“John Frusciante called me and said, ‘I’m sitting in a hospital and I don’t have a guitar. Can you loan me one?’” That time Dave Navarro lent John Frusciante a Les Paul – only for the Red Hot Chili Peppers legend to sell it

Left–American guitarist and musician Dave Navarro performs live on stage with American rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers at Wembley Arena in London during the band's One Hot Minute Tour on 11th July 1996; Right-John FRUSCIANTE and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS; John Frusciante performing live onstage.

Dave Navarro was Guitar World's cover star for the March 1996 issue – and the guitar he brandished for the occasion, an early ’90s Les Paul, has one hell of a story behind it.

The electric guitar was originally bought for a Guns ’N’ Roses audition – which never transpired – and by the time the Guitar World shoot came about, Navarro had already jumped ship to Ibanez, PRS, and Fender Strats.