A Gigaton of Charm

JOSH KLINGHOFFER WAS A RED HOT CHILI PEPPER — AND NOW HE RECORDS WITH EDDIE VEDDER AND PERFORMS WITH PEARL JAM. WHAT IS IT ABOUT HIM THAT ALL THESE (HUGELY SUCCESSFUL) ACTS WANT?

- Joe Bosso

IN DECEMBER 2019, Josh Klinghoffer’s world was upended when he was given the stunning and abrupt news that, after 10 years of membership in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, his services were no longer required and that the band’s longtime guitarist, John Frusciante, was rejoining. He didn’t see it coming, and for a period he felt numb, but given time and space he’s been able to process his dismissal and put things in perspective.

“Obviously, it’s sad when something is taken from you,” Klinghoffer says. “I did a perfect 10 years with them, but for as much as I love those guys and loved playing with them, it was also enormously stifling creatively. They’re an established band with an established sound, and I learned own lane.” Klinghoffer is quick to deem his tenure with the Chili Peppers “a blessing and a beautiful experience,” but he’s now able to view his departure from the band “the best thing that could have happened to me. I’m free to explore other musical avenues and perhaps find my own sound more than I was able to with them.”

It didn’t take him long to land on his feet. Shortly after he was cut from the Chili Peppers, he was asked to join Pearl Jam as a multi-purpose touring member, an association that soon led to him writing and recording with Eddie Vedder for the singer’s latest solo album, Earthling. Interestingly enough, that project — and a short tour coinciding with the record’s release — over time how little deviating from that was possible.”