Red Hot Chili Peppers: John Frusciante returns to band for second time

Red Hot Chili Peppers have confirmed that guitarist John Frusciante will be returning to the band for a second time.

Frusciante replaces Josh Klinghoffer, who has been with the four-piece for a decade.

Klinghoffer originally played additional and backing vocals for Red Hot Chili Peppers on their Stadium Arcadium tour in 2007, taking over lead guitar from Frusciante two years later after the fan favourite left the group.

On their Instagram, the band announced that they were “parting ways with our guitarist of the past 10 years” in an official statement to fans.

“Josh is a beautiful musician who we respect and love. We are deeply grateful for our time with him, and the countless gifts he shared with us. We also announce with great excitement and full hearts, that John Frusciante is rejoining the group,” the band added.

This is Frusciante’s third stint with Red Hot Chili Peppers. The guitarist originally joined the group as a replacement to original band member, Hillel Slovak, following his death in 1988.

Frusciante featured on the band’s critically acclaimed and commercially successful 1991 album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the success of which caused him to leave the group due to worries over his mental health.

Frusciante returned to the band six years later, playing on their Californication album in 1999 and 2002’s By the Way, before leaving again during the band’s extended hiatus in 2009.

Red Hot Chili Peppers are set to headline multiple European festivals in 2020. The group will be performing at Ejekt Festival in Athens, Greece, on 5 June, Firenze Rocks in Florence, Italy, on 13 June and Pinkpop Festival in Landgraff, Netherlands, on 19 June.