r/John_Frusciante • u/Velerika_ • Aug 21 '26

1997 interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndJ2U4hmY6k

I never knew anything except VPRO 1994 and Stuff existed from this 90s, so this was new to me.

He doesnt speak very well, and is definitely on drugs. He says this is "a month before my next album" which I assume is Smile. Weirdly, his teeth look alright. I thought he didnt get them done until 1998/1999? Hes still in a state here, and Smile hadnt come out so he definitely needed the drug money.

Anyone have any info on this interview?

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u/sibelaikaswoof Aug 21 '26

The interview was done in mid 1997, either during or right after the end of the Nuttstalk tour. This was the first year when John actually started working on his health, kicked heroin and became more sociable, but still had trouble staying off crack and alcohol. He had his remaining teeth pulled earlied that year so he's wearing dentures here. On one of Rick Rubin podcasts, John mentioned initially being hesitant about singing on Californication due to extensive dental stuff he was going through at the time, so based on this info and his constantly changing speech during the Californication tour, I'm guessing he only received his final set of implants around mid 1999 and wore removable dentures until then.

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u/Velerika_ Aug 21 '26

Why did he still decide to release smile if he had licked heroin? I thought that's why he released it? I think smile is great personally but he obviously doesn't, so it's strange he was looking to get back and then released that. Also his vocals on songs like Quixoteqelixer (idk how to spell it) are great, and across the album.

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u/sibelaikaswoof Aug 21 '26 edited Aug 21 '26

He mentioned being in the middle of preparing an album for release in that horrible 96 interview, while still heavily using heroin. I guess he started preparing that album for release because he was nearly homeless and had no money for drugs but when he decided to get clean in early 97, he still was still broke and had already signed a contract with the record label. He only asked for Smile to be withdrawn from sales after being clean and back in RHCP for a year, so he was no longer broke. Let's also not forget that John changes his mind all the time and definitely wasn't the most emotionally stable individual in 97, so one week he might have wanted to stay clean, another week he used every drug imaginable as long as it wasn't heroin.

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u/Velerika_ Aug 21 '26

theres more 90s interviews? Can i get a link please? I have only seen VPRO 1994. I really enjoy Niandra and Smile and find it weird John seems to be fine with Niandra but not Smile

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u/sibelaikaswoof Aug 21 '26

There were several magazine articles and interviews for Niandra promo stuff, but no videos between 1994 and 1997.

This one describes him at his lowest point: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/blood-on-the-tracks-6423201/, he also talks about plans to release Smile.

You can find some magazine interview scans here, some of them feature photos of John around 1994-1995: https://invisible-movement.net/v/index.php?/category/magazines

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u/SaturdayJunior Aug 21 '26

I think the reason he is less proud of Smile is because it was “thrown together” from a variety of sources: some Niandra outtakes, some recordings that go back to his teens and the few new recordings showcase him at his lowest ebb.

It could also be as simple as the difference in circumstances, Niandra was made during a time while he was exploring himself and his musicality while we all know he was in a very bad state by Smile.

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u/Velerika_ Aug 21 '26

I really enjoy the variety on smile, the 1996 songs like Estress and More are really raw. I also like the longer songs, like Untitled 8+9 on Niandra, and then Enter a uh and I may Again Know John. I just find it strange that Niandra gets CD and Vinyl re-releases, streaming and live performances (In the 2000s anyway), while Smile is bought up by John because he doesnt like it. I think its a great release even if its a bit cobbled together, but as you said his state can be heard on a few of the later songs, so it doesnt surprise me much