Red Hot Chili Peppers Singer Discusses New Album
Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman and Grand Rapids native Anthony Kiedis opened up about the band's upcoming album, the departure of long-time guitarist John Frusciante, and the possible title of the new record.
Speaking to SPIN, Kiedis talked about how the break the Chili Peppers took in 2008 was great for the band.
"I think that during the writing of this record I have been the most open-minded and refreshed than I have been in a long time," Kiedis said. "I guess that comes from a much-needed hiatus and becoming a father."
Bassist Flea took music theory classes at USC and teamed up with Radiohead's Thom Yorke to form Atoms for Peace, drummer Chad Smith joined his own supergroup in Chickenfoot, and guitarist John Frusciante surprisingly left the band. He was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who toured with RHCP as a backing musician.
"It is always going to change the chemistry and feeling of the music when such a creative force as John Frusciante leaves," Kiedis explains. "He was something unique that shaped our sound then, but now I think it's also something fresh and exciting to have a new, incredible musical mind working with us now. We are still the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but we also have to adapt and welcome new opportunities. After all, that is how we've survived all these years."
As for the working title of the new album? Well, it's quite the mouthful: Dr. Johnny Skinz's Disproportionately Rambunctious Polar Express Machine-head. It was apparently inspired by a friend's acid trip.
"He was reminiscing about one of his legendary acid trips, and told us that he had been playing a sold-out show to the planets and moons, and his number-one hit was, well, that title," Kiedis explains. "We found it so funny that we told him for as long as the album was under the radar, that that would be our nickname for it."
Are you excited about a new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, or does the absence of John Frusciante turn you off?
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