Dave Navarro

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Lore & Background

Navarro's integration into the lineup began after he joined in September 1993, leading to his first large-scale performance at Woodstock '94. The resulting album, One Hot Minute (1995), featured three hit singles and showcased a departure from the band's previous sound, incorporating Navarro's eclectic style which merges heavy metal, psychedelia, and modern rock. During this era, the band recorded a cover of the Ohio Players' 'Love Rollercoaster' for the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack, and included the One Hot Minute outtake 'Melancholy Mechanics' on the Twister soundtrack. Although Navarro later explained that his musical sensibilities never fully matched the rest of the band, former Black Flag singer Henry Rollins described him as 'one of the last great guitarists,' a sentiment echoed by AllMusic's Greg Prato who called him 'one of alternative rock's first true guitar heroes.'

In Their Own Story

The tension during Navarro's time with Red Hot Chili Peppers culminated in his departure in 1998. After two years of touring on and off, Navarro faced a relapse into heroin addiction. He later stated that the primary reasons for leaving were creative differences and not being given 'the same latitude' regarding drug usage and recovery as Anthony Kiedis. Prior to this final split, Navarro had toured with Jane's Addiction in 1997 alongside Flea on bass during their Relapse tour. His time in the band was marked by significant output, including the massive commercial success of One Hot Minute, yet it ended due to personal and creative friction. In a separate incident from this era, Navarro remixed Janet Jackson's 'What'll I Do' for her Janet Remixed album.

Reader's Guide

Dave Navarro joined Red Hot Chili Peppers in September 1993, replacing the previous lineup during their initial hiatus. His first major performance with the group took place at Woodstock '94. Fans seeking to understand his contribution should look to One Hot Minute (1995), the sole studio album he recorded with them. This period also saw him play guitar on Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know' from Jagged Little Pill, one of the 1990s' most successful albums. The band released three hit singles during his tenure. Navarro departed in 1998 after two years of touring and a relapse into heroin addiction, citing that he was not afforded the same recovery flexibility as Anthony Kiedis and that their musical paths diverged. Although he was not included in the band's 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Navarro expressed happiness for his former bandmates while declining to attend the ceremony.

Did You Know?

• Navarro played guitar on Alanis Morissette's track 'You Oughta Know' from the album Jagged Little Pill in 1995.
• One Hot Minute sold around 4-5 million copies worldwide despite receiving mixed reviews.
• Navarro left or was dismissed in 1998 due to his own relapse and creative differences with the band.
• He performed on the cover of 'Love Rollercoaster' for the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack.
• Navarro was a first choice to replace Izzy Stradlin in Guns N' Roses in 1991 but never joined, though he later played on their 1999 song 'Oh My God'.