and The Scrooges)

Not Great Men cover (original by the Gang of Four).

 

Thanks to Jason and Sister Witch for information and everyone else who sent me links.

 

The Band Death of a Klinghoffer… Josh Interview in Rolling Stone

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“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 🙂 

New Josh Klinghoffer Interview

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A new interview has been released talking to Josh Klinghoffer. Inevitably, there are a couple of questions about RHCP in it. Again, non-committal answers and nothing much said in real terms… although maybe it is speaking volumes. (So odd if Josh left of his own choice that even he isn’t commenting on it).

What are some lessons you will take away from your years in the Red Hot Chili Peppers?

“Ask me that another time.”

 

Are there any hard feelings between you and the RHCP camp and/or John?

“I don’t think so. Not from me.”

Read the whole interview on Ultimate Guitar

New Interview With Chad Smith

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Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith has spoken to Rolling Stone about his latest collection of art work, The Art of Chad Smith, currently on display at the Russell Collection Fine Art gallery in Austin, Texas, USA.

Smith talks about how the art, “… is a fun, new way to express myself.” The interview also talks about the process of creating the art and mentions it’s his second such project (Parallax was released in 2016).

Obviously, the interviewer broached the RHCP topic of the moment and asked about the recent change in line-up of the band with Josh Klinghoffer being replaced by John Frusciante. His reply was, “I was given strict orders for this interview: ‘DON’T TALK ABOUT THE BAND,’”and he just confirms that the band are working now with John; they will be concentrating on making a new record and that their only other commitments are the festivals that have been booked during the summer. Smith refused to be drawn into further comment and was clearly sticking to the official line on this.

You can read the full interview here: Rolling Stone: Chad Smith Talks About New Art Exhibition.

Update…

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I’ve been updating several things on the website over the last few days. The John and Josh band member pages have been updated (re-written for John) with the latest information. In fact, I’ve tidied all of the band member pages information up deleting old links and updating information. I realised during that that the page on Chad’s tattoos is so old it was on the old forum site. That has been rectified! There is a brand new, up to date, page on Chad’s tattoos – any info on the letters I haven’t been able to identify, etc. would be gratefully received!

 

An Update: Josh Klinghoffer Leaving RHCP and John Frusciante Returning

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Adding this an announcement for anyone who doesn’t know the latest band news, and also to summarise the events now we’ve had time to process shock announcement.

Last weekend, a post appeared on the official band Instagram thanking Josh for his contribution over the last 10 years and saying he was no longer the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It also stated that John Frusciante was returning to the band.

Initially, people thought the account had been hacked and that this announcement was a hoax as it was so sudden and unexpected. To add to the confusion, it didn’t appear on the band’s other social media accounts at the same time, including the official website (it was posted there the following day- UK time at least).

Flea posted the same announcement on his personal Instagram and Twitter accounts shortly afterwards, but many people still weren’t sure it was genuine until James Slovak* publicly confirmed it was. Chad posted the same announcement a few hours later. (* Hillel’s brother. James, I believe, works for QPrime, RHCP’s management team, and that’s the most likely reason he knew the post was genuine).

No details are given on the announcement and it merely states the band is “parting ways” with Josh. No mention is even given of Josh leaving to pursue his solo career which would have been the logical explanation given the recent release of his Pluralone CD.

As for details, the same account is circulating from numerous sources and that is John requested to rejoin the band and since that was agreed, there was no longer a position for Josh. If true, whether Josh left of his own accord, or was asked to leave, isn’t known. The only definite is that John was photographed with Flea in the summer (July) so they have been back in contact recently.

How long John has actually been back in the band again isn’t known. It might be starting with the announcement, or they might have been together for a while, or he might have been working with just one band member initially and it led from there.

As for the forthcoming expected RHCP album, Flea recently stated during one of his promotional interviews for his memoir, ‘Acid For The Children,’ that an album will be released next year in 2020. There have been various mentions that the band are working on an album. The most recent comment about the actual process was, ironically now, from Josh at the Ohana Festival a couple of months ago (29th September), stating work was slow due to family commitments of the other band members. It certainly sounded like he was part of the process then and people at that point assumed he was as there was no reason to think otherwise. Some fans are now speculating that work has already begun with John, but there is currently no actual evidence for this.

An interview with Josh is due to be aired on 5th January so maybe more details about his departure will be made public then. No member of the band has commented publicly at the time of writing this. Flea has tweeted a few things about loving Josh and about his solo work, but nothing about the reasons for his departure.

As for Josh, for those of you concerned about him, I’ve had word back saying he is fine and I know a couple of other fan pages have had the same message too.

The Announcement:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers announce that we are parting ways with our guitarist of the past ten years, Josh Klinghoffer. Josh is a beautiful musician who we respect and love. We are deeply grateful for our time with him, and the countless gifts he shared with us.

We also announce, with great excitement and full hearts, that John Frusciante is rejoining our group.

Thank you.

Josh Klinghoffer has gone. John Frusciante is back in RHCP

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Stunned! A complete bombshell has dropped tonight. Josh Klinghoffer is no longer part of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and John Frusciante has re-joined the band. There are no details (yet) other than a post made on the band’s Instragram page and Flea’s social media accounts.

I’ve been a bit delayed posting as everyone assumed it was a hack at first, but someone I trust has just confirmed the news.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers announce that we are parting ways with our guitarist of the past ten years, Josh Klinghoffer. Josh is a beautiful musician who we respect and love. We are deeply grateful for our time with him, and the countless gifts he shared with us.

We also announce, with great excitement and full hearts, that John Frusciante is rejoining our group.

Thank you.

Out of the Annals: 1996 Interview with Chad and AK

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This interview from 1996 has just been posted on YouTube. I’ve not seen it before so I’m assuming some of you haven’t either 🙂 It’s a French interview but talking to Chad and AK in London. It starts with the Warped video but after that moves on to discuss One Hot Minute, Dave Navarro, Anthony comments on the French government performing a nuclear test in Tahiti, and Chad compares OHM to a bottle of French wine…Naturally!