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Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers are a Californian rock band who have combined aspects of funk and hip-hop with rock and roll, pioneering funk metal. The band started in 1983.


One critic has summarized their lyrics as "sex, good times, rock and roll and more sex" with some truth, though some of their biggest hits, such as Under The Bridge, have been considerably more introspective. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of their sound is the bass playing of Flea, whose flashy, slap-heavy playing not only provides a groove but is also the source of many musical flourishes. They are also well known for playing bare chested; in fact Flea often goes one step further and performs naked on stage.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' label were originally signed to an EMI subsidiary known as EMI Manhattan. Epic Records offered the band a contract where each member would be paid a million dollars, but through some odd fate, the deal fell through and the Red Hot Chili Peppers signed with Warner Brothers Records. Their breakthrough record Blood Sugar Sex Magik as well as all subsequent records were released on Warner Brothers Records and were produced by Rick Rubin.

Their earlier work was a fusion of funk and punk rock with a party attitude. After the sobering death of guitarist Hillel Slovak, the Red Hot Chili Peppers would also lose Jack Irons, which would lead to the addition of current members, John Frusciante and Chad Smith. It was after the death of Hillel that the band had their most success.

The Chili Peppers currently are recording a new untitled album set to be released during the Spring of 2005.

See also: Chain Reaction, Anthym and What Is This? (bands before Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Contents

Members

The current members of the band are:

  • singer Anthony Kiedis (1982-), who has been a member of the band since its foundation;
  • bass player Michael Balzary, known as "Flea" (1982-), who was also a founding member;
  • guitarist John Frusciante (1989-1992; 1998-), who originally joined the band as an 16-year-old fan whose playing impressed the band, and temporarily left the band during the Japanese leg of the tour in support of 1991 album Blood Sugar Sex Magik; and
  • drummer Chad Smith (1989-).

Other guitarists who have played with the band are;

  • founding guitarist Hillel Slovak (1982; 1985-1988), who died in June 1988 from a heroin overdose
  • Jack Sherman (1982-1985), who played on the first album when Hillel was bound to a different record company
  • Duane 'Blackbird' McKnight (1988-1989), formerly of Funkadelic, who didn't work well with the rest of the band
  • Arik Marshall (1992-1993)
  • Jesse Tobias (1993)
  • Dave Navarro (1993-1998), who joined the band from Jane's Addiction

Other drummers who have played with the band are;

  • founding drummer Jack Irons (1982; 1986-1988), who went on to play with Pearl Jam and has recently released a solo album titled 'Attention Dimension'
  • Cliff Martínez (1982-1985) played on the first and second albums when Jack Irons was bound to a different record company
  • D.H. Peligro (1988-1989), drummer with Dead Kennedys

Discography

Year Title Label
1984 Red Hot Chili Peppers EMI
1985 Freaky Styley EMI
1987 The Uplift Mofo Party Plan EMI
1988 The Abbey Road E.P. EMI-Manhattan
1989 Mother's Milk EMI
1991 Blood Sugar Sex Magik Warner Brothers
1992 What Hits!? (greatest hits) EMI
1994 Out In L.A. (b-sides, rarities) EMI America
1995 One Hot Minute Warner Brothers
1999 Californication Warner Brothers
2002 By the Way WEA
2003 Greatest Hits Warner Brothers
2004 Live in Hyde Park WEA International

Videography

External links

Last updated: 05-06-2005 07:34:25
Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04