In a new interview, RHCP drummer Chad Smith says that John Frusciante will write another album with the band.
Earlier this year, fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers rejoiced to learn that John Frusciante -- the guitarist featured on albums including Californication and Blood Sugar Sex Magick, whose work with the Chili Peppers is often considered the band's defining material -- was returning to the band, replacing then-guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Now, drummer Chad Smith has revealed that not only will Frusciante be playing with the band, he'll also be recording an album with them.
Speaking to Rolling Stone about his new art exhibit, Chad said, “I was given strict orders for this interview: ‘DON’T TALK ABOUT THE BAND. But, yes, John is back in the band and everyone knows that. We’re psyched. The festivals are the only shows booked. For now, we’ll mostly be concentrating on new songs and writing a new record. We’re all real excited to make new music.”
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When pushed as to whether or not that meant the Chili Peppers were writing a new album now that John is on board, Chad replied, “Yes. That’s all I can say.”
When we'll see the next Chili Peppers album featuring Frusciante remains unclear, but hopefully it'll be some time in the next year. As Cat Jones wrote for Kerrang! last year, Californication is considered by many to be the band's perfect album, a polished distillation of their eclectic, emotionally-laden sound, and so much of that comes from Frusciante's guitar playing. "John’s acoustic-guitar performance on [Road Trippin'] is downright breathtaking — and the iconic line, 'These smiling eyes are just a mirror for the sun' paints a picture of worry-free, blissed-out, pre-9/11 Californian youth."
Frontman Anthony Kiedis seems to agree. “I loved the way John was playing when he didn’t have the technical capacity to do everything,” Anthony wrote in his autobiography. “He toned down and developed an incredible minimalist style. Every day he came up with something spectacular.”
More as it comes.
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