10 Worst Rock Band Member Replacements
8. Josh Klinghoffer Replaces John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Replacing a lead singer is the most obvious change a band can make, but some non-vocal swaps have also caused stirs over the years.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been through plenty of guitarists since their initial axeman, Hilel Slovak, died in 1988. John Frusciante first held the spot from late '88 to 1992, and then again between '98 and 2009. After that, he was subbed out for Josh Klinghoffer, who had previous served as a session musician for the likes of Gnarls Barkley.
Now, this entry is in no way meant to imply that Klinghoffer is a bad guitarist. The guy has gone on to play with legends like Beck, Pearl Jam, and Jane's Addiction in the years since, but with the Chilis, he didn't quite gel.
His playing style was too safe for the frenetic, hip-hop-infused stylings of his employers. The two albums he played on, I'm With You and The Getaway, both sounded way too flat, which might be why Frusciante was brought back in 2019.
The two are good friends in real life, so there was no beef over this... hopefully...