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List of Red Hot Chili Peppers band members

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Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers performing at Pinkpop Festival in 2006. From left to right: Michael "Flea" Balzary, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, California, United States
GenresAlternative rock, funk rock
Years active1983–present
MembersAnthony Kiedis
Flea
Chad Smith
Josh Klinghoffer
Past membersHillel Slovak
Jack Irons
Cliff Martinez
Jack Sherman
DeWayne McKnight
D.H. Peligro
John Frusciante
Arik Marshall
Jesse Tobias
Dave Navarro

Red Hot Chili Peppers is an alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983.[1] The band was formed by vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Hillel Slovak, bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary, and drummer Jack Irons after they met while attending Fairfax High School. Since its inception, Red Hot Chili Peppers has maintained a four member lineup, with fifteen official members overall.

In late 1983, two weeks before signing with EMI, Slovak and Irons had obtained a record deal with MCA Records with their other band, What Is This?, and left Red Hot Chili Peppers.[2] Rather than dissolving the band, Kiedis and Flea decided to recruit new members. Cliff Martinez was hired as the band's new drummer while Martinez's bandmate in The Weirdos, guitartist, Dix Denney was expected to replace Slovak however after a few rehearsals the band felt he didn't fit and auditions continued. It was down to guitartist Mark Nine and Jack Sherman, a guy the band knew nothing about however after practicing with Sherman they that he was the best fit because he worked well with Flea and Martinez.[3] With Martinez and Sherman aboard, the band released their eponymous debut album on August 10, 1984. During the ensuing tour, continuing musical and lifestyle tension between Kiedis and Sherman complicated the transition between concert and daily band life.[4][5] Sherman was fired soon after, with Slovak returning to the Chili Peppers in 1985 after growing tired of What Is This?.[6] The band then dismissed Cliff Martinez from the group in the summer of 1986 due to personal differences and replaced him with founding member Jack Irons, who was out of work and finally separated from other commitments.[7] During this period, however, Kiedis and Slovak had both developed serious drug addictions, which resulted in Kiedis' brief departure that same year. At one performance, longtime friend and then Circle Jerks frontman, Keith Morris filled in for an absent Kiedis who was out scoring drugs while his band was playing a show.[8][9] On June 25, 1988, Slovak died of a heroin overdose shortly after the completion of The Uplift Mofo Party Plan tour. Kiedis would then retreat into hiding, further fueling his drug habit and even skipping Slovak's funeral. After a band meeting with manager, Lindy Goetz, Irons subsequently left the group, saying that he did not want to be part of a band where his friends were dying.[1]

Attempting to cope with the death of Slovak and the departure of Irons, Kiedis and Flea temporarily employed Dead Kennedys drummer D. H. Peligro and former P-Funk guitarist DeWayne McKnight.[10] McKnight's tenure was brief, lasting three shows in September 1988 before he was fired. He was quickly replaced by John Frusciante in October 1988 and writing for the next album quickly began. Peligro however was dealing with personal problems and would last a few more months before he too was fired. Despite several open auditions, the band remained without a drummer. One of the final drummers to audition was Chad Smith, who Kiedis said was so proficient on the drums he "ate [them] for breakfast".[11] After another successful jam session, Kiedis, Frusciante and Flea admitted Smith into the Chili Peppers and was hired in November 1988.[12]

During the 1992 Japanese leg of the Blood Sugar Sex Magik tour, Frusciante, overwhelmed by the band's newfound success and his drug addiction, abruptly quit in May 1992.[1] Circle Jerks bassist Zander Schloss was auditioned but after four days of rehearsing, Kiedis, Flea, and Smith decided that Schloss did not fit with their future plans.[13] The band originally had wanted Dave Navarro as their guitiarist but Navarro's band, Jane's Addiction had just broken up and he wasn't ready to join another band. With a major summer tour planned including a headlining spot at Lollapalooza, guitarist Arik Marshall of L.A. band Marshall Law was hired as Frusciante's official replacement and would finish out the remainder of tour with the band. Coming off their most successful tour the band was excited to start recording their next album however during pre-production of their sixth studio album, tensions grew between the band and Marshall, and they dismissed him from the band in early 1993.[14]Shortly following Marshall's firing, Kiedis and Flea attended a show by local L.A. band, Mother Tonuge and quickly were drawn to the band's guitarist, Jesse Tobias. Tobias was recruited after a series of open auditions; however, his tenure with the band was brief and after weeks of writing and rehearsals for the next album the band stated that "the chemistry wasn't right" and he was fired although the band already had his replacement ready. Flea had again made an attempt to contact Navarro and on September 5, 1993 Navarro was officially hired as the band's seventh guitarist and work quickly began on the band's next record, One Hot Minute, which would be released in 1995 and was seen as a dissapointment in sales compaired to their previous album.[15][15][16]

The band's One Hot Minute tour proved to be successful however for the band it could easily be viewed as a disaster. Navarro never felt he fit properly in the band and the chemistry just wasn't there with him. Following attempts to write and rehease for their seventh studio album, in April 1998, it was announced that Navarro had been fired from the band due to creative differences; Kiedis stated that the decision was "mutual".[17] With the band on the brink of a break-up, Kiedis informed Flea that he felt the only way the band could continue is if Frusicante would return, which seemed impossible however Flea surprised Kiedis by stating he had been in contact with Frusciante and had a feeling he might be open to a return, That same month after Navarro's departure, Flea visited Frusciante and invited him to rejoin the band. An emotional and now sober Frusciante readily accepted the invitation. With Frusciante back, the band went on to release three of their most successful albums; 1999's Californication, 2002's By the Way and 2006's Stadium Arcadium.[18] In late 2007 following the band's Stadium Arcadium tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers went on a hiatus, with Kiedis citing exhaustion as the main reason.[19]The band's hiatus lasted until October 2009 when they started to write and rehearse for their tenth album however absent from these rehearsals was Fruciante although present was the band's touring guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer leading many to speculate Frusciante had again left the band. In December 2009, Frusciante posted a message on his official website announcing his departure from the band which he stated happened earlier that year. He stated that he left Red Hot Chili Peppers during the hiatus to focus on a solo career.[20][21] Klinghoffer, who acted as a sideman during 2007 dates on the band's Stadium Arcadium tour and on John Frusciante's solo projects, joined the band on October 12, 2009;[22] however, his membership was not announced until February 8, 2010.[23][24]With Klinghoffer, the band saw this as a new beginning and in August 2011 they released their tenth-studio album, I'm with You.

On April 14, 2012, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted by Chris Rock into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Kieids, Flea, Smith, Klinghoffer (who became the youngest inductee ever), Frusciante, Slovak, Irons and Martinez were the members inducted.

Members

Current

As of 2011, the lineup of Red Hot Chili Peppers includes one vocalist, one bassist, one drummer, and one guitarist.

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Michael "Flea" Balzary Michael "Flea" Balzary 1983–present bass guitar, trumpet, piano, backing vocals All Red Hot Chili Peppers releases
Anthony Kiedis Anthony Kiedis 1983–1986, 1986-present lead vocals, backing guitar (during performances of Give it Away from 1991-1997) All Red Hot Chili Peppers releases
Chad Smith Chad Smith 1988–present drums, percussion All Red Hot Chili Peppers releases from Mother's Milk (1989)
Josh Klinghoffer Josh Klinghoffer 2009–present guitar, keyboards, six-string bass, organ, percussion, backing vocals[24] All Red Hot Chili Peppers releases from I'm with You (2011)

Former

The former members of Red Hot Chili Peppers consist of seven guitarists and three drummers.

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Hillel Slovak Hillel Slovak 1983, 1985–1988 lead guitar, backing vocals Co-wrote "Baby Appeal", "Get Up and Jump", "Green Heaven", "Out In L.A., and "Police Helicopter" from The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984), Freaky Styley (1985), The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987), The Abbey Road E.P. (1988), "Fire" from Mother's Milk (1989), What Hits!? (1992), Out in L.A. (1994), Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers (1998)
Jack Irons 1983, 1986–1988 drums, percussion Co-wrote "Baby Appeal", "Get Up and Jump", "Green Heaven", "Out In L.A., and "Police Helicopter" from The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984), Co-wrote "Nevermind", "The Brother's Cup" and "Sex Rap" from Freaky Styley  (1985), The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987), The Abbey Road E.P. (1988), "Fire" from Mother's Milk (1989), What Hits!? (1992), Out in L.A. (1994), Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers (1998)
Cliff Martinez 1983–1986 drums, percussion The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984), Freaky Styley (1985), Co-wrote "Walkin' On Down the Road" from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987), The Abbey Road E.P. (1988), What Hits!? (1992), Out in L.A. (1994), Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers (1998)
Jack Sherman Jack Sherman 1983–1985 lead guitar, backing vocals The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984), The Abbey Road E.P. (1988), backing vocals on "Good Time Boys" and "Higher Ground" from Mother's Milk (1989), What Hits!? (1992), Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers (1998)
DeWayne McKnight DeWayne McKnight 1988 lead guitar, backing vocals "Blues for Meister" from Out in L.A. (1994)[25]
DeWayne McKnight D.H. Peligro 1988 drums, percussion Co-wrote "Stone Cold Bush" and Sexy Mexican Maid" from Mother's Milk  (1989) "Blues for Meister" from Out in L.A.  (1994)[nb 1]
John Frusciante John Frusciante 1988–1992, 1998–2009 lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Mother's Milk (1989), What Hits!? (1992), Out in L.A. (1994), Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991), Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers (1998), Californication (1999), By the Way (2002), Live in Hyde Park (2004), Stadium Arcadium (2006), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Covers EP (2012)
Arik Marshall Arik Marshall 1992–1993 lead guitar, backing vocals none
Jesse Tobias Jesse Tobias 1993 lead guitar, backing vocals none
Dave Navarro Dave Navarro 1993–1998 lead guitar, backing vocals One Hot Minute (1995), Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Covers EP (2012)

Touring musicians

Red Hot Chili Peppers has employed numerous touring musicians throughout its career. A touring musician is an unofficial member who only performs live with the band and does not contribute to studio releases. Josh Klinghoffer was featured as a backing musician on the final half of the band's Stadium Arcadium tour, also performed Organ on the album's title track and eventually become an official member replacing guitarist John Frusciante in 2009. The band's I'm with You Tour currently features percussionist, Mauro Refosco. Refosco provided percussion for most of the tracks on the band's I'm with You album. The band's roadie/drum tech, Chris Warren, also provides keyboards on the current tour. Vicki Calhoun, Keith Barry, and Philip Fisher did contribute to Mother's Milk (1989), where Calhoun performed backing vocals on "Knock Me Down", "Higher Ground", "Good Time Boys", and "Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky", Barry played tenor sax on "Subway to Venus", and Fisher provided drums on "Taste the Pain".

Current touring musicians

Image Name Years active Instruments Reference(s)
—
 Mauro Refosco 2011–present percussion
—
 Chris Warren 2007–present keyboards, drum technician

Former touring musicians

Image Name Years active Instruments Reference(s)
Josh Klinghoffer Josh Klinghoffer 2007 rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals [27]
Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez 2006–2007 keyboards, clavinet, percussion [28]
—
 Rob Rule 1989–1990, 1995–1996 opening comedy act, rhythm guitar, backing vocals, roadie [29]
—
 Rain Phoenix 1995–1996 backing vocals [30]
—
 Acacia Ludwig 1995–1996 backing vocals [31]
—
 Vicki Calhoun 1989–1990 backing vocals [32]
Philip Fisher Philip "Fish" Fisher 1988 drums, percussion [32]
—
 Keith "Tree" Barry 1987–1990, 2011 saxophone [32]
—
 Michael Bulger 2011 trumpet, piano

Notes

  1. ^ Although he did not perform on the album, Peligro did receive credit as a co-writer of the two songs[26]
  • Guitarists Dix Denney and Zander Schloss were both very close to becoming official members of the band. In 1984, Denney was pretty much viewed as Slovak's replacement and Kiedis and Flea even set out on vacation feeling they had their replacement however further rehearsals proved the chemistry didn't work between Denney and the other members. Schloss suffered pretty much the same fate. After Frusciante quit in 1992, Schloss was quickly flown to where the band was on tour however just like with Denney, chemistry between Schloss and the other band members wasn't there and after a few rehearsals he was informed he wouldn't be with the band. Schloss unfortunetly had already told friends he was the band's new guitarist.

References

General
  • "Red Hot Chili Peppers". Allmusic. Retrieved June 14, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  • Kiedis, Anthony; Sloman, Larry (2004). Scar Tissue. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 1-4013-0101-0. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers (2010). An Oral/Visual History. It Books. ISBN 978-0-06-135191-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Specific
  1. ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Red Hot Chili Peppers > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved June 5, 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 126
  3. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 127
  4. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 133
  5. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 134
  6. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 162–163
  7. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 188
  8. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 191
  9. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 219–225
  10. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 224
  11. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 233
  12. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 234
  13. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 297–298
  14. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 311
  15. ^ a b Foege, Alec (October 19, 1995). "The Red Hot Chili Peppers (Page 1)". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 312
  17. ^ Rosenthal, Joe (April 6, 1998). "Pepper Guitar Mill Grinds On". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved March 31, 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 398
  19. ^ Anderson, Kyle (May 19, 2008). "Q&A: Anthony Kiedis: Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 25, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Cashmere, Paul (December 17, 2009). "John Frusciante Explains His Departure from Red Hot Chili Peppers". Undercover.com.au. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  21. ^ "John Frusciante confirms he's left Red Hot Chili Peppers". NME. December 17, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ http://download.wbr.com/rhcp/RHCP_rs.pdf
  23. ^ Anderson, Sara (March 12, 2010). "Red Hot Chili Peppers – 2010 New Album Preview". AOL Radio. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  24. ^ a b Bosso, Joe (May 6, 2010). "Chad Smith talks new Chickenfoot, Red Hot Chili Peppers albums (Page 2)". MusicRadar. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  25. ^ "Twitter / Flea: blackbyrd McKnight on guitar". Twitter. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  26. ^ Mother's Milk (2003 Remastered edition) (Media notes). Hollywood, California, USA: EMI. 1989, 2003. pp. 12, 13. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |coauthors= and |notestitle= (help); Unknown parameter |albumlink= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  27. ^ Lindsay, Andrew (January 2, 2010). "Josh Klinghoffer confirms he is the new RHCP guitarist". Stereokill.net. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  28. ^ Balzary, Michael; Klinghoffer, Josh (August 10, 2011). "Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You Interview 4 (Interview)". YouTube. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  29. ^ "The Side – 1995 One Hot Minute Tour". TheSide.free.fr. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  30. ^ Marx, Rebecca. "Rain Phoenix > Biography". Allmovie. Retrieved July 3, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ ""Walkabout" Live". NME. Retrieved June 16, 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ a b c Mother's Milk (2003 Remastered edition) (Media notes). Hollywood, California, USA: EMI. 1989, 2003. p. 8. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |albumlink= and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |notestitle= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)CS1 maint: year (link)

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