Josh Klinghoffer Admits Red Hot Chili Peppers Was ‘Enormously Stifling’ At Some Point
Josh Klinghoffer has recalled being a part of the rock pioneer Red Hot Chili Peppers for over ten years and admitted that being in the band was “enormously stifling” at some point.
In 1983, young people who were passionate about making music would come together and form a band aiming to show off their talents. In those years, the band, although they usually played to a small crowd, amazed numerous people from each show and made them fans of the band. During the band’s first months, there was also a name that would later become important to the band in the front rows of the crowd. 15-year-old John Frusciante became a die-hard fan after the first Red Hot Chili Peppers concert he attended.
In 1988, Frusciante even became a member of the band. However, after four years, he announced his parting ways with the Chili Peppers in 1992. He then reunited with the Los Angeles-based rock band in 1998. After contributing to the band’s three studio albums during that period, Frusciante again left the band in 2009. Now it was time for Josh Klinghoffer, who was a touring musician of the band in 2007.
Following Frusciante‘s second quit from the Chili Peppers, the band decided to invite Josh Klinghoffer to the band as a permanent guitar player. Together with Josh, the band played for a total of 10 years, toured worldwide, and recorded albums that featured I’m With You and The Getaway. The dream lasted ten years. Towards the end of 2019, Red Hot Chili Peppers announced via social media that they parted ways with Josh Klinghoffer.
Josh Klinghoffer Admits Red Hot Chili Peppers Made Him Feel ‘Enormously Stifling’ Sometimes
During his interview with Guitar World, Josh Klinghoffer recently opened up about being a part of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Klinghoffer went on to say that they did a great decade together, even though being a part of the band felt enormously stifling sometimes.
“Obviously, it’s sad when something is taken from you,” Klinghoffer said. “I did a perfect 10 years with them, but for as much as I love those guys and loved playing with them, it was also enormously stifling creatively. They’re an established band with an established sound, and I learned over time how little deviating from that was possible.
“I thought I was doing a good job writing with them, but it wound up not kind of becoming part of my story, or if it is part of my story with them, it’s a small part.”
He continued: “As much as I thought they were up for experimentation, they generally stayed in their own lane. I was already in the Chili Peppers’ orbit before joining them. I was good friends with John, and I toured with the band in 2007 as a second guitar player. I generally knew what they did and didn’t play, so I knew what to work on. Some songs from Stadium Arcadium I wasn’t familiar with on the guitar, but I knew [Blood Sugar Sex Magik] backward and forward.”
Josh Klinghoffer’s Regret About Red Hot Chili Peppers
This past June, Josh Klinghoffer named his only regret about his former band, Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was clear that Klinghoffer felt Flea, the band’s bassist, and Frusciante went behind his back.
“There was a bit of… It’s not like it was a monogamous relationship,” he reveals. “Flea and John had been kinda hanging out and playing and stuff. They were fostering that relationship again. And I didn’t know that. It was sort of secret.
He said his only regret about the band was not making more music together: “I couldn’t be more grateful to them for all the experiences I’ve had with them. My only regret is not making more music with them.”
