Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has discussed some details of the band's upcoming 12th album in a new interview. As previously reported, it'll be RHCP's first record since 2006's Stadium Arcadium to feature guitarist John Frusciante.
"We're getting along great," Smith told Rolling Stone. "John's been back for a while now, so it feels completely natural … We're really listening to each other in a new way."
Frusciante left the group in 2009, focusing on a series of solo and collaborative works before rejoining in 2019. "He's so dedicated," said Smith. "He's so into it. He's working so hard. We're all working hard, but he's in there with all the overdubs and the magic that he brings."
According to Smith, the band formed a COVID bubble around the pandemic's beginning, rehearsing and writing songs before entering the studio earlier this year. Long-time producer Rick Rubin is also involved, and Smith said the band hopes to have the record out before their U.S. stadium tour in June 2022.
About living up to the band's pre-Frusciante-departure heights, Smith said:
You can't really think about that. All of our records are just real good snapshots of where we're at that time. You can't really go, 'oh gee I hope it's as good as…' Then you're starting to have preconceived notions about what you want to write. Look, John hasn't been in our group in 10 years, that's a long time. So of course it's going to sound different, but it's gonna sound like the four of us because we do have this special chemistry together.
It sounds like Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it's different and new, and to me that's great… We really like it and we're proud of it and it has to start there. If other people like it, great. If people compare it to this or [say] it doesn't sound like that, we have no control over that. But yeah, we're all really happy with the record.
Red Hot Chili Peppers' last album was 2016's The Getaway, which was the second and last RHCP record to feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced Frusciante after his departure in 2009.
Maybe this new one will eventually find a place on our list of RHCP's essential albums?
"We're getting along great," Smith told Rolling Stone. "John's been back for a while now, so it feels completely natural … We're really listening to each other in a new way."
Frusciante left the group in 2009, focusing on a series of solo and collaborative works before rejoining in 2019. "He's so dedicated," said Smith. "He's so into it. He's working so hard. We're all working hard, but he's in there with all the overdubs and the magic that he brings."
According to Smith, the band formed a COVID bubble around the pandemic's beginning, rehearsing and writing songs before entering the studio earlier this year. Long-time producer Rick Rubin is also involved, and Smith said the band hopes to have the record out before their U.S. stadium tour in June 2022.
About living up to the band's pre-Frusciante-departure heights, Smith said:
You can't really think about that. All of our records are just real good snapshots of where we're at that time. You can't really go, 'oh gee I hope it's as good as…' Then you're starting to have preconceived notions about what you want to write. Look, John hasn't been in our group in 10 years, that's a long time. So of course it's going to sound different, but it's gonna sound like the four of us because we do have this special chemistry together.
It sounds like Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it's different and new, and to me that's great… We really like it and we're proud of it and it has to start there. If other people like it, great. If people compare it to this or [say] it doesn't sound like that, we have no control over that. But yeah, we're all really happy with the record.
Red Hot Chili Peppers' last album was 2016's The Getaway, which was the second and last RHCP record to feature guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced Frusciante after his departure in 2009.
Maybe this new one will eventually find a place on our list of RHCP's essential albums?