Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers
File:Stadium Promo.jpg Left to right: Michael Balzary (Flea), Anthony Kiedis, John Frusciante, Chad Smith
Background information
Origin	Los Angeles, California, USA
Years active	1983-present
Members	Anthony Kiedis Michael Balzary (Flea) Chad Smith John Frusciante
Website	www.redhotchilipeppers.com

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a California-based rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. They've maintained commercial and critical success since their breakthrough Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released in 1991.

Even though they have experienced numerous line-up changes and personal problems, the band has successfully created a sound that combines elements of Funk, Punk, Rap, and Psychedelic rock. Over the past 23 years, they have produced nine studio albums which have sold nearly 50 million copies worldwide and hold the record for most #1 Modern Rock hits with 9.

The current band members are: Anthony Kiedis (lead vocals), Michael Balzary also known as Flea (Bass/Backing vocals), John Frusciante (Guitar/Backing vocals), and Chad Smith (Drums)

Sound philosophy

Flea's bass style is an amalgamation of punk rock, funk and blues, borrowing from artists such as Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. The groove-heavy, low-tuned melodies, composed through either normal finger style or slapping, have contributed to the RHCP's signature style. While Flea's slap bass style was prominent in earlier albums, later albums (post Mother's Milk) have more melodic basslines.

The guitar styles of the four guitarists that have recorded albums with the group share common traits, featuring distorted, sharp sound with strong range. Replacement players appear to have tried to stay as close as possible to original guitarist Hillel Slovak's style with its heavy blues and funk elements. Current guitarist John Frusciante brought a more melodic, textured, and deep sound; Dave Navarro focused on a style rooted in heavy metal, progressive, and psychedelic rock.

Kiedis provides a range of vocal styles for RHCP songs, with his style of rapping and spoken verse (the latter being characteristic of his vocals up to Blood Sugar Sex Magik) complemented with more traditional vocals have helped the band maintain a relatively consistent style.

Political views in music

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have written several songs addressing political topics. The song "Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky" from Mother's Milk is about the plight and affliction of the Native Americans, and this particular song made the public see Kiedis as part-Native, "I was born in a land, I don't think you understand god damn what I am I'm a native of this place." The song "Green Heaven" from Red Hot Chili Peppers discusses police brutality and racism in America. "The Power of Equality" also speaks out against racism, and the lyrics are very similar in style to those of rap group Public Enemy, who are referenced in the song. "Californication" is critical of globalization.

History

The 1980s

Red Hot Chili Peppers and Freaky Styley (1983-1986)

Fairfax High School alumni Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary (Flea), Hillel Slovak, and Jack Irons founded the Red Hot Chili Peppers (originally "Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem"), after what was supposed to be a one-time performance in 1983. Later in that same year, they secured a record deal with EMI.

Irons and Slovak were committed to their original band, What Is This?, and for the recording sessions of the debut album, Jack Sherman was brought in on guitar and Cliff Martinez on drums. Produced by Andy Gill, the album did not achieve commercial success. The ensuing tour did not fare much better, with internal fighting resulting in Sherman's leaving the band, at which point Slovak returned.

Parliament-Funkadelic's George Clinton was hired to produce their second album, Freaky Styley. The album did not attract the eye of the mainstream, but did attract the attention of college radio. Martinéz would leave the band soon after the release of the album, allowing the return of original drummer Jack Irons in early 1986.

The Uplift Mofo Party Plan and Slovak's Death (1987-1988)

The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, was produced by Michael Beinhorn and released in September 1987. This would be the only album with the four original Fairfax High School friends peforming, and would be their first to enter the Billboard Top 200.

The single "Fight Like a Brave" was the first single released, and would later be featured in 2001 on the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 video game.

Drug problems, which were prominent in the band throughout the decade, came to public light when Slovak relapsed during the Uplift Mofo tour, resulting in erratic behaviour and botched performances.

Shortly after the band returned to the United States, on June 27, 1988, Slovak was found dead in his apartment after a heroin overdose. Irons quit soon after, not wanting to continue with the band after his friend's death.

Mother's Milk (1989-1990)

The band temporarily employed drummer D.H. Peligro and guitarist Dwayne "Blackbird" McKnight, later replacing them with Chad Smith and John Frusciante.

Mother's Milk, was released in August 1989, providing the band with their first top modern rock hit with their tribute ballad to Slovak, "Knock Me Down" . The album reached #52 on the album charts, the best chart position yet for the band at that point.

The 1990s

Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991-1992)

The group moved to Warner Brothers Records and Rick Rubin was hired in 1991 to produce their fifth album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which would sell seven million copies in the United States.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik was listed at number 310 on the Rolling Stone magazine list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and in 1992 it climbed all the way to #3 on the U.S. album charts.

Success was taking its toll on Frusciante, who decided to quit the band during the BSSM tour in May of 1992. After headlining Lollapalooza festival in 1992 with replacement guitarist Arik Marshall, and briefly with Jesse Tobias of the California based band Mother Tongue in 1993, former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro joined in 1993.

One Hot Minute and Navarro (1993-1998)

Dave Navarro first appeared with the band at Woodstock 1994, and a year later appeared on the album One Hot Minute.

The album featured the familiar blend of funk, metal, and jazz, but this time showed increased heavy, psychedelic influences. The album was a commercial success, selling four million copies internationally and reaching double-platinum status. Navarro chose to focus on his own musical projects after four years of working with the group leaving in early 1998.

Californication and Frusciante's Return (1998-2000)

Frusciante rejoined the 1998 after spending time in rehab and releasing two solo albums. The refreshed, refocused, and re-energized guitarist was on board for the band's 1999 release, Californication. Unexpectedly, it became a massive success, outselling Blood Sugar Sex Magik and reintroducing them to a new generation of fans.

The album peaked at #3 and produced three more modern rock hits--the Grammy-winning "Scar Tissue", "Otherside" and "Californication", and also made it onto the modern rock charts with "Around the World", "Road Trippin'" (UK single), and "Parallel Universe", which broke the Top 40 modern rock charts despite not being released as a single. Compared to their previous albums, Californication contains few rap-driven songs. The band went on a tour which lasted nearly two years and featured some of their largest shows, including a Moscow performance in front of 200,000 people and a performance at the controversial Woodstock 1999 festival. In 2001, they released their first concert DVD, Off The Map which was directed by longtime friend, Dick Rude, who also directed the music videos for "Catholic School Girls Rule" and "Universally Speaking".

The 2000s

By the Way and Greatest Hits (2001-2004)

Returning to the studio in November 2001, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded and released By the Way. The group went on another two year tour, releasing their second concert DVD, Live at Slane Castle in 2003 and recorded two new songs, "Fortune Faded" and "Save The Population" for their Greatest Hits album released later that year.

In 2004, the group released their first ever live album, Live in Hyde Park. Recorded during their 2004 performances in London, it featured two new songs: "Rolling Sly Stone" and "Leverage Of Space".

Stadium Arcadium (2005-)

RHCP in a promotional shot for Stadium Arcadium. Left to right: Smith, Keidis, Flea, Frusciante

RHCP in a promotional shot for Stadium Arcadium. Left to right: Smith, Keidis, Flea, Frusciante

In 2005 they completed their ninth studio album, Stadium Arcadium. Although 38 songs were created with the intention to be released as 3 mini-albums spaced six months apart , it was released in May 2006 as a 28-track double album to positive reviews. The first disc is titled "Jupiter", the second "Mars", and each contains 14 songs. The "Stadium Arcadium" world tour kicked off in late May 2006.

In the album's first week, it sold 442,000 units in the United States alone, becoming their best-selling album after one week, surpassing the record held by By the Way. The record's first single "Dani California," was the band's fastest-selling single, topping the charts in the US and going to #2 in the UK.

The album debuted at #1 - their first album to top the charts in the United States, where it stayed for two weeks. It also debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart and the Japanese Oricon Albums Chart.

TV & Film

Band members Flea and Kiedis have been featured individually and together in many movies and TV appearances.

The group has been featured on many movies soundtracks, most notably "Show Me Your Soul" from the Pretty Woman soundtrack; "Soul to Squeeze" from the Coneheads, "Love Rollercoaster", a cover of The Ohio Players hit song from Beavis and Butthead Do America, and "Sikamikanico" from Wayne's World.

The band appeared briefly in an episode of The Simpsons in which Bart and Lisa helped Krusty save his career by showing a Krusty Komeback Special featuring many celebrities.

Members

Current

• Michael Balzary (Flea) – 1983-present
• Anthony Kiedis – 1983-present
• John Frusciante – 1988-1992, 1998-present
• Chad Smith – 1989-present

Former

• Dix Denney – 1983
• Jack Irons – 1983-1984, 1986-1988
• Arik Marshall – 1992-1993
• Cliff Martinez – 1984-1986
• Dwayne "Blackbird" McKnight – 1988
• Dave Navarro – 1993-1998
• D.H. Peligro – 1988
• Jack Sherman – 1984-1985
• Hillel Slovak – 1983-1984, 1985-1988
• Jesse Tobias – 1993

Discography

Main article: Red Hot Chili Peppers discography

Videography

• Red Hot Skate Rock (1989) - live
• Psychedelic Sexfunk Live from Heaven (1990) - live
• Positive Mental Octopus (1990) - music videos
• Funky Monks (1991) - making of Blood Sugar Sex Magik album
• Best Of The Cutting Edge Volume II (1991) - music videos
• What Hits!? (1992) - music videos
• Woodstock 1994 (1994) - live
• Free Tibet (1998) - live
• Woodstock 1999 (1999) - live
• Off the Map (2001) - live
• Rock Your Socks Off (Unauthorized) (2001) - documentary
• "By the Way" (2002) - music video single/making of By The Way video
• Rockthology 1: Hard N Heavy (2002) - music videos/interviews
• Greatest Hits and Videos (2003) - music videos/behind the scenes
• Live at Slane Castle (2003) - live
• The Last Gang In Town (2004) - documentary
• The Red Hot Chili Peppers Phenomenon (2006) - documentary
• Dani California (2006) - making of music video/interviews/behind the scenes
• Tell Me Baby (2006) - to be released summer '06

External links

• Official site
• Red Hot Chili Peppers at MySpace
• Stadium-Arcadium.com RHCP Fansite
• OneHotGlobe.org: RHCP Fansite