John Frusciante to rejoin the Red Hot Chili Peppers as Josh Klinghoffer departs

Chad Smith, Anthony Kiedis, Flea and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers signing items for auction in MTV, VH1 & CMT's ReAct Now: Music & Relief greenroom. For more information about ReAct Now: Music & Relief, please go to mtv.com, vh1.com or cmt.com. (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage)
Photo credit: Getty

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced that their guitarist Josh Klinghoffer is leaving the band, set to be replaced with former member John Frusciante. 

The 'Under the Bridge' rockers shared the news via their social media channels, calling Klinghoffer, who has played with them for a decade, a "beautiful musician". 

"The Red Hot Chili Peppers announce that we are parting ways with our guitarist of the past ten years, Josh Klinghoffer," the statement read. 

"Josh is a beautiful musician who we respect and love. We are deeply grateful for our time with him, and the countless gifts he shared with us.

"We also announce, with great excitement and full hearts, that John Frusciante is rejoining our group." 

Frusciante first joined the Chili Peppers in 1988, after guitarist Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose. 

Frusciante played on some of the group's most iconic albums, including Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication and By The Way. He quit the band twice, once due to his own battles with drug addiction and again in 2009, when the Chili Peppers went on hiatus.