That's fair man. I feel the same about a few famous bands like the Foo Fighters, think they're all brilliant but I just don't get it. But then hardcore FF fans will explain WHY it might be and I guess after that I kinda get it more, but still not enough! I would definitely say watch the RHCP live at Slane Castle DVD and Hyde Park 2004 gigs on CD as a final "give this a whirl".

I don't get it either man. It's not for everyone.

Beautiful Melodies are what gives this band such a compelling sound. The best way to explain it is, Frusciante can write beautiful melody the way Jimmy Page could write a beautiful riff. They’re never hard to play, in either respect. But they’re good all the same. Then on top of that, Frusciante does backup vocal brilliantly as well.

@@RunningxRiott Yea that's exactly it. It's Ludovico Einaudi, his piano pieces aren't the most technical by far....but listen to Oltremere and that melody is what drives it.

Tower of Power is fantastic. Especially with Francis 'Rocco' Prestia on bass in the early 70's. The rock funk sound that I love from the 70s is the Isley Brothers. Highly recommend for Hendrix style guitar with funk grooves. RHCP started out as a rather weak punk funk metal band that got better and better over the years even through some very rough times. I think their staying power is rooted in Chad and Flea bringing just the right mount of swing to the groove. While I don't find Anthony to be the ultimate front person, he found his thing eventually that no one does as well with rapid fire verses and pleasantly melodic choruses for "so easy anybody can do it sing alongs". I'm his age and I can't fault him for taking off his shirt if he still feels good about it. I know I would if I could!

lol what expressiveness?

I had a classmate do a project on that song in 7th grade and it really changed how I felt about music hearing that solo. I went from no interest in music and no real musical taste prior to just wanting to get into everything. I quickly went to buy that CD after.

And the will to death!!

They're superb.

This guy wouldn't appreciate them.

Empyrean is one of my all time favourite albums

and Shadows Collide With People and To Record Only Water for Ten Days too

that's offensive

F4k RHCP

He killed River Phoenix …. Real cool guy …

@@HEATSEEKER00 off you pop

YES

@@HEATSEEKER00 you should go do the long jump in the Olympics, you're great at jumping to conclusions

Exactly right man

The solo on Hey gives me stank face.

@@paulmcgrath6118 some of John's solo stuff is top notch, hes probably my second favourite guitarist to listen to (buckethead being #1)

I love Johns solo work all the way up to Empyrean. I cant get on with his electronic stuff and have yearned for his return to the guitar

@@cactusjackhausen8508 yeah im not really about that either tbf, however as a musician that was something he wanted to do and i can get behind that.

His guitar work in mother's milk is extraordinary... No one ever talks about that album anymore. It's their best album 🤷‍♂️

Isn't murderers just a sped up version of one of the Chili Peppers tracks? Hang on, I'm going to give it a listen. I know I liked Murderers too, but I was kind of disappointed when I realized Frusciante had just taken some of the stuff from his work with the Chili Peppers and changed it slightly for his solo work.

“Murderers” takes a lot of beats and ideas from “Wet Sand” by RHCP. While it is an interesting take on it, “Wet Sand” is far superior to it and is one of the songs I would recommend Justin to listen to if he believes that John is expressing much which blows my mind because in my mind he is one of the greatest painters of his expression on the guitar that there ever was. Now if you listen to the main tracks they may seem a little down beat but you’re not gonna understand the greatness that is RHCP listening to the main tracks. It’s the ones that aren’t as popular that blow my mind

@@mattrobles9935 RHCP B-Sides are more creative. Eskimo, Million Miles of Water, someone etc...

@@mattrobles9935 you do realize that murderers came about 8 or 9 years before wet sand ?🤣🙄

I also don't think Murderers is in any way a song to hold up as a rebuttal guitar wise. Good melody but for of expression?

It’s usually a 62 strat on neck pickup into a Boss Ds2 on turbo all dials on full into a Marshall amp that’s also past break up.

@@clynekm good to know. Thanks

@@julienchenel1796 lol sorry I know that was a “well actually” moment from me there 😂. There’s a guy called Dave Simpson on here who is great at replicating players if you’re into that kind of thing

@@clynekm LOL... no worry.

Yes, John does take a minimalist approach and Flea even mentioned that recently, great point. Live at Slane castle I’ve watched many, many times myself and I absolutely love Frusciante’s improvised solo at the end of Don’t Forget Me.

John is amazing but RHCP is his least interesting playing. Its like a having a ferrari only to drive it to the shops

#jealousy

@@tinnitussoundtherapy Yep. His solo stuff is absolutely incredible.

John is a superb musician. His choice of chords, harmonic notion, melodic notion is off the charts...simple but aesthetically pleasing. I can see why a hardcore metal-head, hard rocker or jazz nut might twist the nose. Guitar habilities aside, he is very well rounded as a songwriter as well. His creative output is variable on references and styles yet consistent, wide ranged and well executed...putting out 6 entirely different albums in 6 months like he did back in the early 2000's is a maelstrom of creativity. Them came "The Empyrian", which to be honest I would say is one of my favourite albums of all time, kind of a pinnacle on his addressing of themes of death, regret, insanity. "Central" is a superbly well crafted song. And he does it while keeping a steady foot in the "pop-arena-rock" field with the RHCP. And in eletronica. Not mentioning his past work with Ataxia, the Mars Volta and so on. The man puts himself out there with a confidence rarely seem. I know Justin Hawkings is a very good guitar player, but there is a difference between playing music to live and living for music.

John also has the Hendrix vibe going on at times too.He switches it up using tones,sounds,chord structures and emotion.I could talk about his playing per song forever.

The zephyr song intro = Californian sun rays

I feel that bro. Definitely, I can't always explain why I like them so much but I really do

Oh and Anthony was in point break don't think flea was, flea was in big Lebowski I know that for sure

@@conorsmith8551 oh true lol, it’s been a while since I’ve seen it and in my mind they’re everywhere together 😂

@@TheWrightVibes love both those films !! Proper Los Angeles slice of life haha

I like this. I think you're right.

His lead work is reminiscent of the way George Harrison approached guitar solos.

Yes, I also commented that he should listen to I Could've Lied. That solo gave me intense goosebumps.

Fact is that he doesn't do that only in 'Californication', he does that on pretty much every solo part of the 'Californication/By The Way' period. If you watch some live footage of RHCP in 1990, you can see John's really impressive. On the other hand, later on around Californication/By The Way time he got rather lazy and dull, it seemed like he didn't care. Sometimes he even struggled to play those few-note lead parts right. Maybe some people are not John's enthusiasts because of that period, maybe Justin himself belongs in this category.

Agreed. To add to this, it's also unwise to equate specific guitar techniques with good playing. Sure, vibrato can be nice, but sometimes intentionally avoiding it can be equally expressive in a different way. The solo in Californication sounds simple, yet it's one that has gotten stuck in many people's heads, and IMO it was the perfect fit for that song. Being able to strip something back to such bare bones and still have it accentuate a song so well is the difference between a musician vs. a stereotypical guitar player. One creates and expresses without limiting themselves; the other might think the number of shredded and tapped notes per song amounts to good music. There are many outrageously skilled guitar players like Vai, Malmsteen, et al.; who didn't have much staying power beyond guitar nerds who worship their dexterity. On the flipside, you have people who aren't quite as technically proficient, but who know how to write tasteful, melodic lines that many people remember and love. Having watched a bit more of Mr. Hawkins' band after this video (sorry, but I too thought The Darkness was a novelty band and one-hit-wonder until today), it seems he's partly of the 80s school of rock guitar, which many people were totally bored with by the time the grunge scene threw it on its head. He should know that it's never a good look to go critiquing other musicians' styles and abilities, because at the end of the day *everything* in music is preference and opinion.

@@400_billion_suns so you're basically stating that it's not fair to say that something is not your thing because it is someone else's thing. If anyone talks about his tastes, it just has to be about the positive ones.

@@edyb2097 I’m addressing the subtly superior undertone his commentary has throughout, just under the surface. He makes several statements in his monologue which indicate he really doesn’t care for RHCP, and that he isn’t familiar enough with their music to be making the generalized statements he does about Frusciante’s playing. It was apparent from the start that he didn’t know what he was talking about, when he said John played a 70s strat with a large headstock (When was the last time we saw that? 1987? He has used the same sunburst strat since he came back in 1999.) Opinions are one thing, but uninformed opinions walk a fine line beside ignorance.

I've isolated his guitar in my mind countless times listening to that album. Probably more so than any album he's done with them. He's brilliant on Stadium.

I’d say Mother’s Milk, his 18 yr old debut, is far and away the most impressive work he’s ever done with the band. Dynamic, lots of tasty layering/overdubs, stylistically diverse playing, uninhibited technical prowess on display, not afraid to bring the “rock” to funk rock. I know his opinions on that album and the way Beinhorn encouraged him to play are unfavorable, but it’s really a shame that he eschewed all that for his ‘minimalist thing’ for the rest of their career…

The rip offs on that album tho... it's unreal.

By The Way , Followed by Stadium

I went on that tour in Paris, they were something else. JF was on fire!

I was not a huge fan of that song until I saw it live...the rest is history

Yes!!! One of my favorite all time spine tingling solos!!! 👍

Watch the live version of Dont Forget Me. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nLxpfK2H1Ky2j4U.html

Hawkins opinion coming from ignorance. Probably based on the Californication stuff. He obviously hadn't heard stadium Arcadium.

I 2nd that. BSSM is just a killer album. Amazing, unique and eneegetic playing from all of em.

@@bendagostino2217 hahaha, some subtle sarcasm there, well done.

RHCP have written some "easy son" but a lot are really complex in their structure... sir psycho sexy, zephyr song, charlie, in the snow, eddie, it's only natural

Yea Venice Queen is a masterpiece.

Indeed, a masterpiece

“Venice queen” is brilliant .. I love the haunting intro and massive change up! Great tribute song to a friend of the band!

I really love playing it on bass. And I agree, as recently I feel the people who now announce that they don't are like them, are the people in the past, who used to hate on Nickelback , but now seem to love them...it feels like that situation again.

Or maybe Justin is slightly jealous that RHCP are still "cool" and releasing new music, but thing is, The Darkness have real rocking tunes, it's just some people only really know them for I Believe in a Thing Called Love, and not the heavier stuff they have done. But anyway I'm so hyped for the rest of the album, cannot wait 2022 so far a brilliant year!

What do you think of an album now? :)

100%

Yea I agree.

I think they're less listened to stuff is underrated. But I don't think you could extend that to the band in general.

Urm no.

For me, they made one incredible album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Everything before then was building up to that record, everything after then was just disappointing.

A lot of it isn't simple though. The main guitar part in Snow is extremely difficult to play.

​@@Forestgravy90it's difficult to play but it is very simple. It's literally just chords haha

Here's a lovely bit where he talks about developing something from Hendrix: m.kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ldaogLeJxsqnoX0.html

Thought Hendrix at about :50 of the new song

Couldn't have said it better myself🙏RHCP live at Slane castle proves how much of a soulful guitar player John is. For me there is so much emotion in the notes John plays, safe to say The Darkness's music has never made me feel that way at all, no disrespect to them of course, I respect them as a band, I suppose it's all down to a matter of opinion.

The rhcp are not underrated at all what age are you like 17? 😂😂

@@CliveWarren69 ummmmmm yeah, I guess you missed the part where I said "the last 30 years", thoughtful reply though, keep up the excellent work 👏

@@corkystclair7475 I'm not mad at you or that don't start crying cause I said that now you really are about 17 😂😂 calm down sweety😂

Totally disagree. One great album bssm. Every track a banger. "I could lied" " breaking the girl" " suck my kiss" ""under the bridge" etc etc. Mothersmilk was better than anything after bssm as well.

I think they are overrated af tbh. Amazing bass and drums… the rest, bleh

They r not overrated id say,i think the internet is a problem where you think playing complex melodies and fast solos is the only way, but i actually enjoy rhcp as a simpler rock/funk band,all of mainstream charts is simplistic music,this wasn't even as simple as that,maybe the harmonization and chord progressions are lame and repetitive but they did them well i think,its just a song to relax

Same, self taught

It always blows my mind how underrated Foxy Shazam is. I got to see them twice and both shows were insane!

I know Iam like da fuck ! Never head anyone say John doesn’t have expression. Does this man want a vibrato left and right

If anyone wasn't for some reason convinced by Frusiante's RHCP work, they should definitely check out _The Empyrean_ with its beautiful, Funkadelic-esque tone.

Well deserved faint praise!

Wow! I like the Paris, Texas reference. Takes me way back.

Seems overly smug and plain ignorant of a person who has not even bothered to research his video subject... He can't even name a single song properly on Blood Sugar Sex Majik, and claims he has not actually listened to them. I'm British, a lot of Americans can't spot a c*nt because they are mesmerised by the accent and sensibility. But we can spot one easily.

Lol... no....

I dont rly like Anthony as a person,but i think his voice is pleasant to listen to,thats why this chorus sounds good,his voice is suited

john was a kid when invited fir the red hot , he grew up and adiction made him fall more than once but when older he did tried to releases more than one Lp but not interesting at all and adicted has he was not wanting to play with still clean red hot but they also dive again in their heroin/ cocain habbit , but maybe not wanting to play today more than two si.ple songs of one of the best psychedelic-funkadelic , this last being a band not a style but red hot were emerse since the beginning n this style and diano being one if the best guitar players in late 80's ,early 90's but the relation trew them to total anhyalation but a great Lp , john fusciante did return from darkness and again a great Lp came iut but in the next two including stadium arcadium Lp that didn_t sold much but if one forgets other its perfect in the two parts but it was enough of thay guitar sound wich is great and red hot weren't a melidic band but a explosian if youth energy in the 80's , and after their first guitar player overdosed they put a bit of paprica and mither's milk was an entrance in what would be the vest of 99's rock albums blood sugar sex & magic but that's when the cookie crumbles, john grew up and as all wanted the rock'n'roll experience , life wise and red hot were already boiled but again they emerged in ,again and as the lead vocal said to mtv news just out if a dealers place he loiked down as a child and said " the red hot aren't behaving well , we are being bad boys again.....i can't writte now , dinner is served ,i'll continue later. Regards

I was really hoping RHCP were done and Flea could finally play in a supergroup or collaborate with others in some capacity. He's too talented to be stuck with someone who can't sing or write.

@@suburbanindie supergroups dont have the feeling most times,and people will look back on prime RHCP days

@@suburbanindie he is also in a band "Atoms for Peace" with Thom Yorke

Lame music for lame people with a lame taste in music.

Also, it's great fun listening to Flea doing all kinds of funky shit on his bass

John F killed river Phoenix how does that hit your feels button?

@@paulmcgrath6118 he gave him a line of pure heroin and said it was coke ….. nice guy

It's nice to see em but it seems they are covering old ground

Went to your channel and your music is great! Awesome stuff 👏👏👏

@@American-Dragon I've seen them 5 or 6 times over the years, I probably don't need to go again

@@indie_keegan Cheers Indie, working on my first record of original music at the moment, watch this space

It’s a brilliant album.

Kiedis is a bad musician and a rapist, what else is new?

I agree with you. Black Summer was incredibly weak, incredibly predictable & sounded like a below average pop song. I gave up on them a good few years ago, anything after By The Way is average at best i'm sorry to say :( :( :(

They always were a band playing it safe, every song sounds the same.

@@Liofa73 Have you listened to BSSM. lol

@@tonywelsh3709 Idk man, I think they just play what they want and like to play

@@Liofa73 playing it safe? are you sure you aren’t confusing them with someone else?

Just like Morellos story.

Kind of a shame too…I think Mother’s Milk is still his finest work to this day!!

@@JazzzRockFuzion It's outstanding work and captures Hillel's spirit while adding so much flavor to the broth.

That's a great showcase of John's best work. The problem is he hasn't come close to that since. Californication and SA are good, but not on that level of BSSM and Mother's Milk. Only my opinion of course.

The first 3 seconds on new song you know its John

It was actually weird to me hearing overdubbed guitars on the new song! A lot of their tunes are just one guitar I think.

Yes, agree. Rarely do we see that sort of chemistry between guitar and bass. John's minimalistic guitars and Flea's opulent bass lines go so well together.

@Bloom Tik Bloom yep

His lyrics are catchy and sound fun

And to be fair, he's had an interesting life. HIs old man was drug dealer to the stars of the day. Kiedis would have met all the weirdos, famous or not and seen way too much, way to young. Cher was a surrogate parent to him for a while. There was probably very little in the line of a normal job he'd be fit for after that upbringing!

i think part of the marmite is Kiedis, i don't think many people like him, and thats fair, hes reported to be a bit of a diva.

I can feel that. I'm 39 now

At least half those bands you listed are terrible.

@@kingnotail3838 Do you know how absolutely useless that comment is? Some user name on YT doesn’t like some of the bands I like? Am I supposed to care? Was there nothing of substance you could have added to possibly give me a reason to take your opinion seriously?

I mean he also has alote of tracks where he is has solos my all time favorite is Hey solo not hey oh lol but that solo is amazing. I never heard anyone say that John has no expression in his playing lol 😂

Its funny how people perceive genius in music. I hear the opposite in them. Not a diss to them, but I definitely don't hear genius, though they're solid writers and they know what they do well. To never break out of pentatonic shapes seems to me like it could never be seen as genius

I'd say Frusciante is the weakest in the band. Chad is one of the greatest drummers on the planet, his ability to groove is incredible. Flea is one of the most talented bassists of all time. John is great but not one of the greatest. Unfortunately, it seems to me that the rather bland music doesn't make the best use of all the talent.

Yeah, there is great variety to what John Frusciante has done with the Chili Peppers, and even more so with his solo albums. He's a music obsessive, and always seems to be shifting his influences, which are extremely wide ranging. I'd encourage anyone to go read or listen to an interview with him, or delve into his solo work. He's also had a fairly eventful life, which adds to the depth of his music.

@@stevec6427 flea most talented of all time? thats fucking hilarious. and he would back me up. chad is a solid drummer but he is average as far as the greats go.

John really isn't a genius. I'm a fan of his, I have a John tattoo, but never considered him a genius. His blood sugar era playing was truly exciting to me, all his stuff since guitar wise to me is meh