John Frusciante, known for his role as the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has long been associated with the occult and mystical elements. His interest in esoteric subjects has been a significant influence on his music and personal life. Frusciante has openly discussed his fascination with spirituality, alternative belief systems, and the occult in various interviews. He has stated that his interest in these subjects stems from a desire for personal growth and seeking a deeper understanding of the world. One of Frusciante's most notable encounters with the occult was his involvement with the legendary occultist Aleister Crowley. He has admitted to being inspired by Crowley's philosophy and has even incorporated Crowley's teachings and symbols into his music.
John Frusciante Got ‘Deep Into the Occult’ Before Last Leaving Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers are ready to unleash Unlimited Love on listeners with their 12th studio album on April 1. But before last quitting the rock band in 2009, returning RHCP guitarist John Frusciante went unlimited occult and got a little too mystical.
That's by his admission. In an interview about the upcoming album that emerged this week, the 52-year-old guitarist said he dabbled hard in the dark arts near the end of his second tenure in the Peppers.
"I became quite off-balance mentally those last couple of years we toured," Frusciante tells Classic Rock. "As the tour went on, I got deep into the occult, which became a way of escaping the mindset of tour life."
He adds, "The occult tends to magnify whatever you are, and I was an imbalanced mess."
Did that lead to his resignation from the group after 2006's Stadium Arcadium? The rest of the band said they could sense his will to leave at the time.
"John was very absolute about not wanting to do this," singer Anthony Kiedis recalls. "So when he told [bassist] Flea and I, there wasn't even that moment where we were, like, 'Come on, we can work it out.'"
"We were, like, 'We understand, it's obvious it's not where you want to be,'" the vocalist adds. "I would say relief was probably the most descriptive word for everybody, including John."
Red Hot Chili Peppers released two albums without Frusciante in 2011 and 2016, with Josh Klinghoffer taking his place. Klinghoffer is now a touring guitarist in Pearl Jam and performs solo as Pluralone.
Now that Frusciante is back in Chili Peppers, however, the Peppers are feeling prolific. They're already planning Unlimited Love's follow-up, according to a February interview with NME.
"We're gonna put out music by the handful," Kiedis explained. "Literally. Don't be surprised if another wheelbarrow of songs comes your way in the near future … We have a lot of shit to turn people onto."
"We definitely have enough material that we love," Frusciante added, saying the envisioned follow-up has a "relaxed energy that's distinct from the intensity of the record that we've made here."
Pre-orders for Unlimited Love are available now. So far, Red Hot Chili Peppers fans have heard the singles "Black Summer" and "Poster Child." The Chili Peppers will tour in 2022.
He has admitted to being inspired by Crowley's philosophy and has even incorporated Crowley's teachings and symbols into his music. Frusciante's album "The Empyrean" features several references to Crowley and his works. In addition to his interest in Crowley, Frusciante has also explored other aspects of the occult, such as tarot and astrology.
15 Artists Associated With Witchcraft, Satanism + the Occult
Below is a gallery of 15 prominent artists in the rock and metal world who have been associated with witchcraft, Satanism and the occult in one form or another. Some may seem obvious and others may completely take you by surprise.
John Frusciante was “deep into the occult” when he left Red Hot Chili Peppers
John Frusciante has spoken about the circumstances around his 2009 departure from Red Hot Chili Peppers, revealing that he was “deep into the occult” at the time.
The guitarist has been in and out of the band since the late ’80s and last appeared on 2006’s ‘Stadium Arcadium’. Former tour understudy Josh Klinghoffer replaced Frusciante in 2009, appearing on 2011’s ‘I’m With You’ and 2016’s ‘The Getaway’.
- READ MORE: Red Hot Chili Peppers on the cover: “We feel fresh, like a new band”
Frusciante has been writing and recording with the band for their new album ‘Unlimited Love’, and he’s now spoken to Classic Rock about why he left the band over a decade ago.
Advertisement“I became quite off-balance mentally those last couple of years we toured,” he said. “As the tour went on, I got deep into the occult, which became a way of escaping the mindset of tour life.”
He added: “The occult tends to magnify whatever you are, and I was an imbalanced mess.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers, shot by Gus Van Sant for NME, 2022.
Speaking to NME in an exclusive interview photographed by Oscar-winning director Gus Van Sant earlier this year, the band spoke about their new album (due out April 1 via Warner) and how reuniting with Frusciante “pushed each other in a positive way”.
“The biggest event, honestly, was John returning to the band. That was the most monumental change in our lives. And God was I down for anything and everything,” Anthony Kiedis told NME.
“It was going slowly and without a real definitive drive to it. It was just sort of meandering,” Kiedis said of the process of beginning to write ‘Unlimited Love’. “And then both Flea and I had a zeitgeist of a feeling inside of ourselves independently which was: ‘It would be really nice to involve John somehow in this process.’ It had been a long time and he was making himself known in our circles again after having been in his very own circle.”
AdvertisementOn rejoining the band, Frusciante told NME: “Flea had put the idea [of rejoining] in my head and I was sitting there with the guitar thinking that I hadn’t written any rock music in so long. Could I still do that?”
With Frusciante now in the band again, Klinghoffer was let go, which Flea described in the interview as “a big shift for us”. “He’s been with us for 10 years, and it was an emotionally difficult thing to do. Not only was he a great musician, he was also a thoughtful, supportive team-player – a communally-minded, kind and intelligent person.
“But artistically, in terms of being able to speak the same [musical] language, it was easier working with John. Getting back into a room and starting to play and letting the thing unfold… was really exciting.”
- Related Topics
- John Frusciante
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Rock
How John Frusciante got “deep into the occult” when he left Red Hot Chili Peppers
Guitarist John Frusciante left the California rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009 before returning to the group over a decade later in an a move that astounded and delighted fans. Although the guitarist had been in and out of the band since the late 1980s, he’s back with the band to write and record on the new album. Now that Frusciante has returned to work with his bandmates on ‘Unlimited Love’, he also feels ready to speak more publically on his departure from the group, and what led him there.
He says of this time, “I became quite off-balance mentally those last couple of years we toured. As the tour went on, I got deep into the occult, which became a way of escaping the mindset of tour life.” Although “the occult” is a relatively vague term in the cultural consciousness that can refer to anything from crystals to Satanic worship, it’s clear that his involvement had a deep impact on his life experience. He adds, “The occult tends to magnify whatever you are, and I was an imbalanced mess.”
It appears as though his occult involvement wasn’t the only thing that led him astray, but it definitely amplified the existing issues he was dealing with, making things come to a head and encouraging his departure. Now that he’s back with the band, it appears that they’re pushing one another in a positive direction. “The biggest event, honestly, was John returning to the band. That was the most monumental change in our lives. And God was I down for anything and everything,” Anthony Kiedis said of his return. Although we can’t say exactly what’s to come quite yet, there’s definitely a lot to look forward to for any fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their new album is set to drop in April. You can check it out on April 1st via Warner.
He has expressed his belief in the power of these divinatory methods to provide insight and guidance in his life. Furthermore, Frusciante has spoken about the profound impact that psychedelic experiences have had on him and his spiritual outlook. He credits these experiences with expanding his consciousness and leading him to delve deeper into the occult. It is important to note that Frusciante's interest in the occult should not be seen as mere fascination or experimentation. His exploration of these subjects is deeply personal and central to his artistic expression. It has influenced not only his music but also his personal life, with him stating that it has helped him find meaning and purpose. In conclusion, John Frusciante's interest in the occult is a significant aspect of his artistic and personal journey. It has shaped his music and provided him with a deeper understanding of the world. Through his exploration of spirituality, alternative belief systems, and mystical elements, Frusciante has emerged as an artist who embraces the esoteric and seeks to connect with something greater than himself..
Reviews for "The Mysticism Behind John Frusciante's Approach to Music"
1. Samantha - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "John Frusciante Occult." I had high hopes for this album, being a fan of Frusciante's previous work. However, this album felt disjointed and lacked the coherence and musicality that I have come to expect from him. The songs felt random and experimental, without any clear direction. It was a challenging listen and did not resonate with me at all.
2. Michael - 1/5 - I simply couldn't get into "John Frusciante Occult." The music felt abrasive and harsh, with little melody or structure. It seemed like Frusciante was trying to be edgy and experimental, but it just came off as chaotic and incoherent. I couldn't find any enjoyment in this album, and it left me feeling frustrated and confused.
3. Emily - 2/5 - "John Frusciante Occult" was a departure from Frusciante's usual style, but not in a good way. The album lacked the infectious energy and catchy hooks that I love about his music. Instead, it delved into strange and obscure territory that didn't resonate with me. The production quality also seemed lacking, with muddy and distorted sound that made it hard to appreciate the instrumentation. Overall, I was disappointed with this release.
4. David - 2.5/5 - I had mixed feelings about "John Frusciante Occult." On one hand, I appreciated the experimental nature of the album and the willingness to take risks. However, I found that the songs lacked cohesion and didn't flow well together. It felt like a collection of disjointed ideas rather than a cohesive album. There were moments of brilliance, but they were overshadowed by the overall lack of coherence.
5. Chloe - 1/5 - I really didn't enjoy "John Frusciante Occult." It felt like a jumbled mess of noise and random sounds. There was no melody or structure to hold onto, making it a challenging and frustrating listening experience. It's a shame because I have enjoyed Frusciante's previous work, but this album just didn't click with me at all. I wouldn't recommend it to fans of his earlier music.