Josh Klinghoffer Unveiled As New Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist

A posting on Stadium-Arcadium.com confirms that the 30-year-old will replace long-serving guitarist John Frusciante, who announced his departure last month.

An editor of the site wrote: “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 him 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!”

It's expected that Klinghoffer will make his live debut with the band on January 29 at a MusiCares show in honour of Neil Young.

Kilnghoffer, who toured with the Chili Peppers in 2007, has worked as a studio musician with an array of acts including Beck, The Butthole Surfers, Neon Neon, Sparks, Gnarls Barkley and PJ Harvey.

He also formed the band Ataxia in 2004 with John Frusicante and Fugazi's Joe Lally and performed with The Bicycle Thief at the turn of the millennium.

Thanks for the report to Gigwise.com.

Comments

[Hungry_Hameds]

here here.

Just because froosh is gone doesnt mean rhcp automatically suck, or that just because he's the replacement Josh sucks... I've got all the albums including from the Jack Irons/Hillel Slovak days, and they are all great. Cant wait for the new one, congratulations to Josh and good luck to John in the future!

[ledzeppfann]

Im looking forward to hearing this, though noone can replace Fruciante.

[ledzeppfann]

Im so sad that Fruciantes left :P

[AEnima18]

Ah well. Shame Froosh went, but bring on the Hoff!

[kerokero]

I don't know...for some strange reason...I get the feeling this is gonna be a OHM fiasco all over again, except that the new album will ACTUALLY suck. Josh is a great guitarist, but definately not on the same calibur as Slovak of Frusciante. The only way I can see the new releases having any redeeming quality to them is if Flea's bass and Anthony's rapping returns to the forefront once again.

I hope I'm really wrong about Josh...:'(

[TheZephyrSon]

Could be a pretty interesting album...I mean, they made good music with Hillel before john, and even One Hot Minute wasn't as bad as some portrayed it to be. I'm still looking forward to it, and hopefully a tour.

[Fera_rawr]

Tbh I'm loving John's solo stuff so I'd rather he put the effort into that rather than work on both and not produce his best work.
Not too sure how Josh is on guitar only ever seen him playing back up to John live but maybe it'll bring something new and exciting.

[Adamtbh]

Josh is a great musician. and having played with the chilis for a while the biggest worry is him trying to mimic john, not his musical ability.

[Pobre_Bob]

RHCP isn't RHCP without John. I'm sure Josh is great, but I doubt he's as good as John.

Also, has anyone else thought that all of RHCP's guitarists had weird-ass last names?

['93]

only half of rhcps abums have been with john
while they are the better half probably im sure josh would do well enough on his own

as long as he can improvise with the band hell be fine

[Black Star]

Why does everybody say it isn't RHCP without John? If I recall, there was a guitarist before John. John is NOT the be all, end all of RHCP.

Hell, I'm not even a fan, but get real, people. I'm sure this album will be up to par with the rest of their material.

[nickyjohnson]

I think this could be pretty awesome.Josh has already been playing with them since stadium arcadium,and presumably beforehand even if its just jamming with them,i could imagine john just bringing him to a jam one day.its going to be good

[Farether]

ledzeppfann wrote:

Im so sad that Fruciantes left :P

+1000

[shwilly]

As any other sane person who hasn't been consumed by his own fanboy-ism yet I say: give the man a chance. I don't care if you're one of those people who only listens to their albums from Californication onwards: from day 1 the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been one of the most fun, cool and innovative bands out there. They were the sh*t before John, and they certainly have the ability to be the sh*t once again, as long as there's Flea and Anthony

Even if their next album isn't quite what you expected: keep in mind that not all change is bad. I remember when Alice In Chains reformed a few years ago and half of this site went "noooo, they shouldn't do that, they have to change rheir name, blablabla". Guess what: I saw them last month and it was the best gig I've seen in the whole f*cking year

What makes band like these so great is that they've always gone their own way and I'm just happy that (one of) the biggest band(s) of these times is always going against the flow. All I can say is good luck guys (and don't be cheap on the funk while you're at it )

[redhotsexmagic]

i'm sad frusciante left also but the way he is it was going to happen at some point. I'm happy that josh is going to be the new guitarist as he's been with the band enough and worked with john to have a feel of what it takes to be in the peppers. also i'm happy that it's not some high profile guitarist theyre bringing in like when they brought in navarro. i think this will be good

[KenMasters]

I have officially stopped caring about the RHCP's future since the day John quit. Don't rash bashing me...
I idolised John fromk the very moment i heard the Californication album. It went out when i was 11. Half a year later i picked up guitar.
Exploring his older works and coming through BSSM and Mother's Milk just took me to the next level of admiration.
To put things straight, i don't believe the next album will shuck at all. flea is still the best bass player around, anthony is still one of the most influential frontmen and a very characteristic persona indeed. Chad is always Chad. Josh, having worked with Froosh, i'm sure he won't be of Navarro material, but of pure Johnny-inspired melodies.

Even so, my travel with the band has ended.
Why? because RHCP is not on the point they were with slovak/Irons, which was all great and i love it.
RHCP is not on the point they were with Navarri either.(though i really like some of those songs).
Over the last decade the bands songs are based on JF's minimalist melodic guitaring and Flea's bass experty.
After all, the last decade of RHCP IS John.
Maybe the next five years the band will change to a new style, but it will never be Californicatio, Otherside, Road Trippin, Scar Tissue, Under The Bridge, Give it Away, Soul to Squeeze again... Just as it was not the same never again whe John joined the band for the first time...

good luch Josh... Good luck RHCP

[vaca11]

ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

[IAmCool123]

ill admit that im a little sad about john leaving, but then again alot of my favorite chili songs were done by slovac and navarro. i say give this guy a chance! even if hes not as good as john im sure that flea and anthony can find a way to work around his playing and still make it kick ass!!

[Zeppelin Addict]

Obie wrote:

but im eager to hear what this new guy is gonna be like. if hes good enough for the rest of the band to want him as guitarist then hes good enough for me because i value the rest of the chili peppers' opinion.

you have my full respect man, why cant anyone else look at it like Obie here? clearly whats best for RHCP is known only by the RHCP and if you cant accept it dont call yourself a fan. ill miss john just as much as the next guy, but lets look forward, its the end of one era and the beginning of another, embrace it.

[Ultimate-Sitar]

frusciante's solos aren't hard at all those solos are actually the first solos i learnt. his solos arent like zakk wylde, slash (now a-days),etc his solos are pure feel. tho he can shred even better than slash and stuff if he wants to check out mothers milk and his improvisations live then u know what i'm talking about. its just that he doesn't like to play fast and neither do i thats why i enjoy his solos the most

vaca11 wrote:

ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

[GIBSONroks6167]

this has the potential to either be the best, or worst RHCP of all time. lets just sit back and enjoy the ride, and pray that john wasn't as big a part of their sound as we gave him credit for...

[Quicksand15]

vaca11 wrote:

ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

What are you talking about dude?

[Krieger91]

i'm still extremely heartbroken about frusciante..
mostly because i've never seen them live, and now i never will..not without frusciante..
but i'll still have to give this dude a chance..

[diddiwiddi94]

I don't know If RHCP will be as good without John as the band style will change as it did when John came into the band it was more funky before John then they started releasing slower songs.

[Colohue]

checked

[twat]

vaca11 :
ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

I don't think you know much about music, or John F.

I wouldn't say I'm a fan boy, but I do prefer his stuff to any other RHCP guitarist, except some of One Hot Minute which was quite good. Either way, like someone else said, they know their band better than we do, and wouldn't rush a bad decision.

[guitartiger]

hope he is decent.....i mean froosh could SHRED

[h1soka]

I'm so glad that Frusciante left, he is a better musician solo

[megathrash00]

vaca11 wrote:

ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

its not about how difficult a solo is...

But anyway I love frusciante and am a huge fan of his solo stuff as well as his work with the chilis. If anyone should replace him i think it should be josh. Hes great friends with frusciante has toured with the chilis, was in ataxia with froosh and did some solo stuff with him, and has a similar playing style. Hes a great musician and i think he will be a good replacement. The new stuff will definitely be different but it should be pretty interesting. Plus, this gives frusciante more time to work on more solo material and hopefully have a new tour.

[SlashIsGod091]

I'm very open minded about this.
Sure, John was my favorite RHCP guitarist, but I have all their albums and I enjoy them all.
I hope they get more funky on the next album, BSSM was their last really funky album with Flea's kick ass bass lines.

[SlashIsGod091]

I would also enjoy some more Anthony rapping!

[LightxGrenade]

this guy must be really versatile, you saw the bands he's worked with? Neon Neon is NOTHING like RHCP, this guy must have some great creative chops I guess that's what it means to be a studio guitarist. Hope the fans accept him and hope he does well!

[IggyMorrison]

Even though Frusciante is still my favourite guitarist out there, All we are saying... Is give Josh a chance

[BrixDK]

If they've have to replace John i guess that picking John's best friend is'nt such a bad idea...
I just hope that he does'nt try to copy him and hopefully, with time, he will find his own place in the band because; holy **** i would like to see THEM live and not a poor immitation

[Ranmanbassist18]

im just gunna put this out their but if someone doesn't wanna be in the band they dont deserve to be in it. if John left for his reasons then good for him RHCP has his new member Josh and im looking forward to seeing what he has to bring to the legendary band

[FenderMaster]

This was one of the worst kept secrets ever... people knew Josh was gonna replace him for a few weeks now...

I don't know how this is gonna turn out... tbh I can't even picture Josh K in the group, but I'm definitely interested to see how he works with them, and what he can bring to the band

good luck Josh K, you've got some mighty big shoes to fill, hope you're up to it!!

[Scutchington]

"Froosh"'s leaving made me really sad, but I am anxious to hear what Josh brings to our favorite brand of Californian Peppers.

[Trabo]

in all honesty, the chili peppers need a new direction. flea is an outstanding songwriter and i feel he will dominate there direction this time around instead of john. there work with john has run its course and is done. stadium arcadium was loaded with filler tracks that simply were not up to par with what they are capable of. it seems like there creativity as a band was sapped with john as he gets more into his experimental solo stuff (all of which is brilliant). the chili peppers aim for a twist on mainstream appeal and i feel like with klinghoffer they might be able to rejuvinate a new sound. i expect alot of jazz influence seeing as flea has immersed himself in the world of jazz ever since there hiatus.

[guitarhero999]

As un-replaceable as John is, Klinghoffer is easily the best man to pick up the torch...

[b_flo]

What a lot of people don't know is that Josh toured w/RHCP and worked in the studio with them, as their 2nd guitarist (or ghost guitarist). Other bands like U2, do this...the 2nd guitarist is playing off-stage...which makes it live, not played on tracks. A truly live band! Nowadays, most bands rely on laptops to play backing tracks.

[Slap-happy]

Although I have kind of lost interest in the band over the past 10 years I recall Mother's Milk being released and Frusciante being rubbished as a "new-kid" and not fit to step into Slovak's shoe's. I am prepared to give Josh the benefit of the doubt - the band chose him for a reason, after all.
Give Josh a chance - you can't possibly state, with any sense of authority what so ever, that it's going to be terrible since no-one's heard him play with the band as sole guitarist and certainly haven't heard what contributions he has to offer when it comes to thw writing process.

[JFfan92]

i just cant imagine me seeing rhcp live with out john. i dont know nearly as much about josh as i do froosh so this could be why but yea..

[mijigifs]

im gonna miss John not being in RHCP, but whatever, everyone is free to do what they want to. we''l see how RHCP work with Josh on guitar soon

[Guitarlord44]

Wow that was a shocker XD

[highspirit]

bring on the techno

[BigZman95]

RHCP only has one good song.

[jrcsgtpeppers]

^one good song? Really? I think they have many amazing songs...
^^josh does like techno but he played half of the empyrean and many others, he plays guitar just fine.
I think the new album is gonna be amazing and that whatever john foes will blow my mind. Just thinking positively

[Lotz222]

Am i the only one who thinks john is a tad overrated?

[queenslander47]

Lotz222 wrote:

Am i the only one who thinks john is a tad overrated?

probz not, but johns guitar ability wasn't the most important part of his involvement with the chili peppers. It was his songwriting and his chemistry with flea and chad which i don't think can be replicated. not saying that the new album with josh will suck, i just can't see it matching up to anything they did with john.

[RighteousMagik]

^ you may see it that way but most people know him by (that dude who plays guitar?!??). Any way i really wanted to see them live with him but i got banned from the ticketmaster website so i didn't get to see the stadium arcadium tour. Anyway I hope the band gets a refresher cause it would be awesome. the best of luck to josh (he has some giants shoes to fill) I believe at least. John your still my man, The empyrean was amazing. I WANT TO SEE YOU TOUR. please come back eventually!

[Mr7K]

to be fair, Flea and Chad Smith make the Chili Peppers

[-xCaMRocKx-]

WHO'S GONNA GO "OOOOO" IN THE BACKGROUND NOW?!?!?!?!!?

Lol.

Well I'm not happy about John leaving, but I'll still probably get the album and see what happens. Obviously things are going to be very different, as John had been the main creative force in the band since he rejoined, and particularly during Stadium Arcadium. John is one of my absolute favourite musicians, and I'm really going to miss RHCP without him. But we'll see what happens.

[iheartgun]

.....im with lotz222....
i believe that he is very over-rated....thats just me

[syngates07]

h1soka wrote:

vaca11 :
ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

Stop making music, you just don't get it.

lmao. you get it. hopefully josh can funk it out like john, but then again, it would still be interesting to see what other styles the chilis could explore. but yeah, johns harmonies were badass. thats something theyll never get back. but here to another decade (hopefully even more) or the red hot chili peppers!

[aig91]

Checked

[MinterMan22]

Yo Josh, I'm real happy for you and imma let you finish, but, John Frusciante is the best Chili Pepper guitarist of all time.. of all time!

But honestly, I think he deserves a chance.

[LimeGig]

As long as Flea and Anthony are in the band, it's RHCP. Though I will miss John's backing vocals...

[crazy8rgood]

I don't know why, but I have a feeling that this is actually going to be really good.

[supersonic23]

Huge Frusciante fan, he was the reason I began playing guitar. It will be interesting how this incarnation of the Red Hots will fair. I have faith.

[flame_mc]

crazy8rgood wrote:

I don't know why, but I have a feeling that this is actually going to be really good.

exactly what i was thinking

[ShannonMc]

im just gonna miss frusciantes style, his solos and the stage presence. but klinghoffer was playing with the chilis during the stadium arcadium tour so im actually looking forward to this

[Jazzmandtk]

Aw this is still bittersweet John had the most heartfelt solos around but Josh is a great player so this may give their music some great new ideas

woulda loved to see them live with john though...

[dan0z]

Now can they start playing a few OHM tracks at their gigs??? it'd be about time

[NaivexLi]

I'm not a big fan of the band. I enjoy them, but I don't rave about them.

And a band that has been around for as long and gone through such an evolution, I'm curious to see where they go from here.

I think it could definitely be good. They tend to pick some real talented people to be part of them.

[HellsYeah]

vaca11 wrote:

ok frusciante is a cool guy.. but come'n my own songs are harder and better than his solos.. i dont even play same solo when playing RHCP.. im sory for it but lets give a chance to new guy

Do you realize how bland music would be if every guitarist decided the only way to prove how talented they are is to shred every note of every song they write? You obviously have no real appreciation for music.

[SFMMcoasters]

I'm not really too concerned with the new album, perhaps it will suck, perhaps not, either way we will still have the old stuff. What I am concerned with is when I go to a Chilis concert all the old stuff better sound just like it would have before, so I can close my eyes and be at the chilis concert I always dreamed of. I want this guy to be able to recreate the chilis songs we love just like john did.

[AaronianKenrod]

i love the chili peppers and i wouldn't be worried about josh joining as much if it wasn't for chad saying that they were writing more piano based songs. i think the majority of RHCP fans want another funk album, not an album of piano ballads which is the direction they seem to be going in

[ZeGuitarist]

Checked.

[Cheesepuff]

john wrote awesome songs... gonna miss him...

[shackman13]

lets just clear some things up.
josh is an awesome guitarist, he's john's friend and has worked with him on several occations. although thier music style is similar, ive always thought josh is more experimental, especially with his equipment use. josh can also fill the missing void of background singing, his voice is higher than johns. listen to john's song 'omission' or 'at your enemies' to get an idea of what to expect.

overall, i'm really looking forward to the new album. firstly, i'm glad there is going to be a new album, because i was very unsure the band was even going to stay together. secondly, i am interested to see what direction the album heads in, although i wouldnt be holding my breathe for a funk/rapping album a la freaky styley or uplift mofo.

overall, i think we, as rhcp fans, shouldnt be crapping on the new album before its out- who knows, it could be their best one yet. make your mind up AFTER it comes out, not before. cheers guys, long live rhcp.. thanks john for your years of cosmic crazy mind bending playing.

[Mr Pringle]

I hope their next album isn't arse because of the new chemistry added, can't wait to see what will happen!

[guitarxo]

Anthony and Flea are the backbone of RHCP - their drummers and guitarists in particular have always been changing yet the band has been pretty outstanding all the way through (IMO). So I'm sure the next album will be fine, and even then, as shackman13 said, don't bash the album before you've heard it - it might surprise you.

[plbrynt]

Anybody remember when Dave Navarro was in the band..?
that really sucked.

[Rimfrost]

I was devastated when John Left, to me he was the most important part of the band. But i do look forward hearing what Josh can do, i really like his previous work with Frusciante, especially Sphere in the heart of silence, so i´m optimistic

[Raizer Sabre]

i'm not the biggest rhcp fan, but good luck to the guy. yes, he has big shoes to fill, but that doesn't mean he'll automatically suck. it's like when stratovarius brought in a new guitarist to replace timo tolkki and he turned out to be awesome. let's hope the chilis have as much luck as strato did with the next album

[Rænduz]

Glad they found a replacement this fast, actually looking forward to hearing the guy play on their next album.

[WhiteStripesIII]

I'm personally really excited to hear what they'll sound like with Josh - he's a damn talented guy and I'm sure he'll be as good as Frusciante.

[Jens57]

Get your facts straight:
Information is currently circling the web that needs clarification, regarding Josh Klinghoffer and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Josh-Klinghoffer.net is currently undergoing a change of ownership, and in transferring data and relevant correspondence to the new owner, personal communications between Josh and Katrina (Cavadino, former editor of JKDN) were mistakenly sent out, leading to a story that should never have been run.

Katrina is completely mortified and disappointed at her betrayal of trust, no matter that it was a freak accident and miscommunication. She wishes to sincerely apologise for any embarassment or hurt she has inadvertently allowed to be caused.

Until official notice comes from the band or management, Josh's role in the band is not confirmed and remains subject to speculation.

[raty06]

I've heard most of their new stuff is mainly piano based, so i'm guessing that theres gonna' be a big change in their style. I'm really sad that Johns left but he had to do what he had to do. Good look to Josh cause I know Frusciantes boots won't be easy to fill.

[jerryban]

i think we should really respect josh for what hes doing, without him they wouldnt have a new guitarist this fast, and the album would be delayed. and another thing: would YOU dare to get in johns boots? i mean, now-one in this universe plays like the man, and still josh tries it, and we havent heard anything yet so just buy the album and listen, there are gonna be some good sounds in it for sure

[kunkushin]

this is my personal life lesson regarding procrastination, they have been on my need to see live list soooo long that I've missed the chance to see my favorite RHCP lineup. Luckily guitarist issues aren't new to them, they'll still rock.

[<G-U-I-T-A-R>]

not that josh will suck but he and john have different styles and RHCP probably wont sound the same but lets hope their next album sounds good
gotta give props to josh for being the new guitarist in RHCP

[hillan]

ok so just so everyone knows Josh is actually pretty good a guitar and will fit in quite nicely....especially since he has preformed with them on a pretty regular basis. and here is a vid of him playing Snow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Y7xFNFTRI
im sure the next album will be good i cant wait for it!

[vincymon]

Oh man. I cannot believe this !

When Stadium Arcadium came out I had my fingers crossed that it would be their last album. I just had this nagging feeling that if they made a new album, John would leave (isn't he the youngest ?).

I was born in "91 so for me Anthony, Chad,Flea and John ARE the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

I just cannot imagine a better line up. I love all the band's music.

But at this stage in their life, the band is mature.. why have a line-up change now !

There's nothing sweeter than a favourite band of yours that stays together and keep jamming right into their old age.

I know that this Klinghoffer guy is a regular back-up. I have no doubt that he understands that RHCP style.

But .... this is gonna take some getting used to.

Can you imagine if Coldplay were to have a line-up change now ?

It just .. doesn't feel right

[yertle501]

I myself think they do need some sort of newness.
give the new guy a go , thay seem to be happy with them.
I did love johns sensability snd yeh he could be quite funky.
I'm shure josh 'll be just fine.