Everything You Didn’t Know About Josh Klinghoffer

More than the ex-guitarist of the funk-rock band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, check out just how much Josh Klinghoffer is a force to be reckoned with.

Most widely known for his place in the renowned Californian band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer has already achieved more than most musicians could dream of. 

Yet, from the extensive range of instruments he can play to the connections he has in the music industry, most fans have yet to realise just how extraordinary the musician truly is. Keep reading to see the impressive array of facts and accomplishments that you probably didn’t know regarding the guitarist. 

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He broke a World Record with His Induction to The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Back in 2012, Red Hot Chili Peppers were finally granted the honour of being inducted into the notorious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Although being a member of the band for just 3 years by that point, Klinghoffer, on that night became the youngest ever living person to receive the award- aged just 32. Previously, the honour had been given to Stevie Wonder back in 1989, who was aged 38 at the time.

Inducted alongside the remaining members of the band and previous drummers, Jack Irons and Cliff Martinez, that night Klinghoffer succeeded in, not only achieving one of the biggest honours for a musician, but also broke a record in doing so.

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The Guitar is Only the Beginning of his Talents 

Whilst famed upon as a lead guitarist, that is just the beginning of Klinghoffer’s musical ability.

Throughout his extensive career and numerous projects, the musician has held his name towards multiple instruments- often credited as a predominant songwriter on a great extent of his work.

Alongside his guitarist abilities, Klinghoffer has also been credited with songwriting, vocals, bass, drums and keyboard throughout his career!

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He Worked As a Session Musician for Some Legendary Bands

Prior to joining Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009, Josh Klinghoffer was quite well established in the music industry already. 

Although rarely the focal point in his work, the impact that the musician left on the world around him is undeniable. Whilst devoted fans know that he was a member of other acts for an extensive amount of time before 2009, it is a little known fact quite how many bands he was a part of both in the studio and on tour.

From Beck and PJ Harvey to Gnarls Barkley and The Butthole Surfers, Josh Klinghoffer has both recorded and featured as a touring session musician for an extraordinary array of artists throughout his career- often without recognition.

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He was Vital in Writing Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Past Two Albums

Whilst considered as joining Red Hot Chili Peppers after the pinnacle of their career, following albums such as Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication and By The Way, Josh Klinghoffer was still vital in breathing a new lease of life into the band’s extensive discography.

Introducing a new, more poetic approach to the band’s music the guitarist took the shift away from the flamboyant riffs and energy-filled solos as seen in their previous album, Stadium Arcadium. Instead, the guitarist’s approach offered a more complex, emotion-driven route- proving that whilst he refused to cling onto the spotlight as a lead guitarist, he was vital in shaping and renewing the sound of the legendary rock band.

Writing a great portion of the songs on piano and taking the reigns with his backing vocals, the emergence of Klinghoffer with I’m With You in 2011 enabled him to finally receive more recognition as a musician. Due to his impact, the band immediately skyrocketed up the charts and received a Grammy nomination with the album. 

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He was a Member of Numerous Bands Before Red Hot Chili Peppers

As previously mentioned, Klinghoffer’s appearance as the lead guitarist of Red Hot Chili Peppers allowed him to be put on the map of household names for the first time in his career. Yet, for loyal fans of the guitarist, this was only a small part of the musician’s extensive list of projects.

Not just a touring session musician before his time in the funk-rock band, Klinghoffer is also part of the band, Dot Hacker since 2008. An experimental rock band consisting of the touring musicians of Gnarls Barkley, Josh Klinghoffer has been the vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist of the band throughout the extent of their career.

Similarly, throughout 2007, Klinghoffer was also a part of the etherial Indie band, Warpaint. Contributing to their EP, Exquisite Corpse, the musician was their drummer and also contributed on guitar for the entirety of the release.

Other projects of the musician include Ataxia- a brief formation that included Klinghoffer, John Frusciante and Fugazi bassist, Joe Lally. Also, his work in The Bicycle Thief: an alternative rock band from the late 1990s which featured Bob Forrest.

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He was a Close Friend of John Frusciante and Contributed Massively to His Solo Projects

Unfortunately, during his time in Red Hot Chili Peppers, Josh Klinghoffer was often regarded as the “new guitarist” or the one who replaced their most iconic member, John Frusciante. Yet, unbeknownst to many, the two musicians were incredibly close and worked together extensively beforehand. 

First working together back in 2002, Klinghoffer played a vital role in Frusciante’s solo career for the most part of a decade. Featuring on drums, vocals, bass, keyboard and guitar, Josh Klinghoffer worked closely alongside John Frusciante for many years. In fact, his input into Frusciante’s solo discography can be heard in his 2004 albums, A Sphere in the Heart of Silence, Shadows Collide With People, The Will to Death and Inside of Emptiness, as well as in his 2009 release, The Empyrean.

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His Debut Solo Album Came Out Last Year

Whilst the announcement that John Frusciante would be returning to Red Hot Chili Peppers last year sent shockwaves across the industry, little attention was paid to the announcement of Josh Klinghoffer’s solo album.

Under the pseudonym Pluralone, the musician’s debut solo album, To Be One With You, was released on the November 22nd, last year.

Taking a shift away from the funk-rock roots of his previous band, the album favoured a more Alternative and Indie approach to the guitarist’s sound than previously seen before.  

The live debut of Pluralone was originally due to be as an opening act for Pearl Jam’s Gigaton Tour, earlier this year. However, due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first live performance has yet to commence and is due to be rescheduled at a later date.

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Did you spot anything that we missed? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

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