Words by Riley Fitzgerald
Graphic by Harrison Estate

In a previously unpublished interview unearthed by Ultimate Guitar, former Red Hot Chilli Peppers member John Frusciante discusses the influence the Beatles played on one track By The Way era track.

The relevant section of the conversation kicks off with Frusciante being asked by his interviewer how much of a contribution producer Rick Rubin made to the guitar parts on the band’s eighth album.

“Rick doesn’t have anything to do with them,” he replies. “Rick has more to do with the drums and the vocals and the mixing. When it comes to my guitar playing he leaves me alone and when it comes to Flea’s bass playing he leaves him alone.”

“He might suggest things to Flea occasionally or to me,” John then adds,  “he might say, ‘On Warm Tape‘, you should do an answer thing like George Harrison does with a 12-string guitar on some Beatles song.’”

It’s unclear to which Beatles song Frusciante refers.

Rubin could have been suggesting any number of songs from the Beatles repertoire, including material from albums A Hard Days Night, Help! and Rubber Soul. 

Or perhaps a standalone single like ‘Day Tripper.’

“And it worked perfectly with what I was thinking,” he enthuses, “I’d already done an overdub so it ended up being a slide guitar being answered by a 12-string guitar. So he’ll throw little ideas my way but he won’t say, ‘That guitar part is not working.‘”

Listen in at around 50 seconds of ‘Warm Tape’ and one might just be inclined to agree.

The full interview here.