![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/josh-klinghoffer-claudio.jpg\")
<\/p>\nJosh Klinghoffer\u2019s dream of playing in Cuba with his band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, seems about to come true. The well-known California rock band could land in Havana with all \u201cits pieces\u201d as soon as March 2018.<\/p>\n
According to what journalist Michel Hern\u00e1ndez published on his Facebook profile, Klinghoffer \u2013 the band\u2019s current guitarist \u2013 was in Havana a week ago \u201cto talk about the preparations and with several of the country\u2019s artists and musicians.\u201d<\/p>\n
During his recent trip to Cuba, the U.S. musician spoke, among others, with filmmaker Jorge Perugorr\u00eda and the young musicians of the Nube Roja group, whom he visited in their studio.<\/p>\n
The concert could be held \u201cduring the tour the band will make through several Latin American countries with a set list that includes most of their classics together with titles from their most recent album The Gateway,\u201d Michel Hern\u00e1ndez advanced.<\/p>\n
The stage for the possible presentation could be La Piragua, next to Havana\u2019s Malec\u00f3n. The group\u2019s producers remain in contact with the local organizers and have already previewed \u201ca group of logistic details and other vital fronts for the organization of a large-size show.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two years ago, during a previous visit, Josh Klinghoffer had announced his wish to perform on the island with the Chili Peppers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to give a grand concert in Cuba for all our fans,\u201d he told Hern\u00e1ndez then. \u201cWe\u2019ve wanted to come for a long time. That\u2019s why when I told them I was coming they all wanted to accompany me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guitarist had arrived in Havana with rapper and drummer Questlove to play in the F\u00e1brica de Arte Cubano (FAC). In an exclusive interview for OnCuba, he said he had travelled to the island a decade before and \u201csince then I\u2019ve been obsessed with the idea of coming back here. Questlove\u2019s manager asked me if I wanted to join the trip and I didn\u2019t think twice about it. Coming to Cuba for anything is a tremendous opportunity. I love this place.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked why he felt that way, Klinghoffer affirmed he was \u201cin love with Cuba.\u201d It\u2019s a special place, unique. I can\u2019t explain it. Everything is so completely unexpected. It is magical,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The guitarist said he was a Compay Segundo fan. \u201cI love him. I\u2019d love to be as cool as him,\u201d he commented with a smile. \u201cI also like Los Zafiros a lot; Omara Portuondo, Benny Mor\u00e9, Irakere\u2026. I actually know about the older Cuban music; I don\u2019t know much about the new. But now I bought many records, so I\u2019m thrilled. I have a load like this!\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time he confessed to OnCuba \u2013 and perhaps he was exaggerating a bit \u2013 that at least once a week we would encourage the rest of the band to come to the island. \u201cI\u2019m sure we\u2019re going to play here soon. We\u2019re going to come, I\u2019m absolutely sure. I\u2019m really insisting. I\u2019m surprised with the number of followers we have in Cuba. It\u2019s marvelous to know they exist. I had no information about how much music gets here!\u201d<\/p>\n
On his return to the United States, Klinghoffer continued encouraging the members of the band to perform for the first time in Cuba and, according to Michel Hern\u00e1ndez, it seems the great occasion will be in 2018.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Josh Klinghoffer entered the Chili Peppers in 2009 after the departure of New York guitarist John Frusciante, who was with the band for more than 15 years and participated in the recording of five of its 10 studio records.<\/p>\n
Hern\u00e1ndez is of the opinion that Red Chili Peppers is \u201cone of the rock bands most followed on the island by numerous generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Its record Blood Sugar Sex Magic, from 1991 and produced by Rick Rubin, \u201cis a real rock classic\u201d and \u201cone of the central themes of the band which has survived all types of excesses and internal confrontations to continue creating a great deal of hassle on stages,\u201d according to the Cuban journalist.<\/p>\n
Another important album in the career of the Chili Peppers is Californication, from 1999, which was a great international hit and having sold 16 million copies is still the group\u2019s most marketed record.<\/p>\n
In recent years the island has been the subject of attention for international music stars, especially after the reestablishment of relations with the United States.<\/p>\n
Madonna, Rihanna, Beyonc\u00e9, Usher and Katty Perry visited the island. Several groups and artists have displayed their intention to perform for the Cubans. Two of the most relevant events were the multitudinous concerts in Havana of the legendary rock band The Rolling Stones and the Mayor Lazer DJs.<\/p>\n
However, with Donald Trump\u2019s arrival to the White House and the changes announced by him on the Cuba policy, the enthusiasm seems to have cooled down. Nevertheless, with the celebration in Havana of World Jazz Day, a notable U.S. delegation performed on the island, led by heavyweights like Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller and Esperanza Spalding.<\/p>\n
The possible concert of Red Chili Peppers next year could thus reactivate the interest and encourage other artists and groups to perform in Cuba. Or, at least, be a memory of another musical hallmark, as occurred in 2005 with Audioslave\u2019s concert in Havana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Josh Klinghoffer\u2019s dream of playing in Cuba with his band, Red Hot Chili Peppers, seems about to come true. The well-known California rock band could land in Havana with all \u201cits pieces\u201d as soon as March 2018. According to what journalist Michel Hern\u00e1ndez published on his Facebook profile, Klinghoffer \u2013 the band\u2019s current guitarist \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3134,"featured_media":101499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13944],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[33546,8689],"class_list":["post-101494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cuba-usa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n