Frusciante joined the Chili Peppers at the age of 18 after the death of guitarist Hillel Slovak, and first appeared on their album Mother's Milk (1989). His second album with the band, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991), was their breakthrough success. Overwhelmed by the band's newfound popularity, he quit in 1992. He became a recluse and entered a period of heroin addiction, during which he released his first solo recordings: Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt (1994) and Smile from the Streets You Hold (1997). In 1998, he completed drug rehabilitation and rejoined the Chili Peppers, taking them to major success with their albums Californication (1999), By the Way (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006). He left the Red Hot Chili Peppers again in 2009 to focus on solo work, and rejoined in 2019.
Frusciante's solo work encompasses genres including experimental rock, ambient music and electronica. He released six albums in 2004, each exploring different genres and recording techniques. In 2009, Frusciante released The Empyrean, which features Chili Peppers bassist Flea and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Frusciante also releases acid house under the alias Trickfinger. With Klinghoffer and Joe Lally, he has released two albums as Ataxia.
Frusciante was named one of the greatest guitarists by Rolling Stone and Gibson, and in a BBC poll. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012.
Frusciante's musical style has evolved over the course of his career. Although he received moderate recognition for his early guitar work, it was not until later in his career that music critics and guitarists alike began to fully recognize it: in October 2003, he was ranked eighteenth in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Frusciante attributes this recent recognition to his shift in focus, stating that he chose an approach based on rhythmic patterns inspired by the complexity of material Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen produced. On earlier records, however, much of his output was influenced by various underground punk and new wave musicians.
In general, his sound is also defined by an affinity for vintage guitars. All the guitars that he owns, records, and tours with were made before 1970. Frusciante uses the specific guitar that he finds appropriate for a certain song. All of the guitars he owned before quitting the band were destroyed when his house burned down in 1996. The first guitar he bought after rejoining the Chili Peppers was a 1962 red Fender Jaguar. His most-often used guitar, however, is a 1961 Sunburst Fender Stratocaster that was given to him as a gift from Anthony Kiedis after Frusciante rejoined the Chili Peppers in 1998. He has played this guitar on every album since rejoining the Chili Peppers, and their ensuing tours. He also owns a 1955 Fender Stratocaster, his only Strat with a maple fretboard. Frusciante's most highly appraised instrument is a 1955 Gretsch White Falcon, which he used twice per show for the songs Californication and Otherside. Since 2006, he only uses it for the latter song, saying there was "no room for it", preferring multiple Stratocasters for the Stadium Arcadium tour. Virtually all of Frusciante's acoustic work is played with a 1950s Martin 0–15.
After leaving the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he switched to using a Yamaha SG as his primary guitar for his solo work. "With the Yamaha SG, I could play along with guitar players who were playing, say, Les Pauls, and feel like the sound matched what I was hearing on the record. ... People like Robert Fripp, Mick Ronson, Tony Iommi, and particularly John McGeoch from Siouxsie and the Banshees, who played a Yamaha SG, which is why I bought one in the first place". Frusciante has also noted his increased use of the Roland MC-202 for his electronic music, saying that he was at the point "where I thought as much like a 202ist as I did a guitarist ..." The MC-202 has been his primary melodic instrument in his electronic music.
With the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frusciante provided backing vocals in a falsetto tenor, a style he started on Blood Sugar Sex Magik. He thoroughly enjoyed his role in the Chili Peppers as backing vocalist, and said that backing vocals are a "real art form". Despite his commitment to the Chili Peppers, he felt that his work with the band should remain separate from his solo projects. When he returned to the Chili Peppers in 1998, Kiedis wanted the band to record "Living in Hell", a song Frusciante had written several years before. Frusciante refused, feeling that the creative freedom he needed for his solo projects would have conflicted with his role in the band.
A Name
John Frusciante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been a fool to let it out that way
And it'll keep on coming back
A fool gets laughed at
Now go on and on and on
Letting it out when the feelings strong
I wonder who in the single thing
Made this night and its ugly dreams
It is clear that one can see through a day
And I may have met my match
Completely unattached
With no one no one no one
On whom to rely
Let's sing that song
Well I didn't read the last page
You thought of me at that final stage
Eenie meenie miny moe
It's about time
About time to go
The song "A Name" by John Frusciante is a powerful track that revolves around the theme of feeling lost and detached from the world. The opening lines of the song, "These don't have a name, I've been a fool to let it out that way" suggest a sense of confusion about his emotions and the inability to express them. The lyrics go on to talk about how these feelings keep coming back and how it makes him feel like a fool who gets laughed at.
He then wonders about the origin of these feelings and talks about the ugly dreams that haunt him at night. However, he maintains a sense of hope and optimism that these feelings will pass away, and that he will find his way. The lines "It is clear that one can see through a day, and I may have met my match, completely unattached" indicate a moment of realization, as if he has found a way to see through the confusion and detachment.
The chorus of the song, "With no one no one no one, on whom to rely, let's sing that song" reinforces the sense of loneliness and the need for something to hold onto. The lyrics suggest that even though he may feel completely alone and lost, there is still hope in the form of music or some other outlet for expression.
Overall, "A Name" is a powerful song that explores the themes of isolation, confusion, and hope. The lyrics are deeply personal and touch on universal emotions that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
These don't have a name
These emotions don't have a specific name to categorize them.
I've been a fool to let it out that way
I regret expressing my emotions in a foolish manner.
And it'll keep on coming back
These emotions will continue to resurface.
A fool gets laughed at
People often make fun of those who show their vulnerability.
Now go on and on and on
These emotions persist endlessly.
Letting it out when the feelings strong
Releasing emotions when they are overwhelming.
I wonder who in the single thing
I question who or what is responsible for creating these emotions.
Made this night and its ugly dreams
Caused this miserable night and its unpleasant dreams.
These all pass away
These emotions will eventually fade.
It is clear that one can see through a day
It's evident that time will bring clarity.
And I may have met my match
I may have found someone who is my equal in love.
Completely unattached
I am currently not emotionally dependent on anyone.
With no one no one no one
I have no one to depend on for emotional support.
On whom to rely
I do not have anyone to rely on emotionally.
Let's sing that song
Let's distract ourselves from these emotions by singing a cheerful song.
Well I didn't read the last page
I didn't receive closure or complete understanding of a situation.
You thought of me at that final stage
You had me in your final thoughts during that stage of our relationship.
Eenie meenie miny moe
I am indecisive about which path to take in regards to my emotions.
It's about time
It's time to move on in regards to my emotional state.
About time to go
It's time to move on physically from this situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN FRUSCIANTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind