John Frusciante - 2001 Full Chateau Marmont Interview (audio) 7-18-2001

[@dev_john_]

In early internet era 2001 without all of john’s history readily available with a few clicks, you guys really did your homework and asked questions that a genuine fan would want to know. And from that this became one of the best John interviews ever. For anyone interested in John’s early solo albums this is a gold mine. Thank you guys!

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thank you, it's been in the vault for too long.

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thanks for watching. I am "off-mic" so you can barely hear my questions. Hope you enjoy this lost gem - Ralph Paredes

[@zachwarner1726]

Thank you for keeping it this long. It's wonderful of you to treat us.

[@BenMenzies-ft4jl]

Thanks bro ,love it from Australia

[@warborn_inc.]

I was at the 97 Viper Room show. It was a really interesting evening. At the time most people in the area (aside from his friends) had not seen or heard John in person and I remember a sort of subtle shocked feeling in the room when he came out because his appearance and virtually everything about him had changed so much. I know there were definitely some people there that night who expected some sort of return to form funk style show to take place. I knew Niandra Lades very well at that point and I cant recall if I had heard the Smile album yet or of it came out shortly after.. but I definitely knew we were not going to get this Funk/Punk guitar heavy performance. When John came out people cheered but there was a lot of whispering going on after between audience members concerning how fragile he looked. It seemed like there was a collective guilt in the audience because we were watching this man loved perform even though we knew he very clearly wasn't in good shape. I have listened to a recording of the many times since as well. Though John was still in a pretty weak physical state due to years of drug abuse etc there is still a broken and dark beauty to that show. I love the albums he released during that period (as disjointed and difficult as they may be)...and that live show was pretty trippy because that music was so intimate I never thought I would be standing in a crowded club watching him perform those songs publicly. It was a cool yet bizarre experience. I remember when I left the club my friends and I all talked for a long time about what we had just seen. Half of us saw it as John making a return and the other half thought we may have just seen a man perform for the final time. I definitely remember how blown away I was when I saw how much better he looked and sounded just 2 years later when he rejoined the Chili Peppers. I couldn't believe he rebounded that much in such a short time...but I am so grateful he had gotten healthy. Definitely feel fortunate to have seen the show...a bit of a surreal memory but one I have pretty distinct memories of even after all these years.

[@Veras1231]

was it at this show where one guy from the audience started in the middle of the set telling john why was he leading himself to his self-destrutction and that he was a "guitar god like jimmy page", something like that, and then john just started discussing with the guy. I remember listening to this in the bootleg of this show

[@warborn_inc.]

@@Veras1231 Yes that was the show. If you listen the guy in the audience was actually trying to compliment John...he wasn't trying to be mean at all but John totally misunderstood his point and then he got the audience to say "Fuck this guy"...and the guy just got really quiet and looked totally defeated. I recall people after the show talking with that fan outside and they said "Man...we knew you were not trying to talk bad about John..it just all got taken totally wrong and spiraled the wrong way" It was a cool but very strange show. So happy I was there to see it...but like I said...sort of felt guilty like we should have been asking John to get help and get himself healthy instead of standing there watching him in a pretty fragile state etc. Hard to believe that was 25 years ago. Cheers my friend

[@Veras1231]

Thanks for the memory man! I notice how people based on LA has this more deep personal connection with the music scene and the artists based there. Like you could go to viper room on a Friday night and see frusciante doing a show, or like the times the chili peppers would do free shows. I'm from Rio, Brazil, so that's pretty far for myself hahahh. Thanks again for the insight, I always had a curiosity for these dark times of John

[@Strangewaystribute]

I remember knowing about the Viper Room 1997 show, and it was the one night I had to work really late. I was so mad, and thought about just leaving and going to the show....I really wish I would have gone instead. I don't remember ever seeing video or photos from this Viper Room show...I've heard the audio. Can you both @antonioveras describe his appearance? I read a review that said he had make-up on. This would have been a month before the SMALLS show with Bob Forrest that I was at. Chad had that good story on Rick Rubins Broken Record podcast where he said he went backstage to that Viper Room show and didn't recognize John at all...standing 2 feet away from him.

[@warborn_inc.]

@@Strangewaystribute I totally lucked out because I was only staying there with a girl I was dating at the time and I was recording some music with a band at the time...and the girl I was with knew a lot of people at the Viper Room so she scored us tickets. There were definitely some celebrities in the crowd but thats not uncommon to see on LA (especially in the 90s). I caught John at another solo show in New York a few years later and I saw the Chicago date of the Nutstalk tour in summer 97 (it was a pretty bad show...the whole thing was very thrown together and there was a very small crowd at the House of Blues) Lots of great memories of cool shows and definitely cool to hear this interview after so many years. Wish I had a time machine to go back and revisit a lot of things from back then.

[@sethv6241]

Johns a legend

[@rebeccastevens1876]

This is a really insightful interview, and you let John have space for all his answers rather than interrupting him. And he is so honest. I love when he talks about one of the advantages of giving up drugs: "That week you made fifteen people smile." Simple, yet profound. Thank you for this.

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thank you, I had 3 pages of notes/questions...but he really expanded each answer. We hung out in his room for awhile talking without the cameras rolling too.

[@AllOuttaBubblegum123]

@@Strangewaystribute man. I'm so jealous. Been a dream to meet him since he first joined the peppers. Going to see them again in London next year. Been lucky enough to see him with them 15 times. I went twice in 2022. But its his solo stuff that I really love.

[@AllOuttaBubblegum123]

Thanks for uploading. I'm a huge fan of John's music.

[@ericmatthews16]

This is really fantastic man. The video, and ‘Ricky’ playing was a great unexpected surprise. Perfect ending.

[@gourmetcaveman]

great interview. This era of his music means a lot to me and Its really great to hear him talk about it with clarity. thank you.

[@wALdO430]

Godamn. I've been waiting years. Thank u brother. U just made lot of ppl happy. Tadadada dada

[@Flamengo1981]

This is history. Thanks, man.

[@Strangewaystribute]

Exactly, needs to be released before it's lost and forgotten.

[@thomasvicanek-santaguida1066]

beautiful man, beautiful story, thank you !!!

[@westleymoeun1336]

Thank you for this awesome interview. I recently started learning guitar because of him :)

[@marcmistermarc]

Thank you for doing this. And thanks to everyone who gave permission.

[@blahblahfaghrii3061]

This is gold! Cool footage at the end too... THANKS SO MUCH FOT THIS!!! 🤟❤️✨

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thanks for listening/watching

[@sparkyjk898]

So glad you released this! Thank you!

[@Strangewaystribute]

You're welcome, long overdue.

[@steveduffy272]

this is a fantastic interview with great insight into Johns mind at the time. thank you 🤘🤘

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thanks for listening

[@purplereigninblood]

This is a gem, thank you!

[@Strangewaystribute]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gazebyrne33]

Thanks for posting this, really nice interview

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thank you, history for sure. There was no You Tube in 2001....so it's finally seeing the light of day. It's only been seen in Spain TV in clips. Enjoy! Listen to the Rick Rubin podcast with John on Broken Record too....those have been incredible, and reminded me of this lost interview I had in the vault.

[@cbchrx2361]

Amazing thanks for this, great insight to the time, this when i was heavily getting into john and his solo music, great pictures and the footage at the end is ace.....thanks agian....big ups from Ireland!

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thank you!!

[@gofaghrii1227]

would be so cool if you got to do another interview with john : )

[@bobbykoalaproductions]

This is brilliant, thank you for sharing

[@giovannimanetti3747]

Thank you for this, brilliant interview

[@Strangewaystribute]

Thank you, appreciate the feedback.

[@thegrandpoketour]

thank you for uploading!!

[@mamaloh8165]

I like the part where he says that music should be an expression of freedom and not an expression of fascism, where you are constanly told what to do. min 48

[@dev_john_]

if anyone here has contact with Toni Oswald let her know we want to buy a copy of Desert In Shape if it ever became possible

[@Strangewaystribute]

I've seen it, and it's pretty trippy. Clara is in it as a child of course. The ending is where you see John dressed up as Rose, it has John's song "Enter a Eh" and "Breathe" from Smile from the Streets you Hold along with just guitar/EFX noise. At least the version I saw did.

[@troutmask9111]

I ask her on Instagram if she plans to release it and she said "I'm sorry, I don't think that will happen in the near future"

[@jung-zen]

Damn you were one of the first people to ever hear Ricky which was eventually released in 2004

[@Strangewaystribute]

Yes. We also got to hear the CD (Internet Album), 22 songs on the car ride home that day. We were in disbelief.

[@sojungvage9740]

when he told the story of his first solo live gig 14:40 , the night that River Phoenix died, he had to laugh about puking on Gibby Haynes, did anybody else found this a little weird? I do not mean the puking but being able to laugh about that night although one of his best friends died there?

[@robertsesmamusic]

I dont know where i heard this and dont know if its true but theres alot of blame on his death by john or flea or something like that

[@michaelvenezia9673]

John gave river a drink spiked with a leathel amount of drugs (according to sources) John has in subsequent interviews made light of his death. I found his reaction odd as well

[@clinteastwood6875]

He’s laughing at the fact he puked on Gibby not laughing that River died.

[@johnf.r6658]

This is a great material! I remember looking some clips on KZbin a few years ago from this interview but it's great to listen to all of it! Also a question maybe someone can answer me, did John quit smoking in this time too? Because I saw pictures of John smoking in 2009 but not in the by the way era

[@evanwright9016]

Just here to ask if the video Rubin wanted to utilize John and Toni's footage for eventually became "Soul to Squeeze"? Makes sense that it happened that way since both have similar vibes down to costume choice and makeup, as well as Rick's known enthusiasm for the song and his petitioning for it to make the cut for BSSM.

[@Strangewaystribute]

I'm pretty sure Rick Rubin wanted them to make a video for a song from Niandra LaDes album. Toni's movie is called "Desert in a Shape", and does feature songs from John in it, mostly from Smile from the Streets and strange guitar noises by John.

[@derunsympath]

Weird! I was lucking for the full version of this interview yesterday. A big bunch of this i remember seeing on youtube like 10 years ago. Was there ever a full video version online?

[@Strangewaystribute]

No, only clips have been released. I have a few on my channel too, but the quality is not great. Working on a remaster once we source that master tapes. Thank you for listening/watching.

[@estidog]

would be super interested to see the remater full video@@Strangewaystribute

[@Ddd-o8o]

I love you Johnny ❤🎸🎸⚘️......🌸🫶🎤💫⚘️

[@realmister7]

There's a landlord out there with a closet full of young Frusciante demos Or possibly one that wasted his retirement by binning them

[@samaBR333]

can you activate AUTO CAPTIONS for this video? thx!

[@asfetmedialtd.1279]

It's ironic to hear John Frusciante speak so passionately about the freedom of creativity and the absence of authoritarianism about creative collaboration in this interview, especially considering it was conducted during the recording of 'By the Way.' From what I understand, Frusciante took a rather controlling approach during the album's production, going so far as to write all the bass parts himself and limiting Flea's creative input. The contrast between his words and actions during this period is quite thought-provoking.

[@estidog]

Interesting to hear about what Circles of You is

[@Strangewaystribute]

There are only live recordings of that song from 1997

[@jfailure8788]

What's the name of the song playing in the begining

[@Strangewaystribute]

@@jfailure8788 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a32ZY56kjdqHisUsi=yXELElCqVGEwE3Tu

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

Someone needs to do personality studies of bands. All guitarists (like myself) are studious (guitar takes more study than all the other players combined to excel at) introverts (hide behind instrument drawn to tools, but also secret egomaniacs inclined to drug abuse to overcome shyness, kind of broken outcasts often tight with their extroverted lead singer they write songs with and ultimately become envious of, sleeping with their wife/girlfriend (physical sex appeal)for revenge and falling out with them. Bass players are the chillest of them all and jokers. Drummers are egomaniacs or crazy simple fine fellows. Something like that. Guitarists have serious social problem and labor their whole lives to connect to the world. Keith Richards was a solemn addict until about 50 when he became a warm inviting personality. Thank god I got out of music I don’t want to be a damaged guitar player.

[@samaBR333]

if you need help remastering it we can do it with AI.

[@Strangewaystribute]

Captions done, hope it works. I was trying to use RUNWAY software, but my video quality is pretty bad so we are trying to source the master tapes and digitize it, then do a remastering. If you have a good affordable source, I'd be interested in what it can do. Thanks for watching!

[@samaBR333]

@@Strangewaystribute I have a license for TOPAZ VIDEO AI. it's not perfect but works well, if you're interested

[@Whattheheckdude02]

What’s the song playing in the intro ??

[@Strangewaystribute]

Outtake from To Record Only Water, kzbin.info/www/bejne/a32ZY56kjdqHisU

[@Strangewaystribute]

Untitled instrumental

[@Whattheheckdude02]

@@Strangewaystribute thank you 🙏

[@athefirst2.03]

13:32

[@leof2497]

He said he blacked out during a show. What did he mean by that?

[@Strangewaystribute]

He was drinking something that night and doesn't remember what happened. I was at that Santa Barbara show, it was sad to see him like that on stage in front of thousands. He was opening up for Jane's Addiction.

[@vailvalasek7773]

*promo sm* 👊

[@Blkac-pill-Black-Life]

this video and descr is why i have internet last 3 minutes are the gemmest shit ever like a happy alternate reality vpro lmao

[@Strangewaystribute]

It's funny you say that, I went into this interview thinking this is the 180% of what the VPRO should be. His life had turned around so much....and would continue to evolve. Remember this is 2001, on his 3rd solo and Chili Peppers record release.

[@97szig]

What’s the song playing during the intro?

[@Strangewaystribute]

Untitled instrumental outtake from To Record Water, kzbin.info/www/bejne/a32ZY56kjdqHisU

[@97szig]

Thanks man thanks for uploading this. Been wanting to hear the full interview for the longest time.