TheRed Hot Chili Peppershave hada lot of different lineups over the years, but the biggest change came in 1988, with the death of their original guitar player,Hillel Slovak. From the tragedy, however, came one of the moments that changed music forever. WhenJohn Frusciantejoined the band, theRed Hot Chili Peppersfound the sound that people have come to know and love.
But Frusciante’s involvement in the band was anything but simple. The guitarist was in the band for four years before quitting, then rejoined, and then left again. His last absence lasted ten years, and no one expected him to come back when he did. However, looking back on it, his return shouldn’t have come as a surprise, and the band has explained why.
John Frusciante’s First Departure From the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hillel Slovak’s passing due to an overdose was a huge blow to theRed Hot Chili Peppers, who were not only bandmates but also best friends since they were teenagers. Saddened by his friend’s death, original drummerJack Ironsquit the band, leavingAnthony KiedisandFlea,the only founding members still in the band to this day.
Kiedis and Flea knew that they wanted to keep the band going, so they set out to find the perfect drummer and guitarist. John Frusciante was only 18 when he was introduced to Flea through a mutual friend, but he was already a prodigy of the guitar. He was hired almost immediately, and once they recruited drummerChad Smith, the band’s most popular and successful lineup was formed.
Frusciante worked on two records with the band after joining, including the album that catapultedRHCPto fame,Blood Sugar Sex Magik.However, in 1992, while they were touring for that album, things took a turn. Frusciante was going through a dark period personally and ended up quitting the band after a show in Japan. His decision caused a rift between him and the other members of the band, who ultimately replaced him withJane’s Addictionguitarist,Dave Navarro.
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WhileRHCPkept going with their new guitar player,Frusciante spent years battling a drug addiction that almost killed him on several occasions. Flea, who kept in touch with him through that time, admitted that he didn’t think he would pull through. But miraculously, he did. It wasn’t without consequences, and he struggled with several health issues following his recovery, but in 1998, after he went to rehab, his former bandmates asked him to rejoin.
What followed was the most successful period the band ever had. They released their classic albumCalifornicationin 1999, and followed it up withBy the Wayin 2002 and a double album,Stadium Arcadium, in 2006. Each of thosealbums enjoyed critical and commercial success, but in 2009, Frusciante decided to leave the band again. The circumstances were completely different from his tense departure in 1992, and for a lot of fans, this time it was final. They never thought he’d return. So imagine their surprise when, in 2019, the band announced they were getting back together.
Frusciante’s Second Return Was Actually Not That Unexpected
Fans were ecstatic when, in December 2019, theRed Hot Chili Peppers' official page announced that Frusciante was returning to the group after ten years, but it was undoubtedly a surprise. The guitarist had remained largely out of the spotlight after his second departure, so no one saw his return coming. However, once the band opened up about the process that led to their reunion,it turned out it wasn’t at all unexpected.
During a series of conversations with their producer, Rick Rubin, the band explained that each of the members, individually, was missing their musical connection. Anthony Kiedis explained that Flea “wasn’t feeling his best” playing without Frusciante, and that, at the same time, without talking to each other about it, Kiedis had been thinking about asking Frusciante to collaborate with them. He didn’t think the guitarist would want to rejoin permanently, but he felt the band needed to include him in the creative process. With that in mind, he went to talk to Flea about it, who beat him to it and revealed that he and Frusciante had been playing on their own, and he felt confident that the guitarist would come back if asked.
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For his part, Frusciante explained that Flea’s wedding in 2019 was a big turning point. It was the first time in a long time that the four of them saw each other, and apparently, Chad Smith told him he missed playing with him and suggested they get together sometime soon. Frusciante brought it up to Flea, and that’s when the bassist finally asked him to officially rejoin.
Everyone was really excited about the idea, but there was one more thing they needed to take care of. When Frusciante left in 2009,RHCPhad guitaristJosh Klinghoffertake his place, and they had to dismiss him after ten years. During interviews, Klinghoffer explained that, while it was shocking at first, looking back on it, he shouldn’t have been surprised. He said that he had noticed Frusciante becoming close with the band again after not seeing each other for a long time, andacknowledged that he and Flea have a musical connection that they had never managed to recreate while Klinghoffer was in the band.
In 2022, two and a half years after Frusciante’s return, theRed Hot Chili Peppersreleased two double albums,Unlimited LoveandReturn of the Dream Canteen,and with those records, it became clear to fans that Frusciante’s return was practically inevitable. While each lineup brought a different color to the band, at the end of the day, it’s the four of them together that truly create the signature sound of theRed Hot Chili Peppers.
