Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith has confirmed that the band's new album will feature guitarist John Frusciante, whose return to the group after a decade away was announced last month.
While saying he was given “strict orders” not to talk about the group, Smith told Rolling Stone, “John is back in the band and everyone knows that. We're psyched. The (2020) festivals are the only shows booked. For now, we'll mostly be concentrating on new songs and writing a new record. We're all real excited to make new music.”
Asked to clarify that the Chili Peppers are in the middle of creating a new record, Smith replied, “Yes. That's all I can say.” The drummer sat for the interview to actually promote his new art exhibition, which is currently on display in Austin, Texas.
Smith told us that the Chili Peppers rarely return to unused material when it comes time to write something new: “With us, you know, we're kind of always like, whatever we're into exactly at the time that we, like, start writing. It's always been that way. We're never 'Oh, that song from a year ago…' You know, unless it's like something really cool, and then it's always different that what it was. But yeah, we're just always trying to come up with new stuff, so usually the latest and greatest is what we use.”
The Chili Peppers parted ways with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer last month after 10 years and two albums to reunite with Frusciante, whose two previous stints in the group were marked by some of their biggest commercial successes. Frusciante last performed with Chili Peppers singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea at a 2016 benefit.