10 Most Unique Guitarist In Alternative Rock Music
1. John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers
By the time John Frusciante landed a gig with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, they were already one of the most talked about groups on the LA alt-rock scene. Indeed, Frusciante - who is younger by the other members by almost a decade - was a devoted fan.
His early sound was informed by the Chilis original guitarist, Hillel Slovak, and of course, Jimi Hendrix. He brought the two influences to bare on Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991), combining the erratic and fast-paced-funk-style of Slovak on tracks like "Funky Monks", and the silky intricacy of Hendrix on "Under the Bridge".
He left the group in '92 to pursue a prolonged heroin addiction, only to return in 1998. Drug free and unrestrained from the shackles of youthful bravado, Frusciante's guitar style changed significantly. The raw and speedy punk/funk of his earlier days was replaced by a more melodic and subdued sound on albums like Californication (1999) and By the Way (2002).
With that said for every "Scar Tissue" and "Californication", there's been a "Dani California" and "Can't Stop". He knows when to pull it back when it needed, but he's not afraid to attack the fretboard when the mood suits him.