JOHN FRUSCIANTE

Guitarist {$John Frusciante} has experienced both colossal highs and death-defying lows in both his musical career and personal life. Born in 1971 and raised in California, {$Frusciante} dropped out of high school when guitar playing and rock music took hold of the up-and-coming musician/songwriter. Embracing both the unpredictable side of rock ({$Frank Zappa}, {$Steve Vai}, {$King Crimson}, {$Funkadelic}) and punk ({$The Germs}, {$Black Flag}), {$Frusciante} created his own guitar style -- combining both technical skill with a knack for penning funky, psychedelic riffs. {$The Red Hot Chili Peppers} became an automatic fav when the young guitarist discovered them early in their career, and his dream to join the band came true in 1988, after striking up a friendship with the {$Chili Peppers}' bassist {$Flea} (in the wake of founding guitarist {$Hillel Slovak}'s death from a drug overdose). Interestingly, {$Frusciante} had just been hired by another L.A. band, {$Thelonious Monster}, prrior to joining the {$Peppers}. {$Frusciante}'s first recording with the {$Peppers}, 1989's {^Mother's Milk}, helped break the popular college rock band through to the mainstream - resulting in their first gold record, with {$John}'s amazing guitar playing serving as a catalyst for many of the songs. The quartet released an even rawer record next, 1991's {^Blood Sugar Sex Magik}, produced by {$Rick Rubin}. The album catapulted the band into the rock stratosphere, as it became a multi-platinum hit and made the band one of the premier bands of the 90's. But all was not well in Pepperland. {$Frusciante} found it increasingly difficult to handle his newly found fame, and retreated into a haze of hard drugs and unpredictable behavior. At the height of {^Blood Sugar's} success, {$John} abruptly left the band while on tour in Japan. Besides releasing two obscure solo albums (1995's {^Niandra Ladies and Usually Just A T-Shirt} and 97's {^Smile From the Streets You Hold}), little was heard from {$Frusciante} since splitting from the {$Peppers} in '92. Then, a disturbing article about {$John }appeared in the {~L.A. Weekly}, which painted {$Frusciante} as a heroin abuser with a deathwish (the interviewer was also shocked at his ghastly appearance). Thankfully, from the advice of friends, {$Frusciante} checked himself into a rehab center and got off drugs and stopped his path to certain destruction. Just a few months after getting his life back on track and facing the world again, he got back in contact with the rest of his ex-{$Pepper} mates (he regularly kept in contact with {$Flea}), who's then-current guitarist, {$Dave Navarro}, had just split from the band. After a loose jam session was deemed a success (as well as a psychological evaluation!), {$Frusciante} was asked to re-join the band. The newly kindled relationship was a rousing success, as the reunited {$Peppers} issued the great {^Californication} in 1999 to rave reviews and big sales. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide