Dave Mail 100: #1 and the despise for Fender's gift

As we already know, Anthony Kiedis gave John Frusciante the '62 Fender Sunburst Stratocaster when he went back to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. For almost the entire pre-Californication tour, Frusciante used this one guitar only - and even after he acquired the others, he kept it as his main guitar for all of his time with the band. What's the significance of this guitar to you?

Dave Lee: "That strat was the workhorse. And yes. I would call it the main one. Now, when John came back, the story of Anthony buying him a guitar and amp is true. All I know is, the very first shows we did with John back in the band was before Californication was recorded. And he only had the one guitar. Fender provided us with a new champagne Strat to use as a back up. But John refused to play it. I offered to make it look older. So I took it apart. And poured lighter fluid all over the body. Then proceeded to light it on fire in the alley behind SIR studios in Hollywood.

It actually turned out really cool looking, but he still wouldn't play it. So at those few shows before Californication when he needed me to tune him up he would just hand me his Strat, and after tuning I'd give it back. Flea said at those moments in the show he would "cause a diversion" to distract the audience, while I tuned John's guitar. One time, I remember the "diversion" was Flea doing a little dance with Clara who was like 6 at the time. Strange system, but it worked. That burned strat was hanging in Flea's home studio in Malibu last time I saw it.

Question by:

- Raphael Romanelli Andrade de Oliveira - Ilicínea, MG - Brazil

Check out our interview with Dave Lee: Português | English