The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by Kiedis, Flea, the guitaristHillel Slovak, and the drummerJack Irons. Due to commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on their 1984self-titled debut album, which instead featured the guitaristJack Sherman and the drummerCliff Martinez. Slovak rejoined for their second album,Freaky Styley (1985), and Irons for their third,The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). Irons left after Slovak died of a drug overdose in June 1988.
With Frusciante and Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recordedMother's Milk (1989) and their first major commercial success,Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). Frusciante was uncomfortable with their newfound popularity and left abruptly on tour in 1992. After a series of temporary guitarists, he was replaced byDave Navarro. Their next album,One Hot Minute (1995), failed to match the success ofBlood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante and Kiedis struggled with drug addiction throughout the 1990s.
In 1998, Navarro departed and Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album,Californication (1999), became their biggest commercial success, with 16 million copies sold worldwide.By the Way (2002) andStadium Arcadium (2006) were also successful;Stadium Arcadium was their first album to reach number one on theBillboard 200 chart. Frusciante left again in 2009 to focus on his solo career; he was replaced byJosh Klinghoffer, who appeared onI'm with You (2011) andThe Getaway (2016), before Frusciante rejoined in 2019. The Chili Peppers released their 12th and 13th albums,Unlimited Love andReturn of the Dream Canteen, in 2022.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles in 1982 as Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem by singerAnthony Kiedis, guitaristHillel Slovak, bassistFlea, and drummerJack Irons, classmates atFairfax High School.[8] Their first performance was on December 16, 1982, at the Grandia Room club onHollywood Boulevard to a crowd of approximately 30. Gary Allen, a friend of the band, was hosting a release party for his new EP and asked Kiedis and Flea to put together an opening act.[1]
At the time, Slovak and Irons were already committed to another group,What Is This?; however, the new band was asked to return the following week.[9] In March, they changed their name to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, playing several shows at Los Angeles venues. Six songs from these shows were on the band's firstdemo tape.[10] In November 1983, managerLindy Goetz struck a seven-album deal withEMI America andEnigma Records. Two weeks earlier, however, What Is This? had also obtained a record deal withMCA, and in December Slovak and Irons quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers to focus on What Is This?.[11] Flea and Kiedis recruitedWeirdos drummerCliff Martinez and guitaristJack Sherman.[12]
The band released their debut album,The Red Hot Chili Peppers, in August 1984. Airplay oncollege radio andMTV helped build a fan base,[13] and the album sold 300,000 copies.Gang of Four guitaristAndy Gill, who produced the album, pushed the band to play with a cleaner, more radio-friendly sound,[14] and the band was disappointed with the result, finding it over-polished.[15] The album included backing vocals by Gwen Dickey, the singer for the 1970sdisco funk groupRose Royce.[16] The band embarked on a grueling tour, performing 60 shows in 64 days. During the tour, continuing musical and lifestyle tension between Kiedis and Sherman complicated the transition between concert and daily band life.[17] Sherman was fired in February 1985[18] and Slovak, who had just quit What Is This?, rejoined the band.[19]
1985–1988: Adding fans, drug abuse, and Slovak's death
Vocalist Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea (pictured performing atUitmarkt in Amsterdam in August 1989) have remained with the Red Hot Chili Peppers through the band's history.
The second Chili Peppers album,Freaky Styley (1985), was produced byfunk musicianGeorge Clinton, who introduced elements of punk and funk into the band's repertoire.[20] The album featuredMaceo Parker andFred Wesley. The band used heroin while recording the album, which influenced the lyrics and music.[21] The band had a much better relationship with Clinton than with Gill,[22] butFreaky Styley, released on August 16, 1985, also achieved little success, failing to make an impression on any chart. The band also considered the subsequent tour unproductive.[23][24][25] Despite the lack of success, the band was satisfied withFreaky Styley; Kiedis reflected that "it so surpassed anything we thought we could have done that we were thinking we were on the road to enormity."[26] Around this time, the band appeared in the 1986 filmsThrashin', playing the song "Blackeyed Blonde" fromFreaky Styley, andTough Guys, performing the unreleased song "Set It Straight".[27]
In early 1986, EMI gave the Chili Peppers $5,000 to record a demo tape for their next album. They chose to work with producerKeith Levene fromPublic Image Ltd, as he shared their interest in drugs.[28] Levene and Slovak put aside $2,000 of the budget to spend on heroin andcocaine, which created tension between the band members. Martinez's "heart was no longer in the band", but he did not quit, so Kiedis and Flea fired him in April 1986.[29] Irons rejoined the band, to their surprise; it marked the first time all four founding members were together since 1983. During the recording and subsequent tour ofFreaky Styley, Kiedis and Slovak were dealing with debilitating heroin addictions. Due to his addiction, Kiedis "didn't have the same drive or desire to come up with ideas or lyrics" and appeared at rehearsal "literally asleep".[30]
For their third album, the Chili Peppers attempted to hireRick Rubin to produce, but he declined due to the band's increasing drug problems. They eventually hiredMichael Beinhorn from the art funk projectMaterial, their last choice.[31] The early attempts at recording were halted due to Kiedis' worsening drug problems, and Kiedis was briefly fired. After the band were named "band of the year" byLA Weekly, Kiedis entereddrug rehabilitation.[32] The band auditioned new singers,[33] but Kiedis, now sober, rejoined the recording sessions with new enthusiasm.[34] Songs formed quickly, blending the funk feel and rhythms ofFreaky Styley with a harder, more immediate approach topunk rock. The album was recorded in the basement of theCapitol Records Building.[35] The recording process was difficult; Kiedis would frequently disappear to seek drugs;[36] after fifty days of sobriety, Kiedis had decided to take drugs again to celebrate his new music.[35]
The third Red Hot Chili Peppers album,The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, was released in September 1987 and peaked at No. 148 on theBillboard 200 chart,[37] a significant improvement over their earlier albums. The band immediately embarked on a two and a half month North American tour to promote the release, accompanied byFaith No More as support who were also promoting their new albumIntroduce Yourself.[38][39] During that period, however, Kiedis and Slovak had both developed serious drug addictions,[40] often disappearing for days on end. Slovak died from aheroin overdose on June 25, 1988, soon after the conclusion of theUplift tour.[41] Kiedis fled the city and did not attend Slovak's funeral.[42] Irons, troubled by the death, left the band; following years of depression, he became a member of the Seattle grunge bandPearl Jam in 1994.[43]
DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, a former member ofParliament-Funkadelic, joined as guitarist, andD. H. Peligro ofDead Kennedys joined as drummer.[when?] Kiedis re-entered rehab for 30 days, and visited Slovak's grave as part of his rehabilitation, finally confronting his grief. Three dates into the tour, McKnight was fired for lack of chemistry with the band.[44] McKnight was so unhappy he threatened to burn down Kiedis' house.[45]
Peligro introduced Kiedis and Flea to the 18-year-old guitaristJohn Frusciante, a fan of the band,[46] who brought a darker and more melodic style.[47] Frusciante performed his first show with the Chili Peppers in September 1988. The new lineup began writing for the next album and went on a short tour, the Turd Town Tour. In November, Kiedis and Flea fired Peligro due to his drug and alcohol problems.[48] After open auditions, they hired the drummerChad Smith in December 1988, who has remained since.[49] According to Smith, "We started playing, and right away we just hit it off musically."[50]
The Chili Peppers began work on their fourth album in late 1988.[51] Unlike the stop-start sessions forThe Uplift Mofo Party Plan, preproduction went smoothly. However, the sessions were made tense by Beinhorn's desire to create a hit, frustrating Frusciante and Kiedis.[52] Released on August 16, 1989,Mother's Milk peaked at number 52 on theU.S.Billboard 200.[37] The record failed to chart in the United Kingdom and Europe, but climbed to number 33 in Australia.[53] "Knock Me Down" reached number six on theU.S. Modern Rock Tracks chart, whereas "Higher Ground" charted at number eleven[54] and reached number 54 in the UK and 45 in Australia and France.[55][56]Mother's Milk wascertified gold in March 1990 and was the first Chili Peppers album to ship over 500,000 units.[57]
1990–1993:Blood Sugar Sex Magik, fame, and Frusciante's first departure
Rick Rubin (pictured in 2009) has produced nearly every Red Hot Chili Peppers album since 1991
In 1990, after the success ofMother's Milk, the Chili Peppers left EMI and entered a major-label bidding war. They signed withWarner Bros. Records and hired Rick Rubin, a producer they had tried to hire before. Rubin turned the band down in 1987 because of their drug problems but he felt that they were now healthier and more focused. He produced several more of their albums. The writing process was more productive than it had been forMother's Milk, with Kiedis saying, "[every day], there was new music for me to lyricize".[58] At Rubin's suggestion, they recorded inThe Mansion, a studio in a house inLaurel Canyon where magicianHarry Houdini once lived.[59]
In September 1991,Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released. "Give It Away" was the first single, which achieved international fame and became the band's first number-one single on theModern Rock chart.[54] The ballad "Under the Bridge" was the second single, and reached number two on theBillboard Hot 100 chart, the band's highest position to date.[54]Blood Sugar Sex Magik sold over 12 million copies.[60] It was listed at number 310 onRolling Stone's list of500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and in 1992 it rose to number three on the US album charts, almost a year after its release. The album was accompanied by a documentary,Funky Monks.[61] The Chili Peppers began theirBlood Sugar Sex Magik tour, which featuredNirvana,Pearl Jam, andSmashing Pumpkins, three of the era's biggest upcoming bands in alternative music, as opening acts.[62]
Frusciante was troubled by fame, and began falling out with Kiedis. He isolated himself and developed a secret heroin addiction. In an appearance onSaturday Night Live, he performed off-key; Kiedis believed he wanted to sabotage the performance.[47] Frusciante abruptly quit after a show in Tokyo in May 1992.[47] He returned to Los Angeles and spent years living in squalor, struggling with addiction.[47] The Chili Peppers contactedDave Navarro to replace Frusciante. Navarro had just split fromJane's Addiction, but he was involved in drug problems too. After failed auditions withZander Schloss, they hiredArik Marshall of the Los Angeles band Marshall Law,[63][64] and headlined theLollapalooza festival in 1992.[65] Marshall appeared in the music videos for "Breaking the Girl" and "If You Have to Ask", as well as theSimpsons episode "Krusty Gets Kancelled".[66][unreliable source?] In September 1992, the Chili Peppers performed "Give It Away" at theMTV Video Music Awards. They were nominated for seven awards, winning three, includingViewer's Choice. In February 1993, they performed "Give It Away" at theGrammy Awards, and the song won the band their first Grammy, Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal.[67]
The Chili Peppers dismissed Marshall[68] and held auditions for a new guitarist, includingBuckethead, whom Flea felt was not right for the band.[69]Jesse Tobias of the Los Angeles band Mother Tongue was briefly hired, but dismissed due to poor chemistry.[70] However, Navarro said he was now ready to join the band.[71] In August 1993, the non-album single "Soul to Squeeze" was released and featured on the soundtrack to the filmConeheads.[72] The song topped the Billboard US Modern Rock chart.[73]
Navarro first appeared with the Chili Peppers atWoodstock '94, performing early versions of new songs. This was followed by a brief tour, including headlining appearances atPukkelpop andReading Festivals and two performances as the opening act for theRolling Stones.[74] The relationship between Navarro and the band began to deteriorate;[75] Navarro admitted he did not care for funk music or jamming. Kiedis had relapsed into heroin addiction following a dental procedure in which an addictive sedative,Valium, was used, though the band did not discover this until later.[76]
Without Frusciante, songs were written at a far slower rate.[76] Kiedis said: "John had been a true anomaly when it came to songwriting... I just figured that was how all guitar players were, that you showed them your lyrics and sang a little bit and the next thing you knew you had a song. That didn't happen right off the bat with Dave."[76]
The Chili Peppers began the tour forOne Hot Minute in Europe in 1995. The US tour was postponed after Smith broke his wrist. In 1997, several shows were canceled following deteriorating band relations, injuries, and Navarro and Kiedis' drug use. The band played three shows that year, including the firstFuji Rock Festival inJapan.[83] In April 1998, the Chili Peppers announced that Navarro had left due to creative differences. Kiedis said the decision was mutual.[84] Reports at the time indicated that Navarro's departure came after he attended a band practice under the influence of drugs.[79]
1998–2001: Return of Frusciante andCalifornication
RHCP regained commercial success after guitaristJohn Frusciante (pictured performing with the band atThe Forum in August 2006) rejoined them in 1998. He left again in 2009 and joined once more in 2019.
With no guitarist, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on the verge of breaking up.[85] In the years following Frusciante's departure, his heroin addiction had left him in poverty and near death.[86] Flea convinced Frusciante to enter Las Encinas Drug Rehabilitation Center in easternPasadena, California, in January 1998.[87][88] His addiction left him with scarring on his arms, a restructured nose, and dental implants following an oral infection.[89][90] In April 1998, Flea visited the recovered Frusciante and asked him to rejoin the band. Frusciante began sobbing and said nothing would make him happier.[91][92]
Red Hot Chili Peppers logo
In June 1999, after more than a year of production, the Red Hot Chili Peppers releasedCalifornication, their seventh studio album. It sold over 16 million copies, and remains their most successful album.[93]Californication contained fewer rap songs than its predecessors, instead integrating textured and melodic guitar riffs, vocals and basslines.[94] It produced three number-one modern rock hits, "Scar Tissue", "Otherside" and "Californication".[54]Californication received stronger reviews thanOne Hot Minute, and was a greater success worldwide.[94] While many critics credited the success of the album to Frusciante's return, they also felt Kiedis' vocals had also improved.[95] It was later listed at number 399 on theRolling Stone magazine list of the500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[96]
Californication was supported with atwo-year international world tour, producing the first Chili Peppers concert DVD,Off the Map (2001).[97] In July 1999, the Chili Peppers played the closing show atWoodstock 1999.[8][98] During the set, a small fire escalated into violence and vandalism, resulting in the intervention of riot control squads.[99] ATMs and several semi-tractor trailers were looted and destroyed.[100][101] The band was blamed in the media for inciting the riots after performing a cover of theJimi Hendrix song "Fire". In his memoir, Kiedis wrote: "It was clear that this situation had nothing to do with Woodstock anymore. It wasn't symbolic of peace and love, but of greed and cashing in."[102]
The Chili Peppers began writing their next album in early 2001, immediately after theCalifornication tour.[103] Frusciante and Kiedis collaborated for days straight, discussing and sharing guitar progressions and lyrics.[104] For Kiedis, "writingBy the Way ... was a whole different experience fromCalifornication. John was back to himself and brimming with confidence."[103] The recording was difficult for Flea, who felt his role was being diminished[105] and fought with Frusciante about the musical direction.[105] Flea considered quitting the band after the album, but the two worked out their problems.[106]
Red Hot Chili Peppers performing in Stockholm in 2003
By the Way was released in July 2002 and produced four singles; "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Can't Stop" and "Universally Speaking". The album was their most subdued to date, focusing on melodic ballads over rap and funk, with layered textures, more keyboards, and string arrangements.[107] The album was followed by aneighteen-month world tour,[108] a concert DVD,Live at Slane Castle, and the band's first live album,Red Hot Chili Peppers Live in Hyde Park.[109] More than 258,000 fans paid over $17,100,000 for tickets over three nights, a 2004 record; the event ranked No. 1 onBillboard's Top Concert Boxscores of 2004.[110] In November 2003, the Chili Peppers released theirGreatest Hits album, which featured new songs "Fortune Faded" and "Save the Population".[111]
In 2006, the Chili Peppers released their ninth album,Stadium Arcadium. Although they initially planned to release a trilogy of albums,[112] they chose to release a 28-track double album. It was their first album to debut at number one on the US charts, where it stayed for two weeks, and debuted at number one in theUK and 25 other countries.Stadium Arcadium sold over seven million units.[113] It won the Grammys forBest Rock Album andBest Rock Performance by a Duo Or Group With Vocal ("Dani California").[114]
The first single, "Dani California", was the band's fastest-selling single, debuting on top of the Modern Rock chart in the U.S., peaking at number six on theBillboard Hot 100, and reaching number 2 in the UK. "Tell Me Baby", released next, also topped the charts in 2006. "Snow (Hey Oh)" was released in late 2006, breaking multiple records by 2007. The song became their eleventh number-one single, giving the band a cumulative total of 81 weeks at number one. It was also the first time three consecutive singles by the band made it to number one. "Desecration Smile" was released internationally in February 2007 and reached number 27 on the UK charts. "Hump de Bump" was planned to be the next single for the US, Canada, and Australia only, but due to positive feedback from the music video, it was released as a worldwide single in May 2007.[citation needed]
Josh Klinghoffer (pictured in 2016) was the backup touring guitarist in 2007. He replaced John Frusciante in 2009, until Frusciante's return in 2019.
After the Stadium Arcadium tour, the Chili Peppers took an extended break. Kiedis attributed this to the band being worn out from their years of nonstop work sinceCalifornication. Their only recording during that time was in 2008 withGeorge Clinton on his albumGeorge Clinton and His Gangsters of Love; accompanied by Kim Manning, they recorded a new version of Shirley and Lee's classic "Let the Good Times Roll".[116]
In July 2009, Frusciante again left the Chili Peppers, though no announcement was made until December.[122] Frusciante explained on hisMyspace page that there was no ill feeling about his departure this time, and that he wanted to focus on his solo work.[123] In October 2009, the Chili Peppers entered the studio to begin writing their tenth studio album, with Klinghoffer replacing Frusciante.[122] In January 2010, the Chili Peppers made their live comeback in January 2010, paying tribute toNeil Young with a cover of "A Man Needs a Maid" at MusiCares. In February, after months of speculation, Klinghoffer was confirmed as Frusciante's replacement.[124]
Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded their tenth album,I'm with You, between September 2010 and March 2011. They decided against releasing another double album, reducing the album to 14 tracks.[125]I'm with You was released in the US in August 2011. It topped the charts in 18 countries, and received mostly positive reviews. "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie", became the band's 12th number-one single.[126][127] "Monarchy of Roses", "Look Around" and "Did I Let You Know" (released only in Brazil), and "Brendan's Death Song" were also released as singles.[128]
A 2012 promotional image of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
In July 2011, the Chili Peppers played three invitation-only warm-up shows in California, their first since 2007.[129][130] They began a month-long promotional tour in August 2011, starting in Asia. TheI'm with You World Tour ran from September 2011 until 2013. The North American leg, expected to begin in January 2012, was postponed to March due to a surgery Kiedis required for foot injuries he had sustained during the Stadium Arcadium tour. After theI'm with You World Tour, the band set out on anothersmall tour, including their first shows inAlaska,Paraguay, thePhilippines, andPuerto Rico.[131] Recordings from the tours were released in 2012 on the free2011 Live EP.[132]
In February 2014, the Chili Peppers joinedBruno Mars as performers at theSuper Bowl XLVIII half-time show, watched by a record 115.3 million viewers. The performance was met with mixed reviews for its use of backing music; Flea responded that it was anNFL rule for bands to pre-record music due to time and technical issues, and that they had agreed because it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He said Kiedis' vocals were completely live and the band had recorded "Give it Away" during rehearsals.[137] The band begananother tour in May 2013, which ended in June 2014.2012-13 Live EP was released in July 2014 through their website as a free download.[138]
The Chili Peppers releasedFandemonium in November 2014, a book dedicated to their fans.[139] In December 2014, they began work on their eleventh album, their first without producerRick Rubin since 1989;[140] instead it was produced byDanger Mouse. Flea broke his arm during a skiing trip, which delayed the recording for several months.[141] "Dark Necessities", the first single from their upcoming album, was released on May 5. Their eleventh album,The Getaway, was released in June.[142] Kiedis said that the songs were influenced by a two-year relationship that fell apart.[143] "Dark Necessities" became the band's 25th top-ten single on theBillboard Alternative Songs chart, a record they hold overU2.[144] In February 2016, "Circle of the Noose", an unreleased song recorded with Navarro in 1998, was leaked.
In May, the band released "The Getaway".[145] The music video for "Dark Necessities", directed by actressOlivia Wilde, was released in June 2016.[146]The Getaway made its debut at number 2 on theBillboard 200 chart, behindDrake, who had the number-one album for eight consecutive weeks.The Getaway outsold Drake its opening week with album sales of 108,000 to 33,000 (actually placing him at 4th in sales for the week) though due to album streaming, Drake managed to top the band for the top position in the charts.[147][148] In July 2016, theLive In Paris EP was released exclusively through themusic streaming websiteDeezer. "Go Robot" was announced as the second single fromThe Getaway. In the same month, the band members started to post images from the set of the music video.[149]The Getaway was reissued on limited edition pink vinyl in September, as part of 10 Bands 1 Cause. All money from sales of the re-issue went toGilda's Club NYC an organization that provides community support for both those diagnosed with cancer and their caretakers. It is named after comedianGilda Radner.[150]
The band began the headlining portion of theGetaway World Tour in September with the North American leg, featuringJack Irons, the band's original drummer, as an opening act, beginning in January 2017.[151]Dave Rat, the band's sound engineer since 1991, announced that after the show of January 22, 2017, he would no longer be working with the band.[152]
The Getaway World Tour concluded in October 2017. The tour consisted of 151 shows lasting a year and almost five months.[153] In December, the band headlined the Band Together 2 Benefit Concert at theBill Graham Civic Auditorium inSan Francisco. Money raised from the concert went to the Tipping Point Emergency Relief Fund which between 2005 and 2017 raised $150 million to educate, employ, house and support those in need in theBay Area.[154]
2019–2023: Frusciante's second return,Unlimited Love, andReturn of the Dream Canteen
The recording of the next Chili Peppers album was delayed due to theWoolsey Fire; the band performed a benefit show for fire victims on January 13, 2019.[155] In February, they performed "Dark Necessities" with rapperPost Malone at the61st Annual Grammy Awards.[156][157] They appeared in Malone's music video for "Wow", released in March.[158]
Red Hot Chili Peppers performing at the Ohana Music Festival in September 2019, three months before Klinghoffer was replaced by Frusciante
In February 2019, the Chili Peppers began a month-long tour, featuring their first headlining shows inAustralia in 12 years,[159] including their first show inTasmania, which was briefly halted due to a power outage.[160] On March 15, they performed inEgypt, becoming one of the few acts allowed to perform at thePyramids of Giza.[161] The performance waslivestreamed.[162] On October 26, David Mushegain, a photographer, announced that a Chili Peppers documentary was in the works.[163]
On December 15, 2019, the Chili Peppers announced that after 10 years, Frusciante had rejoined, replacing Klinghoffer. They wrote that Klinghoffer was "a beautiful musician who we respect and love".[164] In an interview, Klinghoffer said there was no animosity: "It's absolutely John's place to be in that band... I'm happy that he's back with them."[165] On November 2, the Chili Peppers performed their final show with Klinghoffer, at a charity event at the Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles.[166] Klinghoffer released his debut solo album,To Be One with You, on November 22, 2019, featuring Flea and the former Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons.[167] On February 8, 2020, Frusciante performed with the Chili Peppers for the first time in 13 years at a memorial service held by theTony Hawk Foundation for the film producer Andrew Burkle, the son of billionaireRonald Burkle.[168] Shows were scheduled for three festivals that May,[169] but were canceled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[170] In August, the former Chili Peppers guitaristJack Sherman died aged 64; the band released a statement thanking him for "all times good, bad and in between".[171]
On April 24, 2021, the Chili Peppers announced that they had leftQ Prime, their management company for the previous 20 years, and they would be managed by their longtime friendGuy Oseary, founder ofMaverick Records.[172] On May 3, it was reported that the Red Hot Chili Peppers would sell their back catalog toHipgnosis Songs Fund for $140–$150 million.[173] On March 31, the Chili Peppers received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[174]
The 12th Red Hot Chili Peppers album,Unlimited Love, produced by Rubin, was released on April 1, 2022. It debuted at number one in ten countries, becoming the first US number-one Chili Peppers album sinceStadium Arcadium.[175] It was promoted with the singles "Black Summer"[176] and "These Are the Ways".[177]NME wrote thatUnlimited Love shared the "melancholic riffmaking, anthemic choruses and softly-sung melodies" of Frusciante's previous work with the Chili Peppers, but introduced new "grungy" and acoustic elements.[178]
On the day of the release, the broadcasting companySirius XM launched a dedicated Red Hot Chili Peppers channel, Whole Lotta Red Hot, featuring music videos, live performances and acts that influenced the Chili Peppers.[179] On June 4, the Red Hot Chili Peppers began theirUnlimited Love Tour.[180][181] The 13th Chili Peppers album,Return of the Dream Canteen, recorded during the same sessions asUnlimited Love, was released on October 14.[182] The first single, "Tippa My Tongue", was released in August,[183] followed by "The Drummer" in October.[184] The band's former drummerD.H. Peligro died at the age of 63 on October 28.[185]
2024–present: Upcoming fourteenth album
In April 2024, Chad Smith said that the Chili Peppers would take a break following their 2024 tour dates, and would start writing their next album in 2025.[186] For the closing ceremony of the2024 Paris Olympics on August 11, the Chili Peppers provided a performance of "Can't Stop" ("Eddie" was performed during a post-Olympics special onNBC)[187] inLong Beach, California, representing Los Angeles, where the2028 Summer Olympics will be held.[188][189]
On May 16, 2025, it was reported byDeadline that a documentary on the band's formative years was being secretly screened at theCannes Film Festival and was looking for select buyers in both New York and Los Angeles. A festival premiere for the film will be planned for either fall 2025 or early 2026. The documentary, which is being co-produced by Hillel Slovak's brother James, will center on the deep childhood bond between Anthony Kiedis, Flea and Hillel Slovak and features various interviews from current and past band members.[194]
During a July 24, 2025 interview, Flea confirmed that the band was starting to write new music for their fourteenth album.[195] Anthony Kiedis in an October 2025 interview on the band's SiriusXM "Whole Lotta Red Hot" channel discussed the current status of the band's next album saying "We weren’t supposed to be thinking about making new music yet, according to business people. But every now and then, you don’t care about what you’re supposed to be doing, and you hear something in your head, and you make a call to a friend." Kiedis also said that John Frusciante seems very inspired creatively right now. "I feel like the flame has been lit in John early on in the cycle. The new wet sands are out there, starting to form."[196]
Kiedis provided multiple vocal styles. His primary approach up toBlood Sugar Sex Magik was spoken verse and rapping, which he complemented with traditional vocals. This helped the band to maintain a consistent style.[215] As the group matured, notably withCalifornication (1999), they reduced the number of rapped verses.By the Way (2002) contained only two songs with a rap-driven verse and melodic chorus.[216] Kiedis' more recent style was developed through ongoing coaching.[217]
Original guitarist Slovak's style was based in blues and funk. Slovak was primarily influenced by hard-rock artists such as Hendrix,Kiss and Led Zeppelin,[218] while his playing method was based on improvisation common in funk.[219] He was noted for an aggressive playing style; he would often play with such force, that his fingers would "come apart".[219] Kiedis observed that his playing evolved during his time away from the group in What Is This?, when Slovak adopted a more fluid style featuring "sultry" elements compared to his earlier hard-rock techniques.[220] OnThe Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987), Slovak experimented with genres outside of traditional funk music includingreggae andspeed metal.[221] His guitar riffs often served as the basis of the group's songs, with the other members writing their parts to complement his guitar work. His melodic riff featured in the song "Behind the Sun" inspired the group to create "pretty" songs with an emphasis on melody.[35] Kiedis describes the song as "pure Hillel inspiration".[222] Slovak also used atalk box on songs such as "Green Heaven" and "Funky Crime", in which he would sing into a tube while playing to create psychedelic effects.[223]
Frusciante's guitar playing style has evolved over the course of his career, with a technique that employs melody and emotion rather than virtuosity.[clarification needed] Although virtuoso influences can be heard throughout his career, he has said that he often minimizes this.[224] Frusciante brought a melodic and textured sound, notably onCalifornication,By the Way, andStadium Arcadium (2006). This contrasts with his earlier abrasive approach inMother's Milk,[225][226] as well as his dry, funky and more docile arrangements onBlood Sugar Sex Magik. OnCalifornication andBy the Way, Frusciante derived the technique of creating tonal texture through chord patterns frompost-punk guitaristVini Reilly ofthe Durutti Column, and bands such asFugazi andthe Cure.[227][228][229] OnBy the Way, he wanted people to be able to sing the lead guitar part, influenced byJohn McGeoch of Siouxsie and the Banshees,Johnny Marr ofthe Smiths, and Bernard Sumner ofJoy Division.[230] He initially wanted this album to be composed of "these punky, rough songs", drawing inspiration from early punk artists such as the Germs andthe Damned, an English band. However, that was discouraged by Rubin, the producer. Instead he built onCalifornication's melodically driven style.[231] During the recording ofStadium Arcadium (2006), he moved away from his new-wave influences and concentrated on emulating flashier guitar players such as Hendrix and Van Halen.[232] Navarro brought his own sound to the band during his tenure, with his style based onheavy metal,progressive rock, andpsychedelia.[233]
Flea's bass guitar style can be considered an amalgamation of funk, psychedelic, punk, and hard rock.[234] The groove-heavy melodies, played through either finger-picking orslapping, contributed to their signature style. While Flea's slap bass style was prominent in earlier albums, albums afterBlood Sugar Sex Magik[234] have more melodic and funk-driven bass lines. He has also useddouble stops on some newer songs. Flea's bass playing has changed considerably throughout the years. When he joined Fear, his technique centered largely around traditional punk-rock bass lines.[235] However, he changed this style when the Red Hot Chili Peppers formed. He began to incorporate a "slap" bass style that drew influence largely fromBootsy Collins.[236]Blood Sugar Sex Magik saw a notable shift in style as it featured none of his signature technique but focused more on traditional and melodic roots.[237] His intellectual beliefs as a musician also shifted: "I was trying to play simply onBlood Sugar Sex Magik because I had been playing too much prior to that, so I thought, 'I've really got to chill out and play half as many notes'. When you play less, it's more exciting—there's more room for everything. If I do play something busy, it stands out, instead of the bass being a constant onslaught of notes. Space is good."[237]
Drummer Smith blends rock with funk, mixing metal and jazz to his beats. Influences includeBuddy Rich andJohn Bonham.[238] He brought a different sound toMother's Milk, playing tight and fast. InBlood Sugar Sex Magik, he displays greater power. He is recognized for hisghost notes, his beats and his fast right foot. MusicRadar put him in sixth place on their list of the "50 Greatest Drummers Of All Time".[239] During their early career, the Chili Peppers often performed nude, wearing only socks over their genitals; that became a part of their stage persona and brought them early notoriety.
Lyrical themes and inspirations
Early in the group's history, Kiedis wrote comical songs filled with sexual innuendos and songs inspired by friendship and the band members' personal experiences. However, after the death of his close friend and bandmate Hillel Slovak, Kiedis' lyrics became much more introspective and personal, as exemplified by theMother's Milk song "Knock Me Down", which was dedicated to Slovak along with theBlood Sugar Sex Magik song "My Lovely Man". When the band recordedOne Hot Minute (1995), Kiedis had turned to drugs once again, which resulted in darker lyrics.[240] He began to write about anguish, and the self-mutilating thoughts he experienced as a result of his drug addiction.[241][242] The album also featured tributes to close friends the band lost during the recording process includingKurt Cobain on the song "Tearjerker" andRiver Phoenix on the song "Transcending".
After witnessing Frusciante's recovery from his heroin addiction, Kiedis wrote many songs inspired by rebirth and the meaning of life onCalifornication. He was also intrigued by the life lessons that the band had learned,[243] including Kiedis' experience with meeting a young mother at theYMCA, who was attempting to battle her crack addiction while living with her infant daughter.[85]
OnBy the Way, Kiedis was lyrically influenced by love and his girlfriend.[244] Drugs also played an integral part in Kiedis' writings, as he had only been sober since 2000.[245] Tracks such as "This Is the Place" and "Don't Forget Me" expressed his intense dislike for narcotics and the harmful physical and emotional effects they caused him.Stadium Arcadium (2006) continued the themes of love and romance; Kiedis said, that "love and women, pregnancies and marriages, relationship struggles—those are real and profound influences on this record. And it's great, because it wasn't just me writing about the fact that I'm in love. It was everybody in the band. We were brimming with energy based on falling in love."[246]I'm with You (2011) again featured Kiedis writing about the loss of a close friend, this time in the song "Brendan's Death Song", a tribute to club ownerBrendan Mullen who gave the band some of their earliest shows and showed support to them throughout their career.
Themes within Kiedis' repertoire include love and friendship,[247][248] teenage angst, good-time aggression,[249] various sexual topics and the link between sex and music, political and social commentary (Native American issues in particular),[250] romance,[247][251][252] loneliness,[253] globalization and the cons of fame and Hollywood,[254] poverty, drugs, alcohol, dealing with death, and California.[103]
Kiedis said the Red Hot Chili Peppers were early to combine "hardcore funk and hip-hop-style vocals", and suggested that they had influencedLimp Bizkit,Kid Rock andLinkin Park.[267] Smith said, "Certainly Anthony's singing style and voice lends itself to being unique, and nobody sounds like him. The cool thing about it is we can play any style of music whether it's hard and fast, or loud or quiet, slow or medium, whatever it is; rock or funk, and it still sounds like us. I'm proud of that because sometimes bands don't have that strong personality where you go, 'Oh, that's boom, right away.'"[268]
In 2004, the Australian songwriterNick Cave said: "I'm forever near a stereo saying, 'What the fuck is this garbage?' And the answer is always the Red Hot Chili Peppers." The line is widely quoted in criticism of the band; Flea, a fan of Cave, wrote that it had hurt him. In 2025, Cave wrote an apology on his website, saying it was "an offhand and somewhat uncharitable remark" with "no malice intended", and announced that he and Flea had recently collaborated.[269][270]
Awards and recognition
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012. The induction lineup was Kiedis, Flea, Smith, Klinghoffer, Frusciante, Slovak (represented by his brother James), Irons, and Martinez. Frusciante was invited, but did not attend.[128] Navarro and Sherman were not inducted; Sherman said that he felt "dishonored".[271] The band performed "By the Way", "Give It Away" and "Higher Ground", which included Irons and Martinez on drums. It was the first time Kiedis and Flea had performed with Irons in more than 20 years.[272]
In September 2005, the band performed "Under the Bridge" at theReAct Now: Music & Relief benefit which was held to raise money for the victims ofHurricane Katrina.[284] The live event raised about $30 million.[285] In July 2007, the band performed on behalf of former U.S. Vice PresidentAl Gore who invited the band to perform at the London version of hisLive Earth concerts which were held to raise awareness towardsglobal warming and solving the most criticalenvironmental issues of our time.[286] The band performed a free concert in downtownCleveland, Ohio in April 2012 in support of President Obama's re-election campaign. The requirement for getting into the concert was agreeing to volunteer for the Obama 2012 phone bank. The event quickly met its capacity limit after being announced.[287]
In May 2013, the band performed a concert inPortland, Oregon for theDalai Lama as part of the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit.[288][289] In January 2015, they performed their first show of the new year for theSean Penn & Friends Help Haiti Home fundraiser in support of theJ/P Haitian Relief Organization.[290] In September 2015, the band joined more than 120 other entertainers and celebrities to formally endorseBernie Sanders for president during the Democratic primary ahead of the2016 presidential election.[291][292] The band performed at a fundraiser event at the Belly Up Tavern inSolana Beach, California in the same month and the money was donated to A Reason To Survive (ARTS), Heartbeat Music Academy, San Diego Young Artists Music Academy, and theSilverlake Conservatory of Music.[293] In October, Kiedis and Flea hosted the annual benefit for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. The band performed a special rare acoustic set.[294]
In February 2016, the band headlined a fundraiser concert in support of Sanders.[295] In April, they performed at a private function on behalf ofFacebook andNapster founderSean Parker for his launch of The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.[296] Smith andWill Ferrell hosted theRed Hot Benefit Comedy + Music Show & Quinceanera in the same month. The benefit featured a performance by the Chili Peppers along with comedy acts selected by Ferrell andFunny or Die. A portion of the proceeds went to Ferrell's Cancer for College and Smith's Silverlake Conservatory of Music southwest ofGlendale.[297] In February 2018, Smith again joined Ferrell at his One Classy Night benefit at theMoore Theatre inSeattle to help raise money for Cancer for College. The event raised $300,000 in college scholarship money for students who have survived cancer.[298]
Both Flea and Chad Smith have started their own music schools and foundations. Flea opened/founded the "Silverlake Conservatory of Music" in 2001 and Smith started the "Chad Smith Foundation" in August 2025 that provides music equipment, education and scholarships to children.[299]
Conviction and sexual harassment
On April 21, 1989, Kiedis was convicted of sexual battery and indecent exposure after a concert atGeorge Mason University inFairfax, Virginia. He exposed himself and pressed his penis to a woman's face against her wishes.[300] He was fined $1,000 on each charge.[301] In 1990, Kiedis said the incident was "blown way out of proportion by both the media and the prosecution", and was merely "a playful thing that happened backstage" with no intent of harm.[301]
In 1990, Flea and Smith were arrested on charges of battery inDaytona Beach, Florida, at aspring break performance forMTV. Flea was also charged with disorderly conduct and solicitation to commit an unnatural and lascivious act. Flea picked up a 20-year-old woman and threw her into the sand, while Smith forcibly removed her bathing suit and slapped her buttocks.[302] Flea allegedly demanded that she perform oral sex on him before both he and Smith were removed by security.[303] After the arrest, theState University of New York at New Paltz canceled a Chili Peppers concert.[301] Flea and Smith pled guilty to all charges. They were each sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine, plus $300 to the State Attorney's Office for prosecution costs and $5,000 to theVolusia County Rape Crisis Center, and ordered to write letters of apology to the woman.[304] In a 1992Rolling Stone interview, Flea said: "I wish I'd never done it, and it was a really stupid thing to do. I was out of control. But I did not assault anybody, and it was not sexual. It had nothing to do with sex."[305]
In 2016, Julie Farman, a former music executive, alleged that two members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers pressed themselves against her and "told me about all of the ways we could make a super sexy sandwich" after a meeting with them atEpic Records in 1990.[306]
^abcd"With their unique fusion of funk with hard rock and their shirtless macho posturing, the Chili Peppers laid the groundwork for today's nu-metal and rap metal." 08/2002 —Guitar World
^Simpson, Dave (February 14, 2003)."It's great to go straight".The Guardian. UK.Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. RetrievedAugust 15, 2008.
^"Saunalahti.fi" setlists. "Saunalahti.fi" (Red Hot Chili Peppers'site). Retrieved July 2, 2016. Setlist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' concert performing "Christine" (a Siouxsie and the Banshees cover) on August 19, 2001, V2001 Hylands Park Chelmsford, Essex UK.
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