Saturday, December 26, 2009

John Frusciante Leaves Chili Peppers


John Frusciante is a talented guitar player. The Red Hot Chili Peppers liked him and his contributions to the band enough to hire him twice. Frusciante replaced original guitarist Hilel Slovak in 1988. He continued with the band until 1992, at which time he left battling a drug addiction. Ten years after he first joined the Chilis, Frusciante rejoined the band in time to make Californication, which produced three singles to reach the top ten of the Billboard 200, the fourth single reaching to number 69.
Frusciante is responsible for much of the direction the band has taken since then, for better and worse. By The Way, released in 2002, had a few notable tracks. Stadium Arcadium, released in 2005, was for the most part an exercise in excess, and like most double albums, would have been better condensed into one.
Like many fans of bands that have been around for twenty-plus years, I would like to see a return to old form. There is absolutely nothing wrong with growing and improving your style, sound, and technique as a band. But the Chilis have become so far removed from the band they began as so long ago, that it would be fantastic to hear something resembling their old sound resurface.
Is 2010 and a new Chilis record the start of something new as a return to something old?
What's your favorite Chilis record?

1 comment:

  1. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan,and Blood Sugar Sex Magik, even though that one totally doesn't hold up. I know bands have to evolve, but One Hot Minute was SO LOUSY, I never was able to give them a good listen again.

    Now everything they do sounds the same. Bluh.

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