John Frusciante Biography

Fast Facts

• Relocated to Los Angeles at 16-years-old after dropping out of high school to pursue professional gigs and to study at the Guitar Institute of Technology
• Became interested in music at nine-years-old, initially learning all of the tracks to the most recent record released by The Germs
• Quote: "Music is something that I immerse myself in․ It is something that comes from inside of me․"
• Quote: "For me, living and making music are one thing․ It's the thing that I need to do every day․"
• Quote: "I have a lot more in common with old classical composers from the 1700s than I do with rock stars of today․ I have learned to think more like a pianist, where I have a wider view of music․"
• After abruptly leaving the Chili Peppers in 1992, he released his first solo album in 1994 under the direction of Rick Rubin, however, his extended drug use during that time left him largely unnoticed
• After quitting his heroin and cocaine addiction cold turkey in 1997, he would re-enter the music world after fellow Chili Peppers member Flea would ask him to rejoin the group, to which he replied, "…nothing would make me happier in the world․"
• Began playing with The Mars Volta by 2005, eventually lending his guitar skills to their second and third albums
• His first professional tracks came with the 1989 album, Mother's Milk, however, it wasn't until the band's second album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, that they would reach international stardom
• First became aware of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1984 after learning that they were auditioning a guitar player and eventually joined the group by the end of the decade following the death of Hillel Slovak