Pages: 1 2

2001, Laut.de
translation by dv8 at gmx dot de
help on the exact date would be appreciated

Discussing the best rock guitarists you will sooner or later mention John Frusciante. The two most successful album of the Red Hot Chili Peppers "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" (1991) and "Californication" (1999) are due to his skills. A few days ago, Frusciante's third solo album was released.

Hamburg (mis)
Reason enough for LAUT to meet the Peppers guitarist in at Hamburg Hotel for an interview. In a relaxed meeting he talks about making music with and without his band colleagues, the importance of electronic music, his relationship to Eminem and Marilyn Manson and about German bands who are just marginally know, even by German freaks. The evening prior to the interview, Frusciante did a showcase gig in the Prinzenbar.

LAUT: John, you have already done three solo shows in Europe. How does it feel to be on stage without the Chili Peppers?

John: When I am alone up on stage it is something completely different compared to the Chili Peppers shows. I love playing my songs on the guitar. When I've composed a new song, I'm not only playing it to my friends in the band. All my friends will get to hear it, no matter where I am. This can be at my house or on a tour bus, simply everywhere. And all of them like my songs.

When I am on tour on my own, I am thinking about this kind of playing. It cannot be compared to the feeling of going on stage with the Chili Peppers. There, an enormous energy come up which results when we are together. No one feels responsible for the other, it is just the four of us playing together. But when I play my own songs to people, I feel an energy that I have started myself with my life.

LAUT: Why do you do so few solo shows? As we've heard, the Chili Peppers are already waiting for you in the studio...

John: Well, that's right. I've got to be back at a certain point of time cause the Chili Peppers have a show in L.A. lined up and we are also starting to record our next album.

LAUT: So you would like to play more shows.

John: Sure. I really enjoyed doing the last two shows and I can't hardly wait for the next one. There's one more gig in Paris and one in Amsterdam. In March it's New York, cause the Chili Peppers have got things to do there as well and then there's L.A.. Well, I'd really like to play more gigs, but at the same time I'm looking forward to more work on the next Chili Peppers album.

LAUT: What does making music with your buddies mean to you?

John: The time when I was working on new songs for the band every day was the best time in my life. My only reason for being here is to wake up in the morning, listen to music and play along on my guitar to songs by which I want to be influenced. If I happen to get ideas, I grab my tape recorder. That's what makes me happy. I think that the two most beautiful moments in my life were the recording sessions for "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" and "Californication". That's why I'm really looking forward to recording again.

LAUT: Does it matter to you how your friends like your music?

John: Oh yeah, my friends love it.

LAUT: Your band colleagues as well?

John: I'm not sure about Chad, I've never given him any of my stuff. But Flea and Anthony both love my music. (He thinks for little while.) Well, you know, when this solo album was released, I had already recorded two cds which had not been released ­ I don't mean those two old records.

These records were recorded in 1999 throughout the year before I started to compose the songs for my new album. I did them distribute it among my friends. Now I want to release this old stuff song by song as b-sides, like the four bonus-tracks on my new single "Going Inside". So little by little I'm going to spread the old stuff, because it is good. (laughs)

LAUT: Now back to your new album: Especially the instrumental tracks "Ramparts" and "Murderers" have an atmosphere which reminds me of your way of playing the guitar on "Californication". By which criteria do you decide that a song will, for example, become a Chili Peppers song?

John: I recorded my new album during the "Californication" tour. Apart from me, no one is interested in recording songs while on tour. "Ramparts" and "Murderers" were written in March 2000 and if I had wanted to reserve one of the songs for the Chili Peppers, I'd still be waiting today....

However, there is one song for the Peppers which I did on my drum machine. Somehow I'd gotten the idea of UK surf music style guitar lines à la The Ventures or The Shadows with underlying technobeats. Anthony liked one of my recordings and wanted to make a song of it. I also, okay, if you think you can sing along to it, then I won't release it.

LAUT: So there are no musical conflicts?

John: No, no. Anthony and Flea support me where they can. If I had told them, I wanted to promote my solo work for the next five months, they would have said "OK, do that as long as it makes you happy". But, of course, they are glad that I don't do that.

Pages: 1 2