Famous producer and sound engineer Jim Scott spoke to Daniel Sarkissian and expressed his opinions and feelings about two Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarists, John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer.
Jim Scott has worked with legendary bands and musicians such as Sting, The Rolling Stones, Crowded House, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, and many more as their producers and engineers for a long time. Scott was the sound engineer of RHCP’s ‘Californication’ and ‘By the Way’ and got critical acclaim with his works.
In addition, the engineer collaborated with the band’s guitarist John Frusciante for his fourth solo studio album entitled ‘Shadows Collide with People,’ released on February 24, 2004. Frusciante also co-wrote some songs with Josh Klinghoffer, who would replace him in the band in 2009.
Therefore, it can be seen that Scott had time to get to know two guitarists and compare their way of playing guitar. He stated that Frusciante and Klinghoffer are very different by emphasizing that the original RHCP guitarist created his records and was very dedicated to his work.
Scott defined Klinghoffer as a talented musician but not a person who took so much responsibility. The engineer added that he was never as effective as Frusciante while they were working together. However, he didn’t forget to add that he hasn’t worked with Klinghoffer for years and only came across him at a party a short time ago.
Scott said in his interview that:
“Well, you’d have to look through time to answer that question. At the time that I was there, Josh was. Josh was not the same kind of guitar player that John is. John, by then, was making his records and with the success of ‘Californication,’ and being back on his feet for five or six years, and is really strong and playing guitar all day long, every day.
John is great. You know, John is great. He practices all day long; his whole house is filled with instruments and music, and records. He gets up in the morning and puts on records and plays the records all day long – at least he did at that time.”
He added:
“I don’t exactly know how he and Josh got to be connected as friends, but I think they hit it off as guitar-playing buddies and songwriting buddies. I remember Josh being great, but I don’t remember him ever taking the heavy load and all away from whatever needed to be done. I feel like John still led the sessions, and Josh was, you know. He was great, but I don’t remember him ever, like taking it away from John in any way.
That’s an answer, you know, but you got to remember that was a long time ago, and that was only one record with Josh. I haven’t seen Josh in several years. I ran into him at a party a few years ago. He looked great, and it’s great to see him, but you know, I haven’t worked with him on anything else.”
You can check out the interview below.
