I first came across Kentaro sometime in 2020. I’ve always been a fan of red hot chili peppers as a band, but more specifically of john frusciante, their DRAMATIC guitarist who has left and re joined the band twice over the years. He wrote all the songs that you think of when you hear “rhcp”. So when i came across a japanese website promising a book all bout john and his guitar tone I paid attention. after ORDERING the book in late 2020, i recieved a japanese shipping notice in july 2021. a few week later a beauitufl, hand painted large format book arrived. it was clear that this was this a labour of love that verged on obsession. every famous rhcp track had been broken down, with amp setings simulated and recorded on every page. it was both a BEAUTIFUL object, and a very useful one.

I had to meet the man behind it. And wouldn’t you know, he’s in a cover band for RHCP, and as Carlsberg would say, probably the best sounding one in the world. Kentaro’s ability to play these songs like he his channeling John frusicante is something to behold online, but even better in person.

I had been in Japan for some other shoots. During this I’d been messing Kentaro and most likely crossing some Japanese cultural boudnires when I was asking to come to his home studio to meet him. Eventually he seemed to trust me enough to meet him in public. His cover band (The Red Hot Chili Freaks) had a show in Shimokitazawa and I could meet them there before that. I had a 9 hour layover in Tokyo, so thats just what I did. Raced through the airport, got my very nicely applied vis stamp from the border guard and made my way across on elf the biggest cities in the world to meet Kentaro and band. I dont know what I was expected from Kentaro, but he was both a bigger and smaller personality than I expected. As someone who is highly regarded as a guitarist online, he didn’t seem to have the ego I was maybe expecting, but maybe thats just being Japanese.

I only had a few hours with him and the band. Kentaro and the band don’t speak any English, and even though I’d been in Japan for a few weeks, but Japanese hadn’t gotten much bette than “Yes”, “No” “Please” and “Thankyou”. I was also finally getting used to bowing more. Thankfully the man in the place of frontman Anthony Keides spoke good English. I assume thats why he’s the singer…This didnt really matter too much as I was still able to communicate with all of them with smiles and points. We hun out the beautifully tiled music studio, smoked cigarettes in the world’s smallest indoor smoking area and then spend 2 hours playing song after song perfectly. I had to run to the airport before their show, something I regret. But I got to be one of the boys for a few hours. I loved it.

this interview was conducted in japanese and has been translated into english.

G - Could you do a brief introduction of yourself?

K - My name is Kentaro Kiuchi. I'm a graphic designer, and I also do some art direction in Japan.

G - Talk to me about Red Hot Chili Peppers

K - The first time I was truly touched by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers was back in 1999, with the release of Californication. My brain has been invaded by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers ever since. I have been collecting John Frusciante memorabilia for 23 years now. And I didn't just want to collect the stuff. As a graphic designer, I have always wanted to express myself in some way, which is why I made the book.

G - Describe HeArt - It's very technical and probably the definitive book on how to sound like John frusciante

K - So I spent 3 years making the book, I don't even know why I'm so passionate. I pursue it precisely because I don't know, I've been doing it for so long already. I'm probably a John Frusciante junkie. John's unique sensitivity to music really pulled me in, I was very attracted to his dark side. So I listened to all of John's solo albums in order to understand and research his dark side. And I ended up falling in love with him, but I still don't really know what it is that draws me to his music. But the sound he produces and every note he plays pulls at my heartstrings.

G - What were your reasons for publishing the book?

K - Well, I had been collecting memorabilia for a while, and just doing that would have been boring. As a designer, I am always looking to create new things so I made it into a book so I wouldn't forget. As we get older, we tend to forget the details, That's why I wanted to compile everything, so I wouldn't forget. When I look back at it I can remember, and when I published it on YouTube and Instagram, I got a lot of attention from people like me.

G - Do you think you're a good guitarist?

K - No, no, no, no! I don't have originality, I'm just imitating John's sound. And I don't mind it. I just want to be in contact with his music.

G - Do you like Studio or live recordings best?

K - Live, but the analog recordings of Unlimited Love and Dream Canteen are very good. Californication's monaural recording is also super cool.

G - Give me your favourite 3 song set list from RHCP

K - The first one would be Scar Tissue, I was enthralled by the sound of the guitar. The second one would be Can't Stop. And for the last one... Let me see...I have this song in my mind that would be great. But can I just go with the simple answer? Black Summer. When I heard Black Summer I went like: "John is back!” - I cried!

G - Do you like John F with long or short hair?

Buzz cut. But he also looks cool with long hair. John probably grew out his hair because of his job, he usually grows it out whenever he's with RHCP.

G - How did you feel when you heard the song “wet sand”

K - It was a majestic sound. I felt like I had gone inside the song and travelled with them, like I was being jostled around inside a wave. It was a sad yet happy feeling. I was sad but also happy. But it was also very endearing. It made me feel so many emotions, It really felt like I was inside the song and I was traveling to different places.

G - Do you want to be famous?

K- No, no, no! I'm an amateur. I want to do whatever I like in a serious manner. I want to do my job properly, and I want to take good care of my family as well. I can't really choose or say what is more important to me, because they're all important and I want to get better at all of them going forward. I don't want to be a professional musician. Instead, I want to be the representative of the geeks, the nerds. I want to remain a geek.

G - What do you live for?

K - My family. My friends. Red Hot Chili Peppers!