The Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist has allegedly left the band and will be replaced by Josh Kinghoffer, according to reports

John Frusciante has quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers, according to reports. After about two decades as the Peppers' lead guitarist, Frusciante will allegedly be replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, the group's touring axe-man.

Though the band has yet to release a statement, multiple sources have reported Frusciante's departure. The decision had been rumoured for months, stoked by Frusciante's comment in January that he had "no plans" with the group. More recently, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith told Classic Rock magazine he "can't talk about [Frusciante]". "I have been told to stay away from the John questions," he said.

At this point, the writing doesn't just seem to be on the wall – it appears to have been signed and sealed by a notary. "Josh Klinghoffer has been playing with the group for a couple of months now," a source "close to the band" told MusicRadar. "The Peppers are trying to lock down a replacement for John."

While the band have been on a lengthy hiatus, they are booked to play a Neil Young tribute in January and were soon expected to re-enter the studio. The Peppers last toured in 2007, with Klinghoffer playing back-up to Frusciante.

Setting aside Flea's dalliance with Thom Yorke, Frusciante has perhaps been the Peppers' most bohemian member. He joined the group late, in 1989, yet quit just three years later, releasing solo albums – and getting addicted to heroin. Sober, he rejoined the band in 1999 but continued to release solo records, as well as collaborating with the Mars Volta, RZA and Vincent Gallo. In 2004, he launched a short-lived project called Ataxia with Fugazi's Joe Lally and none other than Klinghoffer.

"Mentally, John checked out a long time ago," explained MusicRadar's contact. "He's interested in doing his own thing, his own albums – the whole big rock band machinery just doesn't appeal to him any more."