Why Did John Frusciante Leave RHCP? How The Band Split Up

The question that remained unanswered till now was why did John Frusciante leave RHCP? Fans of Rock music might know Red Hot Chili Peppers as the legendary rock band from the 80s. The four-member band was formed in 1982, but John Frusciante joined the band later in 1988. His association with RHCP was rather short, as he left the band in 1992. Before we give you the details about his departure, let’s have a look at RHCP’s career so far.

Red Hot Chili Pepper was formed in 1982 and included vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Jack Irons, and guitarist Hillel Slovak. Unfortunately, Hillel Slovak passed away in 1988 due to a drug overdose, and Jack Irons left the band. John Frusciante joined the RHCP as a guitarist in 1988, along with Chad Smith.

The band released their gold-certified fourth album, “Mother’s Milk,” in 1989, and it peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard 200. In 1990, the band signed with Warner Bros.Records and released their fifth studio album “Blood Sugar Sex Magik.” Their single “Give It Away” garnered international fame and became their first number-one single on the Modern Rock Chart. Their second single, “Under The Bridge,” became their highest charting single to date, scoring the No 2 spot on Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The band soon went on the Blood Sugar Sex Magik tour featuring artists like Nirvana, Pearl Jams, and Smashing Pumpkins.

The rising fame and popularity of the band troubled Frusciante. He had a fallout with his member, Kiedis, and even performed off-key during a show. After their show in Tokyo, Frusciante quit the band in May 1992.

John Frusciante’s Reason To Leave The Band: Explained

John Frusciante is an American musician and member of the popular rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Apart from his association with RHCP, he has released his own music, including 11 solo albums and 7 EPs. The musician had an on-and-off relationship with the band. He first left RHCP in 1992 before shortly joining the band in 1998. His reunion with the band was short-lived since he left RHCP again in 2009 before finally returning back in 2019. Frusciante has struggled with heroin addiction which was the initial reason behind his departure. So what exactly happened which led to his decision to leave RHCP? Let’s find out.

Frusciante shocked fans when he left the band for a second time in 2009. The reason remained unknown for almost a decade until recently, when John opened up about his departure from the band. In an exclusive interview with Radio X, he revealed the real reason behind his decision to leave RHCP was his unstable mental conditions. He stated, “I became quite off balance mentally those last couple of years we toured.” He got involved with the occult and isolated himself from everyone.

John stated that he was always interested in the occult, and during his time with RHCP, he dove deeper into the occult. He said, “The occult tends to magnify whatever you are, and I was an imbalanced mess.” During his time understanding the occult, John found new meaning in life. He believes music is a form and magic, and the occult has helped him better understand the elements of music.

Frusciante Reunites With RHCP

Frusciante’s departure from the band upset many fans but gave him the opportunity to create his own music and identity. Almost a decade after his departure, it was reported that Frusciante would join the band once again in 2019. In an interview with Radio X, Frusciante revealed his decision to rejoin the band was due to the efforts of bassist Flea. Frusciante was at Flea’s house when the pair confessed that they missed playing music together. 

Recalling the bittersweet moment, Flea said, “We never really talked about it (the split).” He further added, “ At one point, when my wife and his girlfriend were in the other room, and we were sitting alone, I said, ‘John, sometimes I miss playing with you so much.’ I started crying, and when he (Frusciante) looked at me, I saw tears in his eyes.”

 Frusciante officially rejoined the band in December 2019. The band released their twelfth studio album, “Unlimited Love,” in April 2022. It debuted at the number one spot in 10 countries and became their first US number one album since “Stadium Acradium.” Currently, the band consists of four members, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, and John Frusciante.

 Also Read: Why Did Dave Navarro Leave RHCP?