Red Hot Chili Peppers Working With 'Different' Sound on New Album

Posted on May 10th 2010 4:00PM by Nicholas White
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With their first new guitarist in more than a decade, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are going to be "different." But fans shouldn't fret -- they'll still sound like the same band that has sold millions of records when their 10th album hits shelves later this year.

"It's still going to sound like the Chili Peppers, that's for sure, but it's going to be different," drummer Chad Smith tells Spinner of the still-untitled new LP. "I'm happy that it has, because you have to grow and change. That keeps you alive and keeps you going and wanting to make new music. It's really exciting, really fun to see what we come up with."

In the band's revolving door of guitarists, Josh Klinghoffer has taken the place of John Frusciante, who quit the band due to drug problems in 1992 and rejoined in 1998. Klinghoffer, who has also toured with Beck and PJ Harvey, played with the band onstage during part of the band's last tour in support of 'Stadium Arcadium.' Other guitarists have included Dave Navarro, Mother Tongue's Jesse Tobias, and Arik Marshall.

"Well, you know [Klinghoffer 's introduction] changes it," Smith says of the band's new sound. "It's kind of too early to say really, but it sounds like us, but it's different. So those are both good things."

"The chemistry thing is so important," Smith continues. "Of course, it is going to be different, it's a different guy. Three instruments and a singer -- guitar is quite important. But [Josh] is great. The cool thing is we have known him for 10 years, he knows us. He was in our touring band for the last bit of our last tour. It wasn't like the weird new guy get-together. He knows how weird we are and our quirks. That was really helpful. We get better and better every time we play."

So what of Smith's other band, Chickenfoot? The supergroup, which consists of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Smith, are working on a follow-up to their 2009 self-titled debut, but Smith may have to sub out his duties if he is on tour with his day job, aka the Chili Peppers.

"Obviously, the Chili Peppers are my first and foremost love -- that's my 20-year marriage," Smith says. "Chickenfoot is my mistress on the side, which is really fun to do. My main [priority] is doing the Chili Peppers thing. When it comes to touring, I am not sure how that is going to work. I am sure I will be gone all of next year with the Chili Peppers. If [Chickenfoot's] record came out next year, they would have to get another guy to play. But we have chemistry, the four of us. We're working on other music, and one thing at a time. It was just a fun thing to do. I enjoy those guys, but for now my focus is the Chili Peppers."

So how far along is his main band's new album? "The Chili Peppers are writing songs," Smith says. "We are going to go in the studio are start recording. We are slated for August."