Chad Smith says the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album – their first to feature John Frusciante since 2006 – is "almost done".
Fresh from announcing a huge 2022 stadium tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have revealed that they have almost finished recording a new album – with its release set for before they hit the road next year.
Chad Smith confirmed the promising news to Rolling Stone, revealing that their first new record to feature guitarist John Frusciante since 2006 is a body of work that the band are all proud of, stressing the importance of feeling that way: "It has to start there."
Reflecting on any pressures of living up to prior success and how that isn't affecting the music whatsoever, the drummer explains: "All of our records are just real good snapshots of where we’re at [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," he continues. "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."
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Speaking of John, Chad says that RHCP's process with him is "completely natural", with the guitarist being "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."
Can't wait!
Catch RHCP live at the following dates next year:
June 2022
4 Seville, Spain – Estadio La Cartuja De Sevilla=
7 Barcelona, Spain – Estadi Olimpic=
10 Nijmegen, Netherlands – Goffertpark=
15 Budapest, Hungary — Puskas Stadium=
18 Firenze, Italy – Firenze Rocks (festival date)
22 Manchester, UK – Emirates Old Trafford=
25 London, UK – London Stadium~
29 Dublin, Ireland – Marlay Park~
July 2022
1 Glasgow, UK – Bellahouston Park~
3 Leuven, Belgium – Rock Werchter (festival date)
5 Cologne, Germany – RheinEnergieStadium=
8 Paris, France – Stade de France~
12 Hamburg, Germany – Volksparkstadion=
23 Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High*
27 San Diego, CA – Petco Park*
29 Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium+
31 Los Angeles, CA – SoFi Stadium+
August 2022
3 Seattle, WA – T‑Mobile Park^
6 Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium^^
10 Atlanta, GA – Truist Park^
12 Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium^
14 Detroit, MI – Comerica Park^
17 E. Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium^
19 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field^
21 Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre^
30 Miami, FL – Hard Rock Stadium^
September 2022
1 Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium^
3 Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park^
8 Washington, DC – Nationals Park^
10 Boston, MA – Fenway Park# (on sale date TBA)
15 Orlando, FL – Camping World Stadium^
18 Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field^
=with special guests A$AP Rocky and Thundercat
~with special guests Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals and Thundercat
*with special guests HAIM and Thundercat
+with special guests Beck and Thundercat
^with special guests The Strokes and Thundercat
^^with special guests The Strokes and King Princess
# with special guests St. Vincent and Thundercat
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