Red Hot Chili Peppers: “We Feel Like A New Band”
Red Hot Chili Peppers have spoken about their new album, Unlimited Love, and welcoming guitarist John Frusciante back into the fold in a new interview with NME.
Singer Anthony Kiedis spoke about looking for new musical territory to explore: “I really didn’t want to tell the same old story that we’ve been hearing for the last 50 years in rock music. I liked reaching out in 10,000 directions and seeing what was out there. We weren’t limiting ourselves but trying to tap into something that is honest and emotional. Hopefully we’ve said something that hasn’t been said before, or at least said it in a way that hasn’t.”
Kiedis went on to underline the importance of Fruscuante’s return: “The biggest event, honestly, was John returning to the band. That was the most monumental change in our lives. And God was I down for anything and everything.”
Frusciante also enthused about being a Red Hot Chili Pepper once more: “We feel fresh, like a new band. I put a lot less of my ego [into it] than I had previously and I think that was true with everybody. It wasn’t so much a competition thing as really wanting to give a part of ourselves to one another [and] being excited to listen to what the others were bringing in. Sometimes in the past, like on By The Way for example, or [1989 album] Mother’s Milk, one person would feel stifled at the expense of another. This time it felt very much like people who care about each other and are genuinely excited for everybody else to be the best that they can be.”
Kiedis backed Frusciante up, saying: “The dynamic was very healthy, productive and creative. Sometimes [we] can be a little too competitive and it can lead to discord, but [this time] we really pushed each other in a positive way.”