Josh Adam Klinghoffer (born October 3, 1979) is an American musician best known for being the guitarist for the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2009 to 2019, with whom he recorded two studio albums, I'm with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016), and the B-sides compilation I'm Beside You (2013).

At age 32, Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012, making him the youngest inductee at the time.

[1] Following his departure from Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2019, Klinghoffer became a touring and session member of both Pearl Jam (since 2021) and Jane's Addiction (2023).

He is also a former member of the bands Ataxia, Warpaint and The Bicycle Thief, and has both recorded and toured as a session musician with notable artists including PJ Harvey, Beck, Iggy Pop, Elton John, the Butthole Surfers, Vincent Gallo, Sparks, Golden Shoulders, Cate Le Bon, The Armed and Red Kross.

[2] Additionally, Klinghoffer releases solo materials under the pseudonym of Pluralone, originally a working title for the group Dot Hacker.

Klinghoffer describes himself at this time as "[the] little music dork who lived around the corner, dropped out of high school, and was just playing guitar all day long.

"[6] In 1997, at the age of seventeen, Klinghoffer joined The Bicycle Thief, the then-current project from former Thelonious Monster frontman Bob Forrest.

Red Hot Chili Peppers vocalist Anthony Kiedis noted that "Bob [Forrest] has always had a very keen sensibility about finding extremely talented and down-to-earth people who just want to get to a kitchen and write a song.

[8] In late 1999, The Bicycle Thief opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers, as the latter toured in support of their seventh studio album, Californication.

Klinghoffer and the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante began writing together in 2002, with the hopes of recording and releasing an album under a band name.

Klinghoffer's drums, bass, vocals, keyboards, and/or guitar can be heard on the full-length albums The Will to Death, Inside of Emptiness, and in 2009's The Empyrean.

2004's A Sphere in the Heart of Silence is also credited to both musicians, and features several tracks with Klinghoffer on vocals, lead guitar, synthesizers and sequencing.

He plays drums along with Frusciante and Fugazi bassist Joe Lally in Automatic Writing and AW II, under the name Ataxia.

Klinghoffer founded his own band, Dot Hacker, in 2008, where he holds the position of primary songwriter, singer, rhythm guitarist and pianist.

On May 8, 2009, amidst confusion as to whether Frusciante still remained within Red Hot Chili Peppers, Klinghoffer, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, Ron Wood and Ivan Neville performed under the name The Insects at a MusiCares benefit in honor of Kiedis's commitment to helping those struggling with addiction and recovery.

[14] In 2009, the Chili Peppers ended a two-year hiatus, and were joined by Klinghoffer in the studio to begin work on their tenth album, I'm with You.

"[16] In May 2010, Klinghoffer along with Flea performed the United States national anthem at a Lakers home playoff game during the NBA Western Conference finals series against the Phoenix Suns.

Klinghoffer joined the School of Rock kids on stage to perform Red Hot Chili Peppers songs "Dani California" and "Give It Away".

[23] In April 2012, Klinghoffer was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers at 32 years of age.

"[32] However, in June 2022, he admitted that the friendship between him and Frusciante was "non-existent" and that they hadn't spoken in over 10 years, while maintaining that he had no hard feelings towards the rest of the band.

And the reason why I didn’t want to work with him the second time [the band was in talks for Rubin to produce the new album] was because I felt like those four had a relationship and I was the odd man out.

[39] The album features guest appearances from Flea and Red Hot Chili Peppers alum Jack Irons.

[39] His live debut as a solo artist was going to be opening shows to Pearl Jam as part of the North American leg of Gigaton Tour.

[41] On January 26, 2022, the release of his third studio album, This Is the Show, was announced,[42] with the first single "Claw Your Way Out" coming to digital outlets that day.

[46] Klinghoffer made his debut with Pearl Jam as a multi-instrumentalist touring musician once the band resumed performing live at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival on September 18, 2021.

To promote the album, Klinghoffer will be part of Pop's backing band called The Losers which consists of his former Red Hot Chili Peppers bandmate, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan and Andrew Watt.

[51][52] After making guest appearances with the group in 2022, Klinghoffer was announced as the touring guitarist for Jane's Addiction in 2023, filling in for longtime member Dave Navarro, who was ill with long COVID.

According to TMZ, Sanchez "was dragged across the asphalt as a result of the collision and sustained blunt force trauma to his head, injuries that ultimately killed him only hours later".

Klinghoffer's attorney told Rolling Stone' "Josh immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, called 911, and waited until police and the ambulance arrived.

"[56] On August 29, 2024, Klinghoffer was charged with vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.