Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Klinghoffer Years Quiz

Answer: John Frusciante both times

All the guitarists mentioned have at one point played for the Chili Peppers. However, John Frusciante is regarded as their quintessential guitarist. Despite quitting the band twice and playing on only seven of the twelve studio albums released up to 2022, he has been present for the most successful and iconic years of the band.

Answer: Josh was Flea's mechanic for a brief period

Josh had spent a lot of time playing guitar with John and they developed a close relationship prior to John's second departure from the band in 2009. He is a very talented guitarist, and he was a natural choice for the band moving forward.

Answer: A fly perched on a medication capsule

The cover art was designed by British artist Damien Hirst. Regarding its meaning, Anthony Kiedis stated "It's an image. It's art. Iconic. We didn't give it its meaning but it's clearly open to interpretation."

Answer: Piano

Flea studied musical theory classes at the University of Southern California, where he learned to play piano. Josh Klinghoffer also wrote piano pieces for the album.
Flea can indeed also play the trumpet, and his trumpet playing is featured on many Red Hot Chili Pepper albums going back to the 1980s.

Answer: I'm Beside You

It's a delightful play on the term "B-side" referencing the title of the studio album. The tracks were also released as a group of nine 7" vinyl singles called the "I'm With You Sessions". There are some absolute gems amongst these songs and they certainly would have worked well as a standalone studio album release.

Answer: The instruments were unplugged and a backing track was used instead

The NFL required them to pre-record the song due to time and technical constraints. However, Anthony Kiedis' vocals were still performed live. As for the incorrect answers:
- Janet Jackson's breast was exposed by Justin Timberlake in an infamous episode ten years earlier at Super Bowl XXXVIII .
- While Josh hasn't done so, an intoxicated John Frusciante has indeed tried to sabotage a performance of "Under The Bridge" on "Saturday Night Live" in 1992, but inadvertently created a cult favourite live version of the song.
- I don't know Chad Smith's views on Bruno Mars, but while he may not be to everyone's tastes he is certainly a talented musician.

Answer: Danger Mouse

Rubin had produced the previous six albums over the last 25 years with the Chili Peppers. For The Getaway, Danger Mouse was brought on due to personal differences between Josh Klinghoffer and Rubin. Andy Gill produced the Chili Peppers' self-titled debut album, while George Clinton produced their second album "Freaky Styley" and Michael Beinhorn produced the third and fourth albums "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan" and "Mother's Milk". Rubin returned in 2022 to produce "Unlimited Love" and "Return of the Dream Canteen".

Answer: Josh Klinghoffer replaces Flea on the bass guitar

While he does not play bass on the track, Flea does play the piano and trumpet to make up for it.
There are no instrumental tracks on the album, though the band has recorded a few in the past.
Flea does have a solo track "Pea" from the album "One Hot Minute" where he plays bass and sings the vocals, with no other instruments on the track.

Answer: Goodbye Angels

The lyrics are about Anthony Kiedis' break up with Australian model Helena Vesterdaard. However, the title is not featured in the song lyrics and instead is a reference to Josh Klinghoffer watching the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lose in the 2014 MLB playoffs. "Goodbye Angels" became the working title for the song, and it just stuck as it worked so well with the lyrics.

Answer: Josh was fired to make room for John Frusciante to return

Flea was reportedly so freaked out about breaking the news to Josh that he mindlessly crashed his car into a garage door on the way over. Though we will never truly know the interactions and feelings between the band members, statements and interviews they have each provided indicate that the separation was amicable. Josh has since gone on to release two solo albums and collaborate with Pearl Jam.