Red Hot Chili Peppers For the band’s eponymous debut album, see The Red was replaced after a few weeks by Dave Navarro of Jane’s Hot Chili Peppers (album). Addiction for their subsequent album, One Hot Minute “RHCP” redirects here. For right handed circularly (1995). Although commercially successful, the album polarized waves, see Polarization (waves). failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, selling less than half as much as its pre- [2] Red Hot Chili Peppers (also sometimes shortened to decessor. Navarro was fired from the band in 1998. Frusciante, fresh out of drug rehabilitation, rejoined the "The Chili Peppers" or abbreviated as "RHCP") are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. band that same year at Flea’s request. The reunited The group’s musical style primarily consists of rock with quartet returned to the studio to record Californication an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other (1999), which became the band’s biggest commercial suc- genres such as punk rock and psychedelic rock. When cess with 16 million copies worldwide. That album was played live, their music incorporates elements of jam followed three years later by By the Way (2002), and then band due to the improvised nature of much of their per- four years later by the double album Stadium Arcadium formances. Currently, the band consists of founding (2006), their first number one album in America. Af- members Anthony Kiedis (vocals) and Flea (bass), long- ter a world tour, the group went on an extended hiatus. time drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Josh Klinghof- Frusciante announced he was amicably leaving the band fer, who joined in late 2009, replacing John Frusciante. in 2009 to focus on his solo career. Josh Klinghoffer, Red Hot Chili Peppers have won seven Grammy Awards, who had worked both as a sideman for the band on their and have become one of the best-selling bands of all time, Stadium Arcadium tour and on Frusciante’s solo projects, selling over 80 million records worldwide.[1] In 2012, joined as lead guitarist shortly after Frusciante’s depar- they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ture and the band spent the next year and a half recording their tenth studio album, I'm with You, which was released The band’s original line-up featured guitarist Hillel Slo- in 2011 and topped the charts in 18 different countries vak and drummer Jack Irons, alongside Kiedis and Flea. and included a world tour which lasted until April 2013. Because of commitments to other bands, Slovak and The band quickly followed up that tour a month later with Irons did not play on the band’s debut album, The Red another tour lasting into mid-2014 and that included an Hot Chili Peppers (1984). Cliff Martinez was the drum- appearance with Bruno Mars as a part of the halftime mer for the first two records (Irons played on the third), performance at Super Bowl XLVIII, a performance that and guitarist Jack Sherman played on the first. Slovak was viewed by a record 115.3 million viewers. The band performed on the second and third albums by the band, started recording their eleventh studio album in January Freaky Styley (1985) and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan 2015 with producer Danger Mouse replacing longtime (1987); he died of a heroin overdose in 1988. As a re- producer Rick Rubin however due to an injury suffered sult of the death of his friend, drummer Irons chose to by Flea, production was delayed for over six months and depart from the group. Parliament-Funkadelic guitarist resumed in August 2015. The album is expected to be DeWayne McKnight was brought in to replace Slovak, released in 2016. though his tenure was short and he was replaced by Frus- ciante in 1988. Former Dead Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro was brought in to replace Irons. his tenure, too, was short and he was replaced by Chad Smith that same 1 History year. The line-up of Flea, Kiedis, Frusciante and Smith was the longest-lasting, and recorded five studio albums starting with 1989’s Mother’s Milk. In 1990, the group 1.1 Early history (1983–1984) signed with Warner Bros. Records and, under producer Rick Rubin, recorded the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by (1991), which became the band’s first commercial suc- Fairfax High School classmates singer Anthony Kiedis, cess. Frusciante grew uncomfortable with the success of guitarist Hillel Slovak, bassist Flea and drummer Jack [3] the band and left abruptly in 1992, in the middle of the Irons. Originally going under the band name of Tony Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour. Flow and the Majestic Masters of Mayhem, their first per- formance was at the Rhythm Lounge club to a crowd of After recruiting guitarist Arik Marshall to complete the approximately 30 people, opening for Gary and Neigh- tour, Kiedis, Flea, and Smith employed Jesse Tobias, who bor’s Voices.[4] They “wrote” for the occasion, which in- 1 2 1 HISTORY volved the band improvising music while Kiedis rapped ing it was overly polished and as if it had “gone through a a poem he had written called “Out in L.A.”.[5] At the sterilizing Goody Two-shoes machine”.[13] The album in- time, Slovak and Irons were already committed to an- cluded backing vocals by Gwen Dickey, the singer for the other group, What Is This? however, the performance successful 70’s disco-funk group, Rose Royce and horns was so lively, that the band was asked to return the fol- arraglements doned by Patrick English (trumpet), Kenny lowing week.[4] Due to this unexpected success, the band Flood (tenor sax) and Phil Ranelin (trombone).[14] The changed its name to The Red Hot Chili Peppers, play- band embarked on a grueling tour during which they per- ing several more shows at various LA clubs and musical formed sixty shows in sixty four days. During the tour, venues. Six songs from these initial shows were on the continuing musical and lifestyle tension between Kiedis band’s first demo tape.[6] and Sherman complicated the transition between concert and daily band life.[15] When the tour ended in October In November 1983, manager Lindy Goetz struck a seven album deal with EMI America and Enigma Records. Two 1984, Sherman was fired. Hillel Slovak, who had just quit What Is This?, would re-join the band in early 1985.[16] weeks earlier however, What Is This? had also obtained a record deal with MCA. Slovak and Irons still consid- ered The Red Hot Chili Peppers as only a side project 1.2 Building a following and Slovak’s and so in December 1983 they quit to focus on What Is This?. Instead of dissolving the band, Kiedis and Flea re- death (1985–1988) cruited new members.[7] Cliff Martinez, a friend of Flea’s and member from the punk band, The Weirdos, was the George Clinton produced the next album, Freaky Styley new replacement for Irons. The band held auditions for (1985). Clinton combined various elements of punk and [17] a new guitarist but decided after a few practices that funk into the band’s repertoire, allowing their music Weirdos guitarist Dix Denney didn't fit. Kiedis described to incorporate a variety of distinct styles. The band of- the two final candidates, Mark Nine and Jack Sherman, ten indulged in heavy heroin use while recording the al- respectively as a “hip avant-garde art school refugee” and bum, which influenced the lyrics and musical direction [18] a nerd looking guy with a combed-back Jewfro with an of the album. The band had a much better relation- [19] unknown background. Musically Sherman clicked right ship with Clinton than with Gill, but Freaky Styley, away with Flea and Martinez and was hired as Slovak’s released on August 16, 1985, also achieved little suc- replacement.[8] cess, failing to make an impression on any chart. The subsequent tour was also considered unproductive by the band.[20][21][22] Despite the lack of success, the band was satisfied with Freaky 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.”[23] The band appeared in the 1986 movie Thrashin' (directed by David Winters and starring Josh Brolin) playing the song “Blackeyed Blonde” from Freaky Styley. During this time the band also appeared in the movie Tough Guys starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas performing the song “Set It Straight” at a Los Angeles nightclub.[24] In the spring of 1986, the band decided to begin work on their upcoming album. EMI gave the band a budget of $5,000 to record a demo tape, and the band chose to Founding guitarist Hillel Slovak performing in Philadelphia, work with producer Keith Levene, because he shared the Pennsylvania in 1983. band’s interest in drugs.[25] Levene and Slovak decided to put aside $2,000 of the budget to spend on heroin and The band released their eponymous debut album, The cocaine, which created tension between the band mem- Red Hot Chili Peppers on August 10, 1984. Though the bers. Martinez' “heart was no longer in the band”, but he album did not set sales records, airplay on college radio did not quit, so Kiedis and Flea fired him.[26] After the and MTV helped to build a fan base,[9] and the album firing of Martinez in April 1986, original drummer Jack ultimately sold 300,000 copies.