They reconvened in October after a year's break became a two-year break, to begin work on a new album. At the time drummer Chad Smith said he was confident Frusciante would return, depite the guitarist's comments that he felt he had no more to achieve in the outfit.

Now Frusciante, who quit once before but later returned, has confirmed what a band source revealed earlier this week: he's definitely out. And as far as he's concerned, he left in 2008. He says: "When I quit over a year ago we were on an indefinite hiatus. There was no drama or anger involved and the other guys were very understanding. They're supportive of my doing whatever makes me happy - and that goes both ways.

"To put it simply, my musical interested have led me in a different direction." - more on this story