by Anthony Kiedis recently opened up about the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ collaboration with guitarist Dave Navarro. He shared insights into why that chapter of the band’s history ultimately didn’t work out in an interview on SiriusXM.
The frontman reflected on the challenging period following John Frusciante’s departure. He explained how the band approached working with a new guitarist.
“Dave Navarro, you know, was an interesting time for the Red Hot Chili Pepper,” Kiedis said. “We were very grateful that we found him because John (Frusciante) left, which was an absolute shattering, you know, breakup of all breakups. And then we gave it our best to try to, you know, find somebody that we could make music with. It was never going to be like it was with John. So, we had kind of we weren’t aiming for that.”
Kiedis compared the transition to a personal relationship change. He explained how the band adapted to the new dynamic.
“We decided to go for somebody kind of from our circle… and Dave showed up,” he continued. “He was in a pretty good way at that point in time. It was interesting to find a way to make music with another person, kind of like getting a divorce and getting a new girlfriend — like, how’s this going to work?”
Despite the challenges, Kiedis acknowledged that the collaboration produced some memorable songs. He particularly highlighted one track that remains in their setlist.
“We did write some special songs with Dave, and I think ‘Aeroplane’ was one of the best songs we wrote with him,” he said. “It was unusual. Usually if somebody leaves the band, we kind of leave those songs in the past as well. But with Aeroplane, we’re like, this one stays.”
The Navarro era represents a unique period in the band’s history. It was marked by both creative experimentation and internal struggles that ultimately led to the collaboration’s end.
Wikipedia reported that John Frusciante originally left Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1992 following the massive success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. He was uncomfortable with the fame and the band’s new direction. Navarro joined the band in 1993 and participated in the creation of One Hot Minute, which was released in 1995.
The album marked a significant stylistic departure for the band. Wikipedia noted that One Hot Minute featured heavy metal guitar riffs and elements of psychedelic rock, diverging from their signature funk-oriented sound. The album received mixed reviews from critics but still achieved commercial success. It sold over two million copies in the United States and eventually reached double platinum status.
Navarro’s tenure with the band came to an end on April 3, 1998. Ultimate Classic Rock revealed that his departure was due to a combination of creative differences and personal issues. Navarro’s playing style was less inclined towards funk and more towards metal and rock, which didn’t align with the band’s core sound. Both Navarro and Kiedis were dealing with drug addiction during this period, which contributed to tensions within the band.
Frusciante returned to Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1998 after Navarro’s departure. This marked the beginning of a highly creative period for the band that produced albums like Californication (1999), By the Way (2002), and Stadium Arcadium (2006). Frusciante has since left and returned to the band multiple times, most recently rejoining in 2019.
