Striving to emulate Slovak's sound Frusciante mixed energetic lead riffs with wacky rhythmic cord progressions as heard on the band's 1989 album, Mother's Milk.
However, the meteoric rise of RHCP in 1991 following their Blood Sugar Sex Magik album (Under the Bridge, Give it Away) Frusciante became further engrossed in drugs, quitting the band in 1992 mid-tour. Rejecting the new found fame of RHCP, Frusciante degenerated into a recluse and a hardcore drug addict (as seen in a short film shot by Johnny Depp entitled "Stuff" as well as in the deeply disturbing interview below with Frusciante near death). This addiction is as still displayed on his arms, scared extensively - musically Frusciante recorded a number of solo albums during this period, all expressing the dark mental place he was in.
In 1999 Frusciante completed drug rehabilitation and rejoined the RHCP with the album Californication (Californication, Scar Tissue, Otherside) the album was a sensation selling over 16 million copies sold worldwide. The minimalist riffs due to the inability of Frusciante to move his fingers due to the damage his drug addiction had left him with (as heard in Californication) made the albums unusual sound - simple yet extremely atmospheric.
By The Way (Can't Stop, By The Way) RHCP 2002 album confirmed Frusciante as one of the greatest guitarist of the past few decades, with his funky clean riffs inspiring thousands of new guitarists. Following RHCP's Stadium Arcadium (Dani California, Snow), characterised by its huge Hendrix like solos, Frusciante again quit the RHCP and is currently pursuing a solo careers having released The Empyrean in 2009. Far darker and more experimental than RHCP it is one to check out if you are a fan of Frusciante's work.
