Fender Stratocaster Can’t Stop Ex John Frusciante – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Through its powerful ability to electrify entire crowds, the electric guitar has over time become a unique instrument—one that fascinates and amazes ever-growing audiences. Beyond its iconic sound, the guitar has also built a visual legacy, with its distinctive shapes and sometimes bold finishes captivating generations. Among this constellation of shapes and tones, few instruments can claim to have been seen by hundreds of millions of people. Yet, that’s exactly the case for this unmistakable Silver Sparkle Stratocaster, which has mesmerized over 300 million viewers since the release of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Can’t Stop” music video in January 2003.

When the video for “Can’t Stop” by the California band first aired, it marked an artistic and aesthetic revolution. Director Mark Romanek fully embraced his conceptual references and pushed the visual boundaries to serve his vision. The four Red Hot members are seen engaging in abstract activities—balancing buckets, running with neon lights strapped to their backs, and more. At various points in the video, the band performs in front of an orange backdrop and in other stylized setups. Guitar virtuoso John Frusciante plays a silver Fender Stratocaster, blending seamlessly into the director’s chosen color palette, alongside the chrome drum kit and grey bass of his bandmates.

Known for their original and artistically daring music videos, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have often collaborated with talented directors. The “Can’t Stop” video helped propel the song into global stardom and frequent rotation on channels like MTV. At Romanek’s request, Frusciante played both an orange Toronado and a dazzling Silver Sparkle Stratocaster straight from the Fender Custom Shop. Though these guitars don’t align with Frusciante’s usual vintage preferences, they perfectly suited the visual aesthetic desired for the video. This Stratocaster was built in 1999 by the Custom Shop and became legendary thanks to its glittering finish and mirrored pickguard—forever linked to the funky, groovy riff that helped the band top charts around the world. A truly iconic guitar with a striking visual identity, now available to discover at Matt’s Guitar Shop!