For Me, There’s No Difference Between The Joy Of Life And The Joy Of Death
So what was the matter?
Everyone knew all these stories about how dictatorial Zappa acted as a band-leader. And that you had to play what he commanded you to. That had too little energy and sex for me. I was desperate to find my own voice. To discover myself - even with trying out cocaine. Zappa hated that. He hated drugs most. But I was dreaming to be a rockstar, to f**k with groupies and lock me away when ever I felt like.
You were doing both things later. How did it feel for you - an 18-years old die hard fan without any previous experience in a band - to play with your heroes suddenly?
It was overwhelming in every respect. Now I would say it was too overwhelming. (laughs) I didn't even smoke pot back then. At this point my only achievement was to join the Chili Peppers. For me personally this already felt as if the world was eating from my hands though. That is not a helthy point to start with if you know what I mean. As stress and pressure set in - which is usual in a musician's life - I mentally failed (colapsed) soon.
Just four years later in 1992 you quited in a confused state of mind. Besides drugs you devoted yourself more and more to painting. And eventually you even stoped playing guitar. Obviously you love extremes.
(laughs) You can say that. Painting - especially the study of Marcel Duchamps - was an absolutely important and healthy experience for me because it teached me a lot about balance and perspectives. I wasn't able to use this knowledge as a painter. But now as a musician it has an efect like a miracle. I always try to fall back on visual concepts while writing a song.
How many songs do you write in a month?
There are month when I don't write a single song. Then there... (reflects) I assume that I wrote about 600 songs within the last three years. I started a list after the last Peppers tour so I don't lose track of it. You can't force inspiration.
Do you consider your solo efforts as an opposite pole in a way to your work with the Chili Peppers?
I don't know if that's the right word. Doing things exactly the way I have them in mind leads me to an excellent initial position for the next Peppers album. That's the only way to clear my memory in order to get completely involved in a new concept. But it feels completely different for sure. Writing with the Peppers is a pretty slow, strictly organized and well-discussed process. The tracks are literally cut into pieces, analysed. On the other side my solo stuff just happens. They appear in my head, all of a sudden. Sometimes I even got the feeling that a certain song writes me and not vice versa.
Is this a painful process?
No, it's fun. It's like an old friend visiting me and with whom I have a nice conversation by chance. Writing songs is my private way to get in touch with the gods of music. Actually I'm just a medium. The more you are able to switch off your mind the better it will get usually. It has to flow you know. For me music is a group of good spirits - it's my friend.
