The popular Red Hot Chili Peppers fansite Stadium-Arcadium.com has been in direct contact with multi-instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer, and can confirm that he is, indeed, the band’s new guitarist. The following message appeared on their site this morning:
I’ve managed to establish contact with Josh through the previous owner of Josh-Klinghoffer.net, Katrina, who has personal contact with [him], and was able to get [Klinghoffer] to reply to an e-mail asking if he was in the band. He confirmed that he is in the band earlier today! Stadium-Arcadium.com now has direct contact with Josh and will be able to bring you updates from him personally in the future!
Josh Klinghoffer will replace long-time guitarist John Frusciante, who announced his departure last month, and make his live debut as the band’s lead guitarist on January 29th at a MusiCares event in honour of Neil Young.
Known primarily for his collaborations on John Frusciante’s solo material, Klinghoffer was previously a member of The Bicycle Thief and Beck‘s touring band before joining the Red Hot Chili Peppers as an additional musician on their 2007 tour in support of Stadium Arcadium.
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Andrew Lindsay is a Glasgow-based singer-songwriter and deputy editor of Stereokill. 
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I don’t think that this will work at all. I am a HARDCORE fan of the Chili’s, but readily admit that they have made some missteps in their career. TBH, I saw it coming, mainly because of the lack of any major news with the band for the last two years, and John’s eccentric nature, which cultimated in the brilliant ‘Empryrean’ record at the beginning of last year. He’s changed a lot, and TBH, I’d rather they break up now, than taint their success with a bad album. Stadium Arcadium was good, but I can’t see the Chili’s following that up. I hope that things go well, but all it really means is that we’re gonna have to wait another year for an album. Bah.
On a lighter note, I’d love to see the four of them branch out and work with other people. I can also see them reuniting later in the future, which is a wise money-making scheme, which I wouldn’t be opposed to. Who knows, maybe Josh might work well, I dunno. It’s confirmed now anyway, and if they make a record, it shouldn’t be that bad. It might even be good! But anyway, here’s to the Chili’s, and good luck to them. And John.
like i have said before, Josh will most likely be similar to one of three John Frusciantes: BSSM John, SA John, or Empyrean John. I hope to god it is the first one, but the second one would be good too.
Part of me wants the chili peppers to break up now that John Frusciante is gone. The band has really become almost all about Frusciante. At the same time, I am very excited because we get to hear a band that is not so focused on John. It’s kind of a paradox but it makes sense to me…
I think most Chilis fans will have mixed feelings about this, but I’m glad they’ve gone for Klinghoffer rather than a Dave Navarro type of choice. Them was bad times, in my opinion.
They are not the Red Hot John Frusciantes, as much as I will miss John’s bad-ass guitar playing and backing vocals, I think Klinghoffer can carry the load. He is a very good guitarist that should fit right in with them. He is like John’s under-slate, this won’t be a HUGE,HUGE change. I’m excited to hear what it’s going to sound like.
You say “this won’t be a HUGE,HUGE change”, but that is exactly what disappoints me. Frusciante is always changing the sound and even the style that the Chilis play. His improvisation cannot be topped. No one, not even Frusciante’s own son could replace him and do him justice. I just hope klinghoffer is half the musician JF is.
Personally, I’m not so bummed about John Frusciante quitting again. He is a weird guy and for all I care he can go be weird somewhere else. I am hoping the new guy brings back the Mother’s Milk sound. I loved the heaviness of the guitars on that album.
I never see a good word about the Dave Navarro era, which I don’t really understand being that One Hot Minute is my favourite RHCP album. Some might remember that they intended Californication to be their last album but the success of it has pushed them through another 10 years, something that could be attributed to Frusciante returning to the band, but would that have happened if he didn’t disappear into obscurity?… I think a change for an album could be the best thing they could do, especially if Frusciante makes a return for the next.
It’s good to see that someone else likes One Hot Minute. While it is not my favorite, I still think it is great. I can’t stand it when people say Navarro sucks. He was just as good as John.
Well if it’s just you and I my friend, it’s already double the troops in the One Hot Minute camp.
dave is good and id say one hot minute is 4th on my list of rhcp albums but there is noway dave is as good a musical writer as john and noway hes half the guitarist john is.
noone is focusing on the fact that john has wrote the music on all the successful rhcp albums. he even wrote alot of mother’s milk. josh is a great guitarist but idt he could write like john.
@NRA, i’d think twice about your assertion of John being “weird” in a band that features Flea and Anthony Keidis; especially when you’d like them to return to the Mother’s Milk sound, one which was very driven by John’s guitar sound and which features a song called “Nobody Weird Like Me.”
@Campbell Miller, Yeah ok, so the other members are weird too. But they are weird in a fun and quirky way. John Frusciante kind of scares me, he is so out there. And yeah i love Mother’s Milk. Nobody weird like me is one of my favorite songs of all time. Just because I think he is strange, it doesn’t mean that hate his guitar playing, I just think it’s time for a change, that’s all.
@Matt: I certainly wouldn’t dispute that for a second, John is far better than Dave but the point I’m making is that RHCP aren’t dead in the water without John… His work is recognisable a mile off, but I’m ready for something a little less predictable from the band… another outsider album like One Hot Minute.
yeah i know what you mean but the problem is dave was a proven song writer and klinghoffer is not. im hoping for a good album but idk it will happen.
john is the best!!!
when i first saw this, i nearly cried, it will not be the same.
i love their sound sooo much, and now it will change.
Like some people say maybe its a good thing to go out on top, rather then write an average album.
I cant wait for another frusciante album, ive really grown to love the latest one
I, like many, had seen this coming for years. Frusciante’s creative pace and curiosity far outstrips the rest of the band. Not to discredit, an excellent drummer and one of the most creative bass players in history – but as far as ingenuity I can’t see them replacing Frusciante easily. However, Klinghoffer is a very interesting proposition. I have been following his career for about 7 years and he always struck me as having the spirit of a young John Frusciante. However, his band choices from Beck to Gnarls Barkley to Warpaint and various others would suggest that he has (like Frusciante) a much wider palette than the Chilis. Which makes me wonder if a guy like JK would be interested in joining the institution that is the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’ve always looked forward to the day he formed his own band, and am a little disappointed that he has instead been drafted in to operate as a doppelganger for his now-departed best friend. Its very similar to when Hillel’s space was replaced by the young Frusciante who idolized Slovak’s playing. In this way, history appears to be repeating himself.
However, I really think the bravest thing the whole ensemble could do would be to retire the band name and call it something entirely new. That would be much more exciting. To see them demonstrate that they are so passionate about music, that they are willing at their age, to start all over again. In 97 Flea said to Keidis that unless Frusciante rejoined, it was over. On this thinking, surely it would be the dignified thing to do. They are a weird band. I grew up in awe of them, and have grown to be slightly embarrassed by their recent works.
I wonder what kind of songwriting it will throw up? Probably best confiscate Chad from bringing in the cheesy hair metal slant on things…
I just read back my comment and my grammar was god-awful… Apologies!
that was one of the most anal comments ive ever heard.
@Gordon: The “History repeating itself” thing is exactly what I thought, as for being a bit embarrassed about their recent works… which is why I’m okay about Frusciante’s departure, the band does seem to have just gone through the motions on the last 2 albums… this is their last stand in my opinion.
I think I must be one of those rarer RHCP fans, because I’m a huge fan of the early albums and the recent ones. I don’t see what there is to be embarassed about with the recent albums, I thought Stadium Arcadium was a great record.
It’s good, if you cut out about 30-40% of the album… just my opinion of course.
i think john will be back eventually. probably like 5-10 years from now but im sure he’ll go back even if it’s just for a reunion tour.