Featured Artist #16: Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Ashtray Girl · 03-18-2005, 09:22 AM

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of those bands these days. Everyone knows their classic ‘Under The Bridge’, and many more could reel off a whole list of hits – ‘Give It Away’, ‘Californication’, ‘Scar Tissue’, ‘Can’t Stop’ – the list goes on.

Music fans the world over have an opinion on them, some love them, others despise them and many more fall somewhere in between. However, whatever your personal opinion may be it is undeniable that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the biggest and most influential bands in the world today.

The band’s story is almost as famous as the music - the mania of their younger days, the infamous ‘socks on cocks’, the death of Hillel Slovak, the collapse of John Frusciante and the band’s resurrection with Californication, it’s a story so ridiculously adventurous and eventful that it is worth hearing almost by itself.

The original members of the Peppers – Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons – all attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. Anthony was an actor and a poet, Michael played the trumpet, Hillel was an aspiring guitarist and Jack played drums. Probably the most initially ambitious, Hillel convinced Michael to play the bass. The two of them then talked Anthony into setting his poems to music, and before long the trio were making music. After the recruitment of Jack Irons they began to play live, in strip clubs across the city, which is where their trademark and somewhat inventive usage of socks came about.

Interest in the group widened and they were signed on to EMI. However, due to another band that both Slovak and Irons were members of, Kiedis and Balzary (now known as Flea) were forced to make their [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=449]self-titled[/url] debut album with another guitarist and drummer and the result was an effort that didn’t really have the energy of the live band, nor the musicianship. Nonetheless, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on their way.

Slovak and Irons soon came back to the band, and with producer George Clinton the band produced two more albums – [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=699]Freaky Styley[/url] and [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1717] The Uplift Mofo Party Plan[/url]. The latter finally got close to showing just how good this band already were, and certainly contained a lot of promise for an even better future. Chart success was round the corner and everyone involved expected the band to have the world at their feet.

Tragically, we can never know what this potent combination of musicians might have achieved, as on June 25th 1988 Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose. Grief drove Irons away and Kiedis and Flea were left with their careers and lives in ruins. Nonetheless, they felt the band was too good to give up, and after a lot of effort and failed attempts the two remaining founding members stumbled upon a youngster named John Frusciante, and a rocker called Chad Smith. They both seemed like unlikely candidates to take this shattered band onto superstardom, but a very creative chemistry was set up between the four members, and the band got to work.

In 1989 they came out fighting with [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=360] Mother’s Milk[/url], dedicated to the memory of Slovak but a fine piece of work in its own right. With the hit singles ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Knock Me Down’, Red Hot Chili Peppers finally began to gain some of the recognition they’d been waiting for.

However, the best was yet to come. In 1991 they found a new, innovative producer in the form of Rick Rubin, and they holed themselves up in a Californian mansion to produce what is considered by many to be their finest work – [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=1610] Blood Sugar Sex Magik[/url]. One of the first classic albums of the Nineties, this defined a generation with songs like ‘Give It Away’ and their hugely successful ballad ‘Under The Bridge’. The rest went down in rock history – John Frusciante quit the band due to the pressures of fame, they hired Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction to record [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=484] One Hot Minute[/url]. This was less commercially successful, and many pronounced the band’s collective career over, although today more and more people are re-examining the album and seeing it in a more objective light.

The band’s fortunes took a dramatic turn yet again when the band managed to persuade Frusciante to make music with them one more time. Rejuvenated, the band spectacularly managed to produce [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=356] Californication[/url] – impressive by anyone’s standards and sent a clear message out to the world – the Peppers were back and they planned on staying.

Since then this band have had the Midas touch – they can sell out huge venues, shift ridiculous numbers of albums and have the fame to do whatever they want. They’ve released one more studio album since Californication – [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=234] By The Way[/url], a much more soulful and melodic record than all of their previous offerings, which seemed to indicate that this is a band still only getting started.

As they walk into the recording studio once again this week, who can imagine where they intend to go next?

With such a huge fanbase all over the world, the question that naturally arises is ‘what makes this band so good?’. Of course, there is no simple answer to that question, but the band really does have a lot of appeal to disparate people on many different levels.

They blended funk, rap and rock in a way that’s never been so commercially viable before or since. With legendary live shows and songs that sound like no one else this band is something quite unique. They’ve covered such huge ground over their careers it would seem almost impossible not to find a single Red Hot Chili Peppers song that appealed to you. There are the bittersweet, gorgeous ballads such as ‘Under The Bridge’, ‘I Could Have Lied’, ‘Scar Tissue’ and ‘Dosed’, the funk rock anthems such as ‘Suck My Kiss’, ‘Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky’, ‘Around The World and ‘Can’t Stop’ and the song writing master classes of ‘Californication’, ‘By The Way’ and ‘Venice Queen’.

Of course, they’re not for everyone. Some of the earlier fans can’t stand their latest work, others detest everything before Frusciante rejoined the band. Then there are those who have never liked the band, and probably never will.

For others, however, Red Hot Chili Peppers can represent something very special and significant in their lives. Most fans have stories about how the music connected with them, how they made an impact on their lives and how they introduced them to yet more music.

As a huge fan myself, it’s difficult to put into words quite what the band means to me. Without By The Way it would have taken me an awful lot longer to develop my tastes beyond Dido and Coldplay. Without ‘Dosed’ I don’t know how I would have got through one of the toughest periods of my early teenage years. Without the link to other people the music provided me with, I don’t know whether I’d have any of the amazing friends I have today.

To say that this band can change your life may seem a little excessive, but I’m sure I’m not the only one when I say that the various members of Red Hot Chili Peppers have more influence over my life up until this point than a lot of people that I know in my day-to-day life. The two times I have been to the concerts have been some of the most joyful times of my life.

The Records:

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Freaky Styley
The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Mother’s Milk
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
One Hot Minute
Californication
By The Way

[url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=305] What Hits?![/url]
[url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1248] Greatest Hits and Videos[/url]

Live In Hyde Park

Out In LA

Dragon_Prince · 03-18-2005, 09:31 AM

Very good band, but aren't they considered rock

and not other music

and nice uhh how you call it, essay or something :P

johan4291 · 03-18-2005, 01:10 PM

Their older material is better then anything since John's return.

IAJP · 03-18-2005, 01:29 PM

Good work, brilliant FA

thickasabrick · 03-18-2005, 01:41 PM

Great job! I love the Chili Peppers. I think Frusciante was/is the perfect guitarist for that band. Blood Sugar Sex Magik is an awesome album. Although I like all of them.

What does everyone think of their cover of Bob Dylans 'Subterrenean Homesick Blues' on The Uplift Mofo Party Plan? I was quite surpised myself. Both in good and bad ways.

Romanticide · 03-19-2005, 02:49 AM

good job dude, yeah the chilis are just awesome

and they're just ridiculously awesome live.

blue3 · 03-19-2005, 04:52 PM

Great FA.. Red Hot Chili Peppers is a great band

Happymeal · 03-19-2005, 09:06 PM

I'm not too big on them, but Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a really good album.

Great job Ashtray

***YDload*** · 03-19-2005, 10:17 PM

This is a great band that went from pure funk, to funk rock, to pure rock. A strange journey with some great music along the way. Flea is one of the most influential newer bassists and probably the most talented one you would see on MTV in recent years.

My favorite song of theirs is "Stone Cold Bush," especially the performance on SNL.

br3ad_man · 03-20-2005, 01:30 AM

Cool. I'm not big on them either, but they have some really really good songs.

*Dave de Sylvia* · 03-20-2005, 08:52 AM

Nice write-up. RHCP was probably the biggest disappointment I've had in seeing a live band, but I still like quite a few tunes.

JPolak · 03-21-2005, 06:16 AM

have heard good things from friends who saw them in dublin '04 (I think!) love blood sugar sex magic and californication. Early material best. Flea awesome. Ashtray girl is correct - there is something very 'very' good about this band. Maybe further musical development.

JPolak · 03-21-2005, 06:18 AM

P.S. sir psycho, apache rose peacock, road trippin' r top songs. I am a bassist and play most californication/blood sugar tunes.

canadian psycho · 03-22-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Slovak and Irons soon came back to the band, and with producer George Clinton the band produced two more albums – Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.

I believe that cliff martinez was the drummer on the freaky styley album. just thought I'd bring that to your attension. other than that, good job.

The Ashtray Girl · 03-23-2005, 11:46 AM

I knew I'd get something wrong.

mikesamuels · 03-23-2005, 11:54 AM

chilis r amazing live

death2zombies · 03-24-2005, 08:01 AM

what genre are they egzactamont?

indiabands · 03-24-2005, 09:57 AM

This is a promotional message.

The Unseen Guest
http://www.unseenguest.com

Debut Album "Out There" out in record stores all over Europe on April 11, 2005. "Out There" is the very first release by a new record label - TUITION RECORDS, a division of SCHOTT MUSIC & MEDIA, Germany.

~~EightMilesHigh~~ · 03-25-2005, 05:54 PM

Great FA, my favorite non-classic rock band. Californication is one of the most amazing albums I own, and I might be getting BSSM tomorrow. Long live the Chilis

justinjak13 · 03-25-2005, 09:34 PM

Chilis are by far my favorite band. Anthony is underrated as a singer, and a great song writer. John is one of the best guitarists around today, chad is a very good drummer, although he doesn't really "show off" his skills that much. Flea plays the perfect bassline for every song.

03-20-2005, 08:52 AM	#11
Dave de Sylvia morrissey improved Sputnik ModAdmin Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 33,045	Nice write-up. RHCP was probably the biggest disappointment I've had in seeing a live band, but I still like quite a few tunes. __________________ DIVA spelled backwards is AVID "Hey, if you put one guitarist’s head on one side of a coin and the other guitarist’s head on the other side of the coin, you would have a double-sided coin!"
	Digging: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine

03-24-2005, 09:57 AM	#18
indiabands Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1	The Unseen Guest This is a promotional message. The Unseen Guest http://www.unseenguest.com Debut Album "Out There" out in record stores all over Europe on April 11, 2005. "Out There" is the very first release by a new record label - TUITION RECORDS, a division of SCHOTT MUSIC & MEDIA, Germany.

03-25-2005, 05:54 PM	#19
~~EightMilesHigh~~ Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: because sleep is the cousin of death Posts: 19,811	Great FA, my favorite non-classic rock band. Californication is one of the most amazing albums I own, and I might be getting BSSM tomorrow. Long live the Chilis
	Digging: Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below

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03-18-2005, 09:22 AM	#1
The Ashtray Girl Catastrophe Waitress Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Great Gig In The Sky Posts: 2,483	Featured Artist #16: Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of those bands these days. Everyone knows their classic ‘Under The Bridge’, and many more could reel off a whole list of hits – ‘Give It Away’, ‘Californication’, ‘Scar Tissue’, ‘Can’t Stop’ – the list goes on. Music fans the world over have an opinion on them, some love them, others despise them and many more fall somewhere in between. However, whatever your personal opinion may be it is undeniable that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the biggest and most influential bands in the world today. The band’s story is almost as famous as the music - the mania of their younger days, the infamous ‘socks on cocks’, the death of Hillel Slovak, the collapse of John Frusciante and the band’s resurrection with Californication, it’s a story so ridiculously adventurous and eventful that it is worth hearing almost by itself. The original members of the Peppers – Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons – all attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. Anthony was an actor and a poet, Michael played the trumpet, Hillel was an aspiring guitarist and Jack played drums. Probably the most initially ambitious, Hillel convinced Michael to play the bass. The two of them then talked Anthony into setting his poems to music, and before long the trio were making music. After the recruitment of Jack Irons they began to play live, in strip clubs across the city, which is where their trademark and somewhat inventive usage of socks came about. Interest in the group widened and they were signed on to EMI. However, due to another band that both Slovak and Irons were members of, Kiedis and Balzary (now known as Flea) were forced to make their [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=449]self-titled[/url] debut album with another guitarist and drummer and the result was an effort that didn’t really have the energy of the live band, nor the musicianship. Nonetheless, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were on their way. Slovak and Irons soon came back to the band, and with producer George Clinton the band produced two more albums – [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=699]Freaky Styley[/url] and [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1717] The Uplift Mofo Party Plan[/url]. The latter finally got close to showing just how good this band already were, and certainly contained a lot of promise for an even better future. Chart success was round the corner and everyone involved expected the band to have the world at their feet. Tragically, we can never know what this potent combination of musicians might have achieved, as on June 25th 1988 Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose. Grief drove Irons away and Kiedis and Flea were left with their careers and lives in ruins. Nonetheless, they felt the band was too good to give up, and after a lot of effort and failed attempts the two remaining founding members stumbled upon a youngster named John Frusciante, and a rocker called Chad Smith. They both seemed like unlikely candidates to take this shattered band onto superstardom, but a very creative chemistry was set up between the four members, and the band got to work. In 1989 they came out fighting with [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=360] Mother’s Milk[/url], dedicated to the memory of Slovak but a fine piece of work in its own right. With the hit singles ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Knock Me Down’, Red Hot Chili Peppers finally began to gain some of the recognition they’d been waiting for. However, the best was yet to come. In 1991 they found a new, innovative producer in the form of Rick Rubin, and they holed themselves up in a Californian mansion to produce what is considered by many to be their finest work – [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=1610] Blood Sugar Sex Magik[/url]. One of the first classic albums of the Nineties, this defined a generation with songs like ‘Give It Away’ and their hugely successful ballad ‘Under The Bridge’. The rest went down in rock history – John Frusciante quit the band due to the pressures of fame, they hired Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction to record [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=484] One Hot Minute[/url]. This was less commercially successful, and many pronounced the band’s collective career over, although today more and more people are re-examining the album and seeing it in a more objective light. The band’s fortunes took a dramatic turn yet again when the band managed to persuade Frusciante to make music with them one more time. Rejuvenated, the band spectacularly managed to produce [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=356] Californication[/url] – impressive by anyone’s standards and sent a clear message out to the world – the Peppers were back and they planned on staying. Since then this band have had the Midas touch – they can sell out huge venues, shift ridiculous numbers of albums and have the fame to do whatever they want. They’ve released one more studio album since Californication – [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=234] By The Way[/url], a much more soulful and melodic record than all of their previous offerings, which seemed to indicate that this is a band still only getting started. As they walk into the recording studio once again this week, who can imagine where they intend to go next? With such a huge fanbase all over the world, the question that naturally arises is ‘what makes this band so good?’. Of course, there is no simple answer to that question, but the band really does have a lot of appeal to disparate people on many different levels. They blended funk, rap and rock in a way that’s never been so commercially viable before or since. With legendary live shows and songs that sound like no one else this band is something quite unique. They’ve covered such huge ground over their careers it would seem almost impossible not to find a single Red Hot Chili Peppers song that appealed to you. There are the bittersweet, gorgeous ballads such as ‘Under The Bridge’, ‘I Could Have Lied’, ‘Scar Tissue’ and ‘Dosed’, the funk rock anthems such as ‘Suck My Kiss’, ‘Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky’, ‘Around The World and ‘Can’t Stop’ and the song writing master classes of ‘Californication’, ‘By The Way’ and ‘Venice Queen’. Of course, they’re not for everyone. Some of the earlier fans can’t stand their latest work, others detest everything before Frusciante rejoined the band. Then there are those who have never liked the band, and probably never will. For others, however, Red Hot Chili Peppers can represent something very special and significant in their lives. Most fans have stories about how the music connected with them, how they made an impact on their lives and how they introduced them to yet more music. As a huge fan myself, it’s difficult to put into words quite what the band means to me. Without By The Way it would have taken me an awful lot longer to develop my tastes beyond Dido and Coldplay. Without ‘Dosed’ I don’t know how I would have got through one of the toughest periods of my early teenage years. Without the link to other people the music provided me with, I don’t know whether I’d have any of the amazing friends I have today. To say that this band can change your life may seem a little excessive, but I’m sure I’m not the only one when I say that the various members of Red Hot Chili Peppers have more influence over my life up until this point than a lot of people that I know in my day-to-day life. The two times I have been to the concerts have been some of the most joyful times of my life. The Records: Red Hot Chili Peppers Freaky Styley The Uplift Mofo Party Plan Mother’s Milk Blood Sugar Sex Magik One Hot Minute Californication By The Way [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=305] What Hits?![/url] [url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=1248] Greatest Hits and Videos[/url] Live In Hyde Park Out In LA

03-18-2005, 09:31 AM	#2
Dragon_Prince Baba O'Riley Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 896	Very good band, but aren't they considered rock and not other music and nice uhh how you call it, essay or something :P

03-18-2005, 01:10 PM	#3
johan4291 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1	Their older material is better then anything since John's return.

03-18-2005, 01:29 PM	#4
IAJP M1 NGC 1952 Elite Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Liverpool, England. Posts: 6,155	Good work, brilliant FA

03-18-2005, 01:41 PM	#5
thickasabrick but does it swing? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With my Les Paul Posts: 9,924	Great job! I love the Chili Peppers. I think Frusciante was/is the perfect guitarist for that band. Blood Sugar Sex Magik is an awesome album. Although I like all of them. What does everyone think of their cover of Bob Dylans 'Subterrenean Homesick Blues' on The Uplift Mofo Party Plan? I was quite surpised myself. Both in good and bad ways.

03-19-2005, 02:49 AM	#6
Romanticide Get FOOONKY!!! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 905	good job dude, yeah the chilis are just awesome and they're just ridiculously awesome live.

03-19-2005, 04:52 PM	#7
blue3 ready to crash & burn Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada. Posts: 6,115	Great FA.. Red Hot Chili Peppers is a great band

03-19-2005, 09:06 PM	#8
Happymeal C'mon Son Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 6,590	I'm not too big on them, but Blood Sugar Sex Magik is a really good album. Great job Ashtray

03-19-2005, 10:17 PM	#9
*YDload* 凸[◣_◢]凸 Supermod Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: ~you're in my web now~ Posts: 25,505	This is a great band that went from pure funk, to funk rock, to pure rock. A strange journey with some great music along the way. Flea is one of the most influential newer bassists and probably the most talented one you would see on MTV in recent years. My favorite song of theirs is "Stone Cold Bush," especially the performance on SNL.

03-20-2005, 01:30 AM	#10
br3ad_man out of touch Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 14,634	Cool. I'm not big on them either, but they have some really really good songs.

03-21-2005, 06:16 AM	#12
JPolak Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13	have heard good things from friends who saw them in dublin '04 (I think!) love blood sugar sex magic and californication. Early material best. Flea awesome. Ashtray girl is correct - there is something very 'very' good about this band. Maybe further musical development.

03-21-2005, 06:18 AM	#13
JPolak Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13	P.S. sir psycho, apache rose peacock, road trippin' r top songs. I am a bassist and play most californication/blood sugar tunes.

03-23-2005, 11:46 AM	#15
The Ashtray Girl Catastrophe Waitress Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Great Gig In The Sky Posts: 2,483	I knew I'd get something wrong.

03-23-2005, 11:54 AM	#16
mikesamuels mikesanuels Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: soton Posts: 2	chilis r amazing live

03-24-2005, 08:01 AM	#17
death2zombies the master Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5	what genre are they egzactamont?

03-25-2005, 09:34 PM	#20
justinjak13 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 108	Chilis are by far my favorite band. Anthony is underrated as a singer, and a great song writer. John is one of the best guitarists around today, chad is a very good drummer, although he doesn't really "show off" his skills that much. Flea plays the perfect bassline for every song.