3 Red Hot Chili Peppers Classics That the Band Never Plays Live

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have had many guitarists over the years, but John Frusciante’s tenure (understandably) overshadows the others. And recently, one of the exes, Josh Klinghoffer, spoke with Guitar World about feeling “erased” from the band’s history since Frusciante returned to the lineup. He said, “I guess it’s a little strange for people that connected to some of the other stuff. It’s almost like it disappears and doesn’t have a chance to live.”

Let’s revisit three RHCP classics that fans may want to hear live but likely won’t.

“My Friends”

Following the blockbuster success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, John Frusciante quit the band mid-tour. On the next album, One Hot Minute, Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro arrived, creating a kind of L.A. supergroup. It sounded as you might expect: a mix of funk, punk, and goth metal. “My Friends” echoes the alt-ballad hit “Under The Bridge”, this time with singer Anthony Kiedis lamenting his friends’ sadness instead of his own.

“Aeroplane”

Another from the Navarro era, “Aeroplane” features a kids’ chant and one of Flea’s most iconic bass lines, which makes this one tough to leave off the set list. Yet even with this lighter jam, there’s a general darkness surrounding One Hot Minute. Both Kiedis and Navarro were struggling with addiction, and it would take Frusciante’s return to save the band. However, at the time, neither Frusciante’s nor the band’s survival seemed possible.

“Dark Necessities”

While Navarro’s tenure lasted only one album, Josh Klinghoffer has a much longer history with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He’s worked with Frusciante outside the band and also toured with RHCP as a utility musician before replacing Frusciante in late 2009. Klinghoffer recorded two studio albums with the band: I’m With You and The Getaway. The latter was the first since Mother’s Milk without longtime producer Rick Rubin, and “Dark Necessities” highlights how Danger Mouse guided the band into new musical territory.

Regarding how the band navigates their sprawling catalog with Frusciante, Klinghoffer said, “I guess it’s particular to the way John views the band when he’s not in it, and it makes sense to me. They have enough music that they don’t need to look to some of the other records.”

Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen