Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Almost Done’ Recording New Album with John Frusciante

Red Hot Chili Peppers have been hard at work on a new album, their first since the return of guitarist John Frusciante. According to drummer Chad Smith, fans will likely get to hear it before the band's big stadium tour in summer 2022.

Smith told Rolling Stone the Chili Peppers are "almost done" recording the LP and added, "We’re getting along great. John’s been back for a while now, so it feels completely natural. … We’re really listening to each other in a new way...[John's] so dedicated. He’s so into it. He’s working so hard. We’re all working hard, but he’s in there with all the overdubs and the magic that he brings."

Tickets for the band's 2022 tour go on sale to the general public tomorrow (October 15.) The tour marks the first time RHCP will be embarking on a stadium tour in the United States. Smith said of the tour, "It’s kind of scary. We’ve played stadiums in Europe before. Live Nation was really confident that we could do it, and we’d never done it. We’re like, 'F--- it, balls out!'"

Smith, in true Chili Pepper fashion, added, "We’ll literally have our balls out. [Laughs.] No one wants to see that! Old balls!"

On a more serious note, Smith said of the upcoming tour, "I know there’s gonna be people, even Chili Peppers fans, that have never seen this lineup. We’ve written some of our best songs with these four guys, and we do have something special. It will be really exciting, and I see us not taking that for granted at all. As you get a little bit older, you appreciate it more. It’ll be a real joyful thing. I just wish it wasn’t so far away. It’s f---ing June of next year. I’d play tomorrow if it all made sense. But it needs to be safe and fun and have some consistency. I know other guys in bands that are out and they’re just walking this Covid tight-rope thing. I hope it all works out for everybody."