John Frusciante, long-time member of US rock act Red Hot Chili Peppers, has quit the band according to musicradar.com. The website claims a ‘source’ has told them Frusciante left the band months ago, with guitarist/producer Josh Klinghoffer taking his place.
“Mentally, John checked out a long time ago,” the source told musicradar. “He’s interested in doing his own thing, his own albums – the whole big rock band machinery just doesn’t appeal to him anymore.”
After joining the Chili Peppers in 1988 as a replacement for original member Hillel Slovak who died of a drug overdose, Frusciante quit the band for the first time in 1992 when he was battling his own drug problems. He rejoined the band in 1998 and was big influence behind the group’s hugely successful albums ‘Californication’ and ‘By The Way’.
Speaking about his potential replacement, the source said: “Josh has been on everybody’s radar for quite some time. He’s extremely popular within a certain circle of LA musicians. The big thing right now that the band will have to consider is, can Josh write great songs? Can he help push them forward? Everybody knows he can play, but the Peppers need somebody who can come up with amazing material and get them moving again.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers confirmed they are working on a new album in the October of this year, which is expected to be released in late 2010.