The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announce that guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has exited the band after being an official member for 10 years. To replace him, former guitarist John Frusciante will rejoin the Chili Peppers for his third stint in the band.
The news comes as a shock to many fans, as Frusciante reportedly left the band in 2009 after he lost interest in the type of music RHCP played. After leaving the band, Frusciante kept a very low profile from the public and focused on his solo material.
The band released a statement on social media which reads:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers announce that we are parting ways with our guitarist of the past ten years, Josh Klinghoffer. 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. Thank you.
Frusciante played a critical role in the Red Hot Chili Peppers during the peaks of their commercial successes. He originally joined the band in 1988 and recorded two records with the band, 1989's Mother's Milk and the iconic 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante quit the band for the first time in 1992 during the middle of touring for Blood Sugar Sex Magik after developing a life-threatening addiction to heroin.
After overcoming his addiction and returning to the Chili Peppers in 1998, the band released three incredibly successful albums together, 1999's Californication, 2003's By the Way, and 2006's Stadium Arcadium.
RHCP released two albums with Josh Klinghoffer, who was the band's touring guitarist while on the road supporting Stadium Arcadium: I'm With You (2011) and The Getaway (2016).
Source: Rolling Stone
Photo: Getty Images