Josh Klinghoffer

Josh Klinghoffer (born October 3, 1979) is an American musician, record producer and the current guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has toured with, and played as a studio musician with, numerous artists, including The Bicycle Thief, Gnarls Barkley, Beck, the Butthole Surfers, John Frusciante, Golden Shoulders, Jon Brion, Neon Neon, PJ Harvey, Sparks, that dog., Thelonious Monster, The Insects, The Format, Vincent Gallo, Warpaint, and as second guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Klinghoffer has been involved in music from a very early age as a talented multi-instrumentalist, after having dropped out of formal education at age 15. Josh's first recording experience came as the instrumentalist of the short lived band, The Bicycle Thief, who were fronted by singer Bob Forrest. In 2000, Klinghoffer and The Bicycle Thief were one of the opening acts on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' support tour for Californication. Klinghoffer was also briefly a member of Forrest's other group, Thelonious Monster, a band that at one point auditioned John Frusciante before he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Klinghoffer is perhaps best known for his work with his friend John Frusciante and has regularly contributed to his solo albums including a joint album titled A Sphere In The Heart Of Silence. Klinghoffer and Frusciante have also collaborated with Joe Lally of Fugazi in 2004 under the name Ataxia. During this short period they played two live shows and released two albums, Automatic Writing and AW II. Despite being released several years apart, these albums were both recorded at the same time.

In 2007, Klinghoffer joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the later part of the Stadium Arcadium tour as a backing musician where he provided backing vocals, keyboard instruments and a second guitar to the band.

On May 8, 2009, Klinghoffer, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, Ron Wood and Ivan Neville performed under the name The Insects at a MusiCares event to honor Kiedis for his commitment to helping other addicts with addiction and recovery. Later that year Klinghoffer founded the band, Dot Hacker, of which he is the key songwriter, singer, rhythm guitarist and piano player.

In October 2009, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, minus John Frusciante, ended their two year hiatus and were joined by Klinghoffer in the studio to begin work on their tenth album. On January 29, 2010, Klinghoffer performed with the band for the first time as their lead guitarist at a MusiCares tribute event to Neil Young for a performance of Young's "A Man Needs A Maid." It was later revealed he would permanently replace Frusciante as guitarist.

Klinghoffer is currently working with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their tenth studio album and his first since joining the band as their guitarist. They plan to begin recording in July 2010. According to drummer Chad Smith, Klinghoffer would also sing, write music and play keyboards on the upcoming album, which is expected to be released in late 2010 or early 2011.

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