Justin Hawkins, the lead singer of The Darkness, recently expressed his strong disapproval of John Frusciante’s guitar skills, going so far as to deem them “overrated” and “child-like.” Justin Hawkins shared his controversial opinions during a recent episode of his show, Justin Hawkins Rides Again, where he engaged in a conversation with special guest Pat Finnerty from What Makes This Song Stink.
In the episode titled “How NOT to Write a Song,” Hawkins delved into his previous comments regarding the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist, elaborating on why he believes Frusciante’s talent is not as exceptional as his fanbase perceives. Starting the discussion, Hawkins posed the question, “Why are the Red Hot Chili Peppers fans so sensitive? The videos we make about them receive a lot of ‘critique’ from RHCP fans.”
Expanding on his less-than-flattering opinion of Frusciante’s guitar prowess, Hawkins explained, “My issue with Red Hot Chili Peppers is that I don’t find anything compelling in John Frusciante’s guitar playing. If we consider Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits an underrated player, then I would describe John Frusciante as an overrated player. I have expressed this sentiment more than once.”
He continued, addressing a common counterargument, “People often retort, ‘You’re just jealous because he has sold more records than you.’ But the truth is, Mark Knopfler has sold far more records than me, and yet I don’t feel any envy towards him. I genuinely appreciate his guitar playing. So, that argument doesn’t hold water.”
In a show of solidarity, Finnerty chimed in, expressing his agreement with Hawkins: “I can’t understand why [Frusciante] is held in such high regard. It seems like those who listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers only listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
When discussing the specific aspects of Frusciante’s playing that he dislikes, Hawkins passionately declared, “Someone once suggested to me that his intentionally minimalistic style is deliberate. Perhaps it’s an artistic phase where, after achieving mastery, you delve into naive and child-like scribbles. It seems he may have been exploring that concept, but it doesn’t change the fact that it falls short.”
In summary, Justin Hawkins of The Darkness strongly criticized John Frusciante’s guitar abilities, characterizing them as overrated and resembling a child’s simplistic approach. Hawkins voiced his sentiments during an episode of his show, with support from his guest, Pat Finnerty, who shared similar reservations about Frusciante’s musical prowess.
