The Red Hot Chili Peppers created a coherence between punk, funk, rock and rap, becoming one of the most popular and unique bands of our time.
They have sold over 60 million albums worldwide. Five of their albums have been certified multi-platinum in the US. They created two albums in the nineties, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991) and Californication (1999), and one of the most ambitious releases of the last 15 years, the two-disc Stadium Arcadium (2006).
Their music ranged from thrash punk funk to hendrick neo-psychedelic rock and melodic, playful Californian pop.
“For all of us to agree on the significance of a piece of music,” bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary noted, “this piece of music must cover all blood types, all seasons and all four corners of the globe.”
The Peppers also rank highly among rock's finest live performances, which Flea called "a whirlwind of spontaneous anarchy encapsulated in a cosmic hardcore soul desire".
Their live performances have a special physics that liberates both the band and the listeners. “I hit specifically,” vocalist Anthony Kiedis told writer Steve Roeser. “That's the mark of a good show. When you start bleeding, when your bones stick out, then you know you're putting on a good show."
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have experienced both triumph and tragedy in their 30-year history, rising to the heights of popularity, dealing with drug addiction and the death of a founding member.
Red Hot Chili Peppers: the history of the creation of the team
The Red Hot Chili Peppers had their roots in 1977 when guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons formed a hard rock band in the vein of KISS called Anthym with friends at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.
Flea became their bassist in 1979, while another high school student, Anthony Kiedis, took over as frontman. As their musical sophistication grew, Anthym evolved into What Is This?.
Meanwhile, Kiedis and Flea entered college, got jobs, and began to have other worries. However, they continued to write songs. The guys laid the groundwork for the Red Hot Chili Peppers (1983).
They needed more band members and brought in the guys from What Is This?. The invitation was accepted. For their first performance at a club on the Sunset Strip in LA, they used the name Tony Flow & the Miraculous Majestic Masters of Mayhem, a testament to their offbeat sense of humor.
History of the name of the group Red Hot Chili Peppers
By choosing the name "Red Hot Chili Peppers", they started their successful journey. They became famous for their naked bodies at the concert, with the exception of one place where they wore long socks.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have signed with EMI Records. The guys from What Is This? didn't appear in RHCP's debut, deciding to focus on their group. As a result, guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez replaced them in The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Andrew Gill is the producer.
RHCP debut album
The band's debut album was produced by Andy Gill (of the British band Gang of Four) and released in 1984. The album originally sold 25 copies. The subsequent tour was a failure, after which Jack Sherman was fired.
The second album Freaky Styley (1985) was produced by George Clinton. It was recorded in Detroit. The release failed to chart and Kiedis fired Cliff Martinez from the group the following year. He was eventually replaced when Jack Irons joined the band.
In 1987, the band released the album Uplift Mofo Party Plan. The record peaked at number 148 on the Billboard Hot 200. This period of the band's history, despite a gradual rise to commercial success, was marred by serious drug problems.
The first steps to the popularity of the group
The album Mother's Milk was released in 1989. The compilation peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 200 and was certified gold.
In 1990, the group was already with Warner Bros. records. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have finally fulfilled their dream. The band's new album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, was recorded in an abandoned mansion. Chad Smith was the only band member who did not live in the house at the time of recording, as he believed he was being stalked. The debut single from the album "Give It Away" won a Grammy Award in 1992. The track Under The Bridge reached number two on the US charts.
Tour of Japan and the fight against drug addiction
In May 1992, John Frusciante left the band during their Japan tour. At the time, he was suffering from drug addiction. He was sometimes replaced by Arik Marshall and Jesse Tobias. Ultimately, they settled on Dave Navarro. After leaving the group, John Frusciante's drug addiction made itself felt. She left the musician without money and in failing health.
In 1998, Navarro left the group. Kiedis was reported to have asked him to leave after he showed up to rehearsal under the influence of drugs.
History of the song Californication
However, in April 1998, Flea spoke to Frusciante and invited him to rejoin the band. The condition was participation in the rehabilitation program. The band reunited and began recording the song that became the legendary Californication.
The Californication album was a huge success. Sold over 15 million copies worldwide. The single "Scar Tissue" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song of 2000. Along with "Californication" and "Otherside", it was a number one hit.
In 2002, the album By the Way was released. The record sold over 700 copies in its first week. It peaked at number two on the Billboard 000. Five singles: By the Way, The Zephyr Song, Can't Stop, Dosed and Universally Speaking are all hits with a capital letter.
Capitalizing on their popularity, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2003. They also released a live DVD Live at Slane Castle and a live album Live in Hyde Park recorded in London.
In 2006, a new album called Stadium Arcadium included 28 tracks. The album debuted at number one in the UK and US. Over a million copies sold in the first week. In July 2007 the RHCPs were included in Live Earth at London's Wembley Stadium. Stadium Arcadium received six Grammy Awards in 2007. The group performed "Snow (Hey Oh)" live at the awards ceremony surrounded by confetti.
Group Red Hot Chili Peppers seisas
After a decade of continuous touring and performing, Frusciante left the band for the second time. In this case, his departure was amicable, as he felt he had accomplished the best he could. The artist wanted to devote his creative forces to a solo career. After touring with the band, Josh Klinghoffer stayed on to replace Frusciante. He appears on the band's 11th studio album "I'm with You" (2011) and "The Getaway" (2016).
Without a doubt, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are a group of survivors who have hit many but never missed a beat. "I think without genuine love for each other, we would have dried up a long time ago as a group," Kiedis remarked of the band's longevity.
In mid-December 2019, on the official Instagram page, the team members confirmed that Josh Klinghoffer was leaving the team.
In the summer of 2020, it became known that the former musician of the band, Jack Sherman, died at the age of 64. The team members expressed their condolences to Jack's relatives.
At the end of April 2021, the musicians announced that they were no longer collaborating with Q Prime. Now the team is managed by Guy Osiri. In the same year, it turned out that the artists were working on a new LP.
On February 4, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released the official music video for their single Black Summer. The release of the LP Unlimited Love is planned for early April 2022. The video was directed by Deborah Chow and produced by Rick Rubin for Unlimited Love.
“Immersion in music is our main goal. We spent an unrealistic number of hours together to bring you a cool album. Our creative antennas are tuned to the divine cosmos. With our album we want to unite people and cheer them up. Each composition of the new album is our facet, reflecting our view of the universe…”.
