NEWS WEDNESDAY

Los Angeles (CNN) -- It was one of those scorching summer days in Los Angeles, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on a makeshift stage somewhere in the warehouse district, playing their new single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie," over and over to a bunch of extras.

The video's director -- a petite 21-year-old underground rapper named Kreayshawn -- sat a few feet away, dwarfed by a bank of monitors.

"Some might think we were crazy to put all our faith in a 21-year-old girl who doesn't have very much experience at all for the first video on our first record in a number of years, but we just want to let her freak fly and let it happen," explained Flea, the band's celebrated bass player.

A month later, the video was scrapped. I found this out in true Hollywood fashion -- through my hairdresser, who works at a salon a few steps off the boardwalk on Venice Beach.

"Yeah, they were playing on the rooftop of the building next door, and all my friends were texting me to come down. It was like a free concert," she said incredulously.

Sure enough, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' official video for "Rain Dance Maggie" features the quartet performing high above the Venice boardwalk, while a colorful cast of characters come running once they hear the music. It's pure, low-budget genius from veteran director Marc Klasfeld, who captures the Chili Peppers in all their SoCal glory.

Frontman Anthony Kiedis struts and preens against a backdrop of waves and assorted beach crazies. A blue-haired Flea bobs along nearby, while Chad Smith keeps time, occasionally banging on his cowbell as the song progresses. The video is also a great showcase for the band's newest member, 31-year-old Josh Klinghoffer, who replaced the group's beloved guitarist, John Frusciante, after he left (for the second time) in 2009.

While his bandmates exhibit strong, in-your-face personalities, Klinghoffer is endearingly sweet -- almost shy. You'll never catch him tearing off his shirt on stage, or wearing a tube sock on his privates -- something his colleagues were prone to doing in the late 80s.

"Not that I would refuse anything in a situation, because I'm open to most things," says Klinghoffer. "But there's no way that would happen. I draw the line at shirt removal."

"I'm With You," the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 10th studio album -- and first in five years -- hit retail outlets Monday, August 29.

CNN spoke with the three-time Grammy winners during a break in shooting their music video for "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" -- the first incarnation.

CNN: It's been five years since your last album, but that included a two year hiatus.

Flea: After the last tour, we had the privilege of taking a two year break, which was just outstanding!

I had the privilege of playing with great people (Patti Smith and Thom Yorke among them), going to college for a year and working on my music school (the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles). And now, having had all those other experiences, I'm feeling extra, extra superfragicalically excited to go do the Red Hot Chili Peppers thing.

CNN: Anthony, what were you up to during your break?

Anthony Kiedis: Writing songs, recording songs, surfing, chasing my son around, breathing. Strumming a ukulele. A little thing called life.

CNN: During your hiatus, did you ever think that the band wasn't going to get back together?

Chad Smith: I had thoughts that we might not continue, especially when John (guitarist John Frusciante) said, "You know what? I don't want to play anymore. I just want to do my own thing." We totally respect that. I'm very happy that he's happy and he's doing what he wants to do.

But there was a period where it was like, "OK, what are we going to do? Are we going to audition guitar players again? We've done that before. That was a nightmare."

We really didn't audition anyone. We just said, "Josh, come on down. Let's play." Josh is in our family. He's toured with us (Klinghoffer was the second guitarist on the last two legs of the band's "Stadium Arcadium" tour in 2007).

Kiedis: He's a drummer, a keyboard player, a bass player, a guitar player and a songwriter. And a damn good-looking chap.

CNN: I hear he took a week to tell you whether or not he wanted to be in the band.

Kiedis: I think it was closer to two, which was a good thing, a very good thing -- because he was thoughtful about it, and I don't think he wanted to join us for any of the wrong reasons.

Klinghoffer: It was a massive decision. It's a massive change of lifestyle.

I'd been working on a project that I'd formed for a while and had to consider all the angles of joining a band that was already established. They're a huge band. I'm not replacing in any way, but kind of stepping into the position that was held by one of my closest friends. An amazing person. All those things to think about. The first day we started playing, it just sort of musically made sense. I've known them for over 10 years, and I love 'em all, so it just sort of worked.

CNN: They didn't haze you too badly when you joined the band, did they?

Klinghoffer: No, no, no. People keep asking though, so don't give them any ideas.

CNN: Just how many guitarists have the Chili Peppers had over the years?

Smith: Let's see, how many guitar players. Hmm. (Strokes chin) You know the movie "Spinal Tap" -- the exploding drummer? It's a bit like that. I don't know. Five, six.

I've lost count, but we've been fortunate to have great musicians in our band. Each one has brought something special to the group and we're very grateful for that. This is a new chapter. It's the same name, but it's a different band.

Flea: Things sound a lot different. Sounds great. Sounds vibrant. It sounds alive. Sounds like it has a feeling of excitement, and exploration, and love, and warmth, and violence and explosion that you want in rock music.

CNN: What can fans expect to hear from the new album?

Kiedis: It's all new songs. We wrote songs that we love. We wrote a huge amount of songs and we whittled it down to our favorites, so hopefully there's a little something for everyone in there.

CNN: Josh took a couple of weeks to make a commitment to the band. Are you ever sorry you made that commitment?

Kiedis: No! What else am I going to do? You gotta pay for the surfboard somehow. I like writing songs, and I wouldn't really know who to write them with if not for my band. I like the commitment.

Flea: We're putting out the record, making new videos, doing the whole thing. We're just gearing up to rock the inner depths of the world on our tour.

CNN: Chili Peppers are back?

Flea: Chili Peppers never went away.
COMMENT wow red hot chili pepers amaizing ive never heard them in my life but i now them they must be really famous i heard that they are performing a new song well i didnt heard it but i think thats wats happening.