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Red Hot Chili Peppers
Though the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ nucleus formed at L.A.’s Fairfax High School in the late ’70s, only drummer Jack Irons was a local native. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis hailed from Grand Rapids, MI. Michael Balzary, who became Flea, was born in Melbourne, Australia, while guitarist Hillel Slovak came from Haifa, Israel (same hometown as KISS’ Gene Simmons).After performing in groups called Los Faces and Anthem, Kiedis enrolled at UCLA. Eventually, Kiedis and Flea were invited to join what was to become the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But first, they operated under the tag Tony Flow and the Miraculous Majestic Masters of Mayhem. During this period, they performed at L.A.’s Kit Kat Strip Club. As a lark, they went on stage nude except for socks covering their private parts.Aside from the Peppers, Slovak and Irons were in another group named, What Is This. So when the Peppers recorded their self-titled debut in ’84, both were contractually barred from participating. Replacement players were used but they didn’t set the world on fire.
With Slovak and Irons back in the fold with George Clinton producing they released “Freaky Styley” in ’85. While the album failed to capture the group’s Punk/Funk live energy, it indicated their potential.
“The Uplift Mofo Party Plan” two years later generated some minor chart action. The next year they unveiled the “Abbey Road” EP with the nearly nude (with their strategically placed sweat socks – again) Peppers mimicking The Beatles’ famous “walk across the street” cover.
Also in ’88, Slovak died of a heroin overdose. Following the tragedy, Irons bailed eventually landing with Pearl Jam.Kiedis and Flea decided to carry on but new members didn’t pan out so they were sacked and guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith were brought in.
Kiedis and Flea decided to carry on but new members didn’t pan out so they were sacked and guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith were brought in.
This line-up produced the “Mother’s Milk” album, released in ’89, with a searing cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”
Higher Ground
Rick Rubin was enlisted to produce the Peppers’ next effort, “Blood Sugar Sex Magik.” The undeniable “Give It Away” and ballad “Under The Bridge” drove the album to platinum status.
Give It Away
Under The Bridge
Despite success (or because of it), Frusciante was hooked on hard drugs and quit the Peppers. A couple guitarists came and went before Dave Navarro stepped in for “One Hot Minute” in ’95. But Navarro didn’t gel either.
Meanwhile, Frusciante continued to record but without success. At rock bottom, he went into rehab.
Cleaned up, Frusciante was invited back and eagerly accepted with the group releasing “Californication.”
The Peppers changed direction in ’02 favoring a more the direct approach on “By The Way.” The title track proved to be one awesome track.
The ’03 release (just in time for Christmas) “Greatest Hits & Videos” contained two new songs – “Fortunes Faded” and “Save The Population.
Bands sometimes go on an extended hiatus. The problem is many never come back. The Red Hot Chili Peppers had four years of down time before they issued their double album “Stadium Arcadium” in ‘06. Flea claimed it was “the best record we’ve ever made.” The 28 tracks were a few more than originally planned.
“We set out to write 13 songs . . . to have a small, digestible piece of art,” said Kiedis. “It went haywire from there.” “Stadium Arcadium” was the group’s ninth studio album but the first to top the Billboard album chart. “Dani California,” the set’s first single, topped the Rock chart.
In early ’07, the group received four trophies, including Best Rock Album (“Stadium Arcadium”) and Best Rock Song (“Dani California”), at the 49th Grammy Awards in L.A. The Peppers also performed their hit “Snow (Hey Oh)” during the show.
Dani Cailfornia
Snow (Hey Ho)
After a few years in the corporate world business-types, with an eye toward career advancement, return to school to earn an MBA or other degree. Why should music be any different?In late ’08, Flea enrolled as a student at the University of Southern California to study music while the group remained on hiatus. The bassist took classes in music composition, music theory and jazz trumpet. “Being in a band has been an education, and being on tour has been an education,” explained Flea. “So this is just me furthering my education.”Frusciante went in a different direction – actually returned to a familiar one. He issued his album “The Empyrean” in ’09. “The drive to create music that is pure is my highest priority,” said the guitarist. “I think an artist has to answer to whatever spirits are guiding him.” Though a solo effort, Frusciante got help from Flea, Modest Mouse/ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and the New Dimension Singers. “The Empyrean” was his follow-up to ‘05’s “Curtains.”Kiedis received the ’09 Stevie Ray Vaughan Award at the fifth annual MusiCares MAP Fund benefit concert in L.A. He was recognized for his contributions to the charity, which provided support to musicians with substance-abuse problems. Kiedis and bandmates Flea and Smith performed at the event.Later in the year, the Red Hot Chili Peppers entered the studio ending their two-year hiatus. From the sounds of it, they were stoked about working on the planned ’10 release (which got pushed into the following year). “I’ve no idea what it might sound like – which is exciting,” said Smith.“It’s really like the old-school stuff – like the first two records,” Davis said later in an interview with AOL’s NoiseCreep. “It’s just going back to our roots. . . it’s just been amazing.”What Smith and Davis failed to mention was that Frusciante was no longer in the band. Rumors had been circulating for some time. They were confirmed in ’09 on the guitarist’s MySpace blog. “To put it simply, my musical interests have led me in a different direction.”According to Frusciante, this wasn’t exactly new news. He wrote that he’d given notice over a year earlier – the second time he’d parted company with RHCP. Meanwhile, RHCP was recording with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer who made his public debut with the band at Neil Young’s tribute during MusiCares 2010 in L.A.Again, all the session reports were positive. “I think that during the writing of this record I have been the most open-minded and refreshed than I have been in a long time,” said Kiedis, as the band finished “I’m With You,” their first effort since ‘06’s “Stadium Arcadium.” “I guess that comes from a much-needed hiatus and becoming a father.”Taking a break from session work (and family stuff), the Red Hot Chili Peppers decided to party. Or get paid for partying. Ringing in the New Year, RHCP performed on the Caribbean island of St. Barts at the estate of billionaire Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. The fete was billed as the “world’s most expensive” New Year’s Eve party – 300 guests and a $7.8 million budget or $26,000 per guest. Among the songs RHCP played was “Louie, Louie” with Toots (of Toots And The Maytals).Later, Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame at Cleveland’s Public Hall. Absent at the ’12 ceremony was former member, Frusciante. “(Frusciante) didn’t feel comfortable coming, which we totally respect,” Smith told Billboard. “We asked him… He said, ‘I’m just not really comfortable with that, but good luck and thanks for inviting me’.”The Red Hot Chili Peppers released “We Salute You,” a six song EP of covers – “Havana Affair” (Ramones), “Search & Destroy” (Iggy & the Stooges), “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” (Neil Young), “Suffragette City” (David Bowie), “I Get Around” (the Beach Boys) and “A Teenager In Love” (Dion and the Belmonts). By recording renditions of songs made famous by previous inductees, RHCP celebrated their own induction.Picking up the charity baton, Smith received the “Livin’ The Dream” award at Little Kids Rock’s first ever Family Jam in ‘15. The event, which raised over $85,000 for music education, took place at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, CA.Months later, Flea performed a controversial version of the national anthem at Kobe Bryant’s final NBA game. Flea, a mega L.A. Lakers fan, was criticized for his bass rendition. Even so, the home team beat the Utah Jazz.Next, “Dark Necessities,” a ’16 release, was the first official single released by the group in almost 4 years. The track was from “The Getaway,” which was produced by Danger Mouse and mixed by Nigel Godrich.Within days of the song’s release, Kiedis was taken to the hospital suffering from extreme stomach pain due to an intestinal flu. The group was forced to cancel a headlining slot at KROQ’s annual Weenie Roast at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre.The promotional efforts for RHCP’s 11th studio album continued with an appearance on The Late Late Show for a Carpool Karaoke segment. During a break in the taping a woman came running out of a nearby house screaming her baby had stopped breathing. Kiedis immediately administered CPR and a tummy rub to resuscitate the child.With tragedy averted, all four band members joined host James Corden in the car, for versions of “Under The Bridge,” “Californication,” and “Dark Necessities.”
“The Getaway” landed at #2 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. It was kept out of the top spot by Drake’s “Views” which was #1 for the eighth consecutive week.
Following a supporting tour, the Peppers began work on their next album but soon hit a snag. Still in the writing process with Klinghoffer, Kiedis and Flea were unhappy with the results and thought about reaching out to Frusciante.
Pretty soon Klinghoffer was out and Frusciante was back in after a ten year absence. “It’s absolutely John’s place to be in that band I’,” said Klinghoffer in an interview. “I’m happy that he’s back with them.”
“Artistically, in terms of being able to speak the same (musical) language, it was easier working with John,” explained Flea.
The change in guitarists plus COVID-19 accounted for the five-year gap between albums but “Unlimited Love” dropped in ’22, Frusciante’s first album with RHCP since ‘06’s “Stadium Arcadium.”
RHCP were on the road riding the success of “Unlimited Love” and the follow-up “Return Of The Dream Canteen” albums. Both went to #1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart.
On the Billboard 200, “Unlimited Love” topped the chart while “Return Of The Dream Canteen” peaked at #3.
Return Of The Fream Canteen
Later in ’23, three Peppers songs were recognized for generating over one-billion streams on Spotify. They were “Under The Bridge” – 1.235 billion streams (average 909-thousand daily streams), “Californication” – 1.233 billion (average 859-thousand daily) and “Can’t Stop” – 1.025 billion (average 798-thousand daily).
“Under The Bridge” was off RHCP’s fifth studio album, “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” (1991) while “Californication” was the title track from the band’s multi-platinum (7x) ’99 album. The double platinum set “By The Way (’02) had “Can’t Stop.”
R.H.C.P. were among the artists who performed during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in a musical handover to the 2028 Games in L.A (LA28).
The performances in L.A., a mix of pre-taped and live performances, had artists representing a different facet of the city’s cultural heritage with the Peppers playing “Can’t Stop.” The latter song was the band’s eighth #1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock chart.
Then came FireAid to raise money for rebuilding communities devastated by L.A. wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California. Red Hot Chili Peppers were among the headliners at the he one-night-only January ‘25 event at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum.
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