The Red Hot Chili Peppers are welcoming back a familiar face as they prepare to release a new album in 2020. The band revealed via their Instagram account that guitarist John Frusciante is returning to the group, replacing Josh Klinghoffer who held the guitarist spot on their last couple of albums.

In their statement, the band revealed:

The Red Hot Chili Peppers announce that we are parting ways with our guitarist of the past ten years, Josh Klinghoffer. Josh is a beautiful musician who we respect and love. We are deeply grateful for our time with him and the countless gifts he shared with us.

We also announce, with great excitement and full hearts, that John Frusciante is rejoining our group. Thank you.

Klinghoffer joined Red Hot Chili Peppers as a touring musician in 2007, eventually taking over the guitarist spot upon Frusciante stepping down in 2009. He handled guitar duties on 2011's I'm With You album as well as 2016's The Getaway.

For Frusciante, this is his third stint in the band. He initially joined the group in 1988, appearing on their commercial breakthroughs Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magick. After exiting for 1995's One Hot Minute, he returned for 1999's Californication, 2002's By the Way and 2006's Stadium Arcadium.

Red Hot Chili Peppers have already started booking tour dates for 2020, with their appearance headlining the Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama on May 15 currently starting their 2020 touring. See all their dates here.

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