Red Hot Chili Peppers One Man Down

Niki N. Phaser — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:22:26 +0000

It is official: John Frusciante is no longer a memeber of funk-rock legends, Red Hot Chili Peppers. The experienced guitarist confirmed that he is going rogue and, even more, that he was out of the band for more than a year, around the time his tenth solo album, The Empyrean, was released. The departure was an amiable one:”I really love the band and what we did. I understand and value that my work with them means a lot to many people, but I have to follow my interests”.

This is the second time Frusciante leaves the band, the first being right after the Peppers made it big with Blood Sugar Sex Magik. At the time, the guitarist thought he couldn’t cope with the rockstar status and quit, just like now, in order to work on his solo projects. Indeed, he released several experimental albums, but also plunged into a lengthy heroin addiction, which was almost the death of him. Johnny Depp and Gibby Haynes documented the state of his house during this period in a short movie called:

STUFF

Steve Hewitt Unveils New Band

Niki N. Phaser — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:22:08 +0000

Since his departure from Placebo, in September 2007, drum virtuoso Steve Hewitt hasn’t been slacking off. Helped by friends and family, Hewitt has started a new musical project. The band is called Love Amongst Ruin. This will also be the name of their debut album. Yes, that is correct, an album is already on the way. It was recorded at the Moles Studio (Bath, UK) in the spring-summer period of 2008. Paul Corkett, who produced The Cure’s Bloodflowers, among other noteworthy stuff, was invited to work on some of the tracks. It’s not the first time Hewitt collaborated with this producer. Paul Corkett also produced and engineered Placebo’s Black Market Music. The mixing was done overseas, at the prestigious Bernie Grundman studios in Los Angeles by Brian Gardner, whose discography is as eclectic as can be: from 2Pac to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Barbra Streisand.

Currently, Steve Hewitt is putting the ‘finishing touches’ on the band’s line-up, as most of the musicians involved in the recording sessions are members of other bands and unable to commit long term to Love Amongst Ruin. Rehearsals are on the way, but before the band premieres any new music, there is still the issue of finding the right management and a label. Knowing that, studio-wise, Steve Hewitt wasn’t restricted to playing only drums for Placebo, one cannot help wondering what this new project of his will sound like, especially since he’s also doing vocals for his new band. For more info, check his:

MySpace Page

Niki N. Phaser » Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers One Man Down

Steve Hewitt Unveils New Band