Frusciante leaves RHCP

[tomjackson]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_10000000/newsid_10003500/10003514.stm

Do you think they will advertise here for a replacement?

[Philly Q]

I think they'll struggle to find a long-term replacement.  All their best stuff was recorded with Mr Frusciante as far as I'm concerned.

[badgermark]

Though Frusciante's best work is his solo albums, I'm a huge fan of the man but RHCP are a bit rubbish now.

[Afghan Dave]

He will be missed.

Well it was always hanging on him... He really is a "magical" player sometimes and I wouldn't expect anyone could fill those shoes.

You would have to stamp your own mark but with history & money RHCP have I doubt that is possible.

IMHO - The sum of that band was so much greater than the parts & we're talking some pretty world class parts.

Don't expect much from him solo other than tons of "hit and miss" albums that no one buys.

He's got so much in the bank, why not?  :?

[Ian Price]

Gutted. My favourite guitarist. I do like some of his solo stuff although his best stuff has without doubt been with RHCP.

Without him they will not do very well. I saw them with Dave Navarro and Arik Marshall and they were very average indeed. I've seen them 3 times with Frusciante and they were great. I never saw them with Hillel Slovak as I was too young. They will need to find someone very very good.

Gutted, gutted, gutted.

[Philly Q]

He was such a big part of the band's sound, it's hard to imagine how they'll handle this. 

I guess if they just want to rest on their laurels, they'll get a very proficient hired-hand who'll play the parts just like the records and make the right noises on stage - wouldn't bode well for any future albums though.

On the other hand, if they go for a strong, creative personality, the band's sound is really going to change like it did with Dave Navarro (I'm a fan, but his time with RHCP didn't really work out).

[Mr. Air]

I think Dave Navarro did great on one hot minute. He really gave some new life to RHTP. Some of my favourite Chili Peppers songs are Coffee Shop and Walkabout.

The return of Frusciante brought Californication which is quite good, but anything RHTP have made after that record blows. At least to me. Only a few good/decent songs and a lot of boring cr@p.

[Philly Q]

I like One Hot Minute too, in its own right it's a very good album, but compared to the best Frusciante stuff it's a bit flat, a bit "tight" somehow.  Frusciante's playing is so loose and flowing, he just makes everything sound effortless (although I'm sure it isn't).

For me, Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the best thing they've ever done.  The Frusciante who returned for Californication seemed to be a more relaxed, spiritual (and weird!) sort of guy.  I like Californication, I like By The Way even more but I found Stadium Arcadium a bit much - mainly just because there are so many songs!

I'm not really the biggest Frusciante fan or expert, so it's not for me to say, but I've always thought there's something truly remarkable about the guy.  He's one of the few musicians who seems to be "channelling" something from outside himself.  And I don't even believe in that stuff.  

[Ian Price]

I'm not really the biggest Frusciante fan or expert, so it's not for me to say, but I've always thought there's something truly remarkable about the guy.  He's one of the few musicians who seems to be "channelling" something from outside himself.  And I don't even believe in that stuff.  

Well, I'm a big fan and agree with what you have said. I know he spends a lot of time meditating - apparently this makes the music come from somewhere else other than the brain.

BloodSugar..... is probably my favourite RHCP album, probably as that was the first one I bought. It is closely followed by Stadium Arcadium (the fuzz tone on the Strip My Mind solo is sublime) and By The Way.

[Matt77]

Well they weren't really doing anything anyway at the moment and I wasn't anticipating anything coming out in the next million years from the RHCP
He'll probably be back when he's ready and they might record something a bit better then whenever that may be

[Ian Price]

True Matt - an indefinite hiatus made me think it would be a long time until anything new came out. I know Flea, Chad and Frusciante have got side projects/solo stuff going on but not sure what Kiedis is doing. He is the least talented of all of them.

[Matt77]

I wonder if he would be gutted to read that?

[shobet]

I wonder if he would be gutted to read that?

he'd only have to look at his pile of cash and give you a smug look.

[Ian Price]

I wonder if he would be gutted to read that?

he'd only have to look at his pile of cash and give you a smug look.

Probably, I don't think RHCP would have worked with another singer though.

[tomjackson]

I think he is pretty talented actually, his lyrics are sometimes great and I think he was a bit of a pioneer with the singing / rap crossover.  Plus he's got real energy as a singer.

I like Frusciante too, he's got some of the best rhythm chops around but when I saw them live last (about 5 years ago at the MEN arena) I really couldn't understand why everyone was going mad for his solos.  He was playing the same pentatonic riff in every song, no creativity whatsoever.  I've always thought the guy was a bit overrated himself actually and I actually think he will be fairly easy to replace.  The problem will be becuase the band will want somebody to fit their profile rather than just lookiong for a decent guitarist, of which there are plenty.