Red Hot Chili Peppers
Band form
1983
Red Hot Chili Peppers (formed 1983)
Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), John Frusciante (guitar), Flea (a.k.a. Michael Balzary) (bass) and Chad Smith (drums)
Formation / Previous Line-ups: Red Hot Chili Peppers were originally named Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem and the original band members were Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak, Flea and Jack Irons, all of whom had attended Fairfax High School.
The band's first performance involved Kiedis rapping a poem over the band's improvisations. Slovak and Irons left the band to concentrate on another band, What Is This? so Flea and Anthony recruited Cliff Martinez and Jack Sherman. Slovak returned to the band after the release of RHCP's first album.
Debut Album & Departures: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, the band's debut album, was produced by Andy Gill (of British band Gang of Four) and released in 1984. Initially the album sold 25,000 copies and the supporting tour was a fiasco, which ended with Jack Sherman being fired.
The second album, Freaky Styley (1985) was produced by George Clinton and recorded in Detroit. The release failed to reach the charts and the following year, Kiedis fired Cliff Martinez from the band. He was eventually replaced when Jack Irons rejoined the group.
In 1987, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan was released and reached 148 on the Billboard Hot 200. This period of the band's history, though it saw their gradual ascent to commercial success, was marred by Kiedis and Slovak's serious drug addictions. Slovak's addiction caused his death in 1988, shortly after their promotional tour for the album. Kiedis failed to attend the funeral and Irons left the group once again.
Mother's Milk and onwards: Following Slovak's death, D.H. Peligro, Dead Kennedys' drummer briefly joined the band, as did DeWayne 'Blackbyrd' McKnight, former guitarist of P-Funk. Neither stayed long in the band, but Peligro's friend John Frusciante auditioned for the guitarist's role. With three weeks until the recording of their next album was due to begin, the band was still without a permanent drummer. A friend of the band introduced them to Chad Smith, whose drumming capabilities swiftly earned him a place in the band.
Mother's Milk was released in 1989. The album reached 52 on the Billboard Hot 200 and was their first to achieve 'gold record' status. The album's singles included a cover of 'Higher Ground' by Stevie Wonder and 'Knock Me Down', a tribute to Slovak.
In 1990, now signed to Warner Bros. Records, Red Hot Chili Peppers finally had their wishes granted and Rick Rubin produced their fifth album and has produced each of its successors. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was recorded in a disused mansion and Chad Smith was the only member of the band not to live in the house during the recording period, as he believed it to be haunted. The debut single from the album, 'Give It Away', won a Grammy Award in 1992 and its follow-up 'Under The Bridge' went to number two in the US charts.
In May 1992, John Frusciante quit the band during their Japanese tour. He was suffering at the time with a drug addiction. His brief replacements were Arik Marshall and Jesse Tobias, with the band eventually settling on Dave Navarro, formerly of Jane's Addiction. Navarro's first live performance with the band was at Woodstock '94 but his musical background meant that he never really settled in the band and only appeared on one album. One Hot Minute (1995) was a commercial success, despite mixed reviews, and spawned the singles 'Aeroplane' and 'Warped'.
In 1998, Navarro left the band. It has been reported that he was asked to leave by Kiedis, after he turned up to a band rehearsal under the influence of drugs. Since leaving the band, John Frusciante's drug addiction had spiralled, leaving him with no money and in very poor health. In April 1998, however, Flea visited Frusciante and extended him a lifeline, inviting him to rejoin the band, after he had attended a rehabilitation programme. The band was reunited and the following year, they began recording the songs that would become Californication.
Californication was a huge success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. The single 'Scar Tissue' won the 'Best Rock Song' Grammy in 2000. Along with 'Californication' and 'Otherside', it was a number one hit single.
In 2002, Red Hot Chili Peppers released By The Way. The album sold over 700,000 copies in its first week and reached number two on the Billboard 200. Five singles, 'By the Way', 'the Zephyr Song' 'Can't Stop', 'Dosed' and 'Universally Speaking' were all hits for the band.
Capitalising on their popularity, Red Hot Chili Peppers released a Greatest Hits album in 2003. They also released a live DVD, Live at Slane Castle and a live album, Live in Hyde Park, recorded in London. The band's three-night run in Hyde Park drew ticket sales of over $17 million.
In 2006, Stadium Arcadium was released as a 28-track double album. The album debuted at number one in both the UK and the US. Over one million copies of the album were sold in the first week of release. 'Dani California', the first single from the album, was the fastest-selling single of the band's career. 'Tell Me Baby' and 'Snow (Hey Oh)' were also chart-toppers. In July 2007, Red Hot Chili Peppers featured on the Live Earth bill at London's Wembley Stadium. Stadium Arcadium won six Grammy awards in 2007 and the band performed 'Snow (Hey Oh)', live at the awards ceremony, surrounded by confetti snow.
Album Of The Week: The 19th Anniversary Of 'By The Way' By Red Hot Chili Peppers
By Andrew Lockwood in Music / Festivals on 09 July 2021
Red Hot Chili Peppers continued to explore a more chilled out vibe after audiences had embraced 'Californication'
After the phenomenal success of their previous album, Californication, it was hard to imagine that Red Hot Chili Peppers would surpass that, or even come close, with their next album - By The Way. The singles, Scar Tissue, Otherside and Californication had seen Red Hot Chili Peppers take their music to a wider audience than ever before, ending the 20th century on a massive high and resulting in album sales of more than 16 million.
With a slight shift in style Red Hot Chili Peppers had embraced a softer, more melodic sound on Californication and had moved away from some of their earlier Punk influences. The band's USP of incorporating a Funk element into their alternative rock still prevailed to great effect but their was definitely a milder and more harmonic sound in most of their new songs. With age the voice of Anthony Kiedis too had matured and mellowed resulting in a more soulful vocal delivery. The angry young man of the past now had more range and depth and this gave the new songs more of a tender and emotive quality.
Most notably, the album saw the return of guitarist John Frusciante as a replacement for Dave Navarro. He had previously featured on the albums 'Mother's Milk' (1989) and 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' (1991), but his return meant a huge shift in the band's sound.
Continue reading: Album Of The Week: Red Hot Chili Peppers Transformed By 'Californication'
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium [Anniversary] Album Review
By David J. Lownds in Music Reviews on 10 May 2017
In 2006 the Red Hot Chili Peppers released a 28-song double album - out of which they took a relatively large number of singles' - assisted by super-producer Rick Rubin. The former co-founder of Def Jam had also been at the helm of every album that Kiedis, Flea and company had put out collectively since 1991. Expectations for the huge set, which spans over two hours in length, must have been high in the minds of fans, even those unfamiliar with the smash-hit albums Calfornication and Blood Sugar Sex Magik or any of the rock group's other gems, most of which were songs with Rubin at the helm.
'Dani California', the album's kick-starter, ensured the band remained current without 'selling out' to the industry. There are, as noted in the band's commentary on Stadium Arcadium, echoes of both hip-hop classic Enter the 36 Chambers by Wu-Tang Clan and Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama'. The huge musical chasm that the genre-blending band manage to bridge with the song - though not as obvious as on, say, Run-DMC and Aerosmith's joint version of 'Walk This Way' - is still an impressive testament to the band's long tradition of breaking barriers with skill and wide-reaching appeal.
Continue reading: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium [Anniversary] Album Review
Scott Baio Says He Was Attacked By The Wife Of Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith For Supporting Trump
By Stephanie Chase in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 16 December 2016
The actor has been an outspoken supporter of the now President-elect.
Actor Scott Baio has claimed he was assaulted by Nancy Mack, the wife of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, because he is a Donald Tump supporter.
According to TMZ, Baio has filed a police report over the incident, which reportedly happened on Saturday in Thousand Oaks, California and now the Ventura County Sheriff's Office has opened an investigation.
Continue reading: Scott Baio Says He Was Attacked By The Wife Of Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith For Supporting Trump
Red Hot Chili Peppers perform live at T in the Park 2016 on the third day of the festival held at Strathallan Castle, Scotland, United Kingdom - Sunday 10th July 2016
Red Hot Chili Peppers Talk Cher The Babysitter And Wrestle James Corden On 'Carpool Karaoke'
By Holly Williams in Movies / TV / Theatre on 14 June 2016
Who will he bring on next?
Seriously, James Corden? Every single episode of 'Carpool Karaoke' seems to top the one before it, no matter how difficult it is to fathom that possibility. I mean, who's he going to bring in to top his latest guests the Red Hot Chili Peppers?
The Red Hot Chili Peppers brought the most entertaining rendition of 'The Late Late Show''s most-loved segment 'Carpool Karaoke' so far. Not only did we get to hear the band sing along to some of their best hits including 'Californication', 'Dark Necessities' and 'Under The Bridge', but we also got to see frontman Anthony Kiedis and James Corden have a wrestling match and go topless with Flea.
Continue reading: Red Hot Chili Peppers Talk Cher The Babysitter And Wrestle James Corden On 'Carpool Karaoke'
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Rock on the Range 2016 Music Festival at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, OH, USA at MAPFRE Stadium - Columbus, Ohio, United States - Sunday 22nd May 2016
Red Hot Chili Peppers Forced To Pull Out Of Show As Anthony Kiedis Taken To Hospital
By Stephanie Chase in Music / Festivals on 15 May 2016
The frontman was said to be suffering from extreme stomach pain.
Red Hot Chili Peppers were forced to pull out of their headlining slot at KROQ's annual Weenie Roast on May 14, just hours before they were due to take the stage, after frontman Anthony Kiedis was sent to an area hospital.
According to Billboard, a rep for KROQ, a Los Angeles radio station, said the singer was taken from the venue in an ambulance after suffering from extreme stomach pain. However the exact nature of the problem is unknown at this time.
Continue reading: Red Hot Chili Peppers Forced To Pull Out Of Show As Anthony Kiedis Taken To Hospital
Katy Perry Confirms Lenny Kravitz Will Perform With Her At The Super Bowl's Halftime Show
By Elinor Cosgrave in Music / Festivals on 11 January 2015
Lenny Kravitz will join Katy Perry when she performs at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Katy Perry will be joined by Lenny Kravitz when she performs at the halftime show of the Super Bowl in February.
I have a big surprise announcement coming up at #halftime of this @Ravens-@Patriots game! Make sure you're ????! ?? ?? ??
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) January 10, 2015
Continue reading: Katy Perry Confirms Lenny Kravitz Will Perform With Her At The Super Bowl's Halftime Show
Isle of Wight Festival 2014 Review
By Jim Pusey in Music Reviews on 17 June 2014
If there's something to take away from this year's Isle of Wight Festival, it's probably sunburn. Unlike the mud bath of two years ago, 2014 will be remembered for serving up one of the hottest weekends I can remember for a festival, along with some crowd-pleasing performances. While not every act managed to capture their moment in the sun, all the major names delivered in spades.
The highlight of Friday afternoon should have really been local boy Tom Odell on the main stage. But his piano led ballads took some time to win the crowd over despite his number 1 album 'Long Way Down'. By the time he'd finished though, the reaction showed that he'd justified his place on the main stage billing.
Continue reading: Isle of Wight Festival 2014 Review
Isle Of Wight Festival Set To Be A Scorcher [Pictures]
By Sophie Miskiw in Music / Festivals on 13 June 2014
The Isle of Wight Festival 2014 has kicked off, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers scheduled for Saturday night and red hot weather scheduled all weekend.
The Isle of Wight Festival 2014 is underway and it’s looking like it’s set to be a scorcher of a weekend! The Met Office has forecasted dry and sunny weather with temperatures reaching 22°C. British festival-goers will have their fingers crossed that this unusual weather carries on for the rest of festival season, although that may be seriously wishful thinking. With Glastonbury right around the corner we can only hope that the typical torrential rain of festival season doesn't start to set in.
Scheduled to appear tonight at the Isle of Wight Festival are big name acts Biffy Clyro, Calvin Harris, Rudimental, Tom Odell, Starsailer and Lawson, with Katy B appearing at the Big Top. The rest of the weekend is jam-packed acts including the eagerly awaited Red Hot Chili Peppers, who will take to the main stage on Saturday night. Saturday also belongs to Cher Lloyd, Dappy and The Pretty Reckless among other acts.
Continue reading: Isle Of Wight Festival Set To Be A Scorcher [Pictures]
Anthony Kiedis and Red Hot Chili Peppers - Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers Sunday 13th May 2012 takes a ride on a scooter with his son, Everly Bear Kiedis at Malibu Farmer's Market
Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith and Red Hot Chili Peppers - Flea aka Michael Peter Balzary, Anthony Kiedis and Chad Smith Los Angeles, California - Red Hot Chili Peppers promote their new book 'The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History' at The Grove in Hollywood Thursday 4th November 2010