Arik Marshall is actually the third guitarist to play with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Before John Frusciante there was Hillel Slovak, Flea's old high school friend, who co-founded the Peppers with him around 1983, and who died in '88.
So even though the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren't really very old, Arik is stepping into a position that is weighted with emotional resonance.
But Arik seems to be taking R.H.C.P. history, tragic and otherwise, in characteristically calm and level-headed stride.
GW: What's your approach to covering John's parts onstage? Are you reproducing them note-for-note?
Marshall: Not so much note-for-note. But there are some things that I wouldn't do any other way than how John did it -- like the introduction to "Give It Away."
Because I think that's an important piece of his, one which people quickly identify with.
But in other areas -- like solos and fills and things -- I just interject my own stuff.
So it ends up being 50/50: I try to do his stuff exactly as he did it, and I try to do my own thing.
GW: Some of his lead lines were really wild.
Marshall: Yeah. I wouldn't even try to recapture those.
GW: How much time did you spend preparing for your first show with the band?
Marshall: Before we went to Belgium, I think we had three-and-a-half weeks of five-days-a-week, four- or five-hour rehearsals.
Just cramming everything in.
GW: Did you have to prove yourself worthy of being a Chili Pepper?
John used to say they made him show them his penis.
Did you go through a similar trial?
Marshall: No. I guess the only thing so far would be the fire hats [i.e. the flame-throwing headgear worn by the Chili Peppers as part of their live show].
I had to muster up some courage to put on one of those hats, which spit fire in the air.
But apart from that, no other absurd zaniness has been demanded of me.
GW: So how's Lollapalooza going?
Marshall: It's weird at times, but overall it's been a lot of fun.
GW: Which act attracts the most interesting groupie action?
Marshall: Interesting groupie action?
[He ponders for a moment.]
The Jim Rose Freak Show.
GW: A skillfully evasive answer. But I guess it's true.
Marshall: It is true!
GW: Are they an act on the second stage?
Marshall: Yeah.
GW: Have you had any opportunity to talk guitars or swap riffs with any other players on the bill?
Marshall: No, not really. A bit with Kim [Thayil] from Soundgarden, who's really cool.
We jammed once; I played bass while he played guitar.
So it wasn't a guitar-to-guitar type of jamming thing.
GW: Has there been any talk of a new Chili Pepper's album yet?
Marshall: Not so much actual dates or even any new material, but definite references to how we want to make it as funky as possible.
GW: What do you think you're going to bring to the Chili Peppers?
Marshall: I guess a certain degree of fire.
GW: Apart from what's coming out of your hat, I take it.
Marshall: Yeah. I mean they've always had it. But just my own brand of flames.