Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers
The band playing live in London in 2022. From left: Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante.
The band playing live in London in 2022. From left: Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, John Frusciante.
Background information
Also known asTony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem (1982–1983)
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyRed Hot Chili Peppers discography
Years active1982 (1982)–present
Labels
Members
Past members
Websiteredhotchilipeppers.com Edit this at Wikidata

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982,[1] comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk, punk rock, hard rock, hip hop, and psychedelic rock. Their eclectic range has influenced genres such as funk metal,[2] rap metal,[3] rap rock,[4] and nu metal.[5][3] With over 120 million records sold worldwide, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the top-selling bands of all time.[6] They hold the records for most number-one singles (15), most cumulative weeks at number one (91) and most top-ten songs (28) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.[7] They have won three Grammy Awards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by Kiedis, Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. Due to commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on the band's 1984 self-titled debut album, which instead featured guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff 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 new recruits Frusciante and Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded Mother'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 by Dave Navarro, who appeared on the group's sixth album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although successful, the album failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante and Kiedis struggled with drug addiction throughout the 1990s.

In 1998, following Navarro's departure, Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album, Californication (1999), became their biggest commercial success, with 16 million copies sold worldwide. By the Way (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006) were also successful; Stadium Arcadium was their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Frusciante left again in 2009 to focus on his solo career; he was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who appeared on I'm with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016), before Frusciante rejoined in 2019. They released their 12th and 13th albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen, in 2022.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Funk Metal Music Genre Overview". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "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
  4. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood Sugar Sex Magik Album Review". Pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  5. ^ Petridis, Alexis (June 28, 2008). "Red Hot Chili Peppers, London Arena". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  6. ^ Sherlock, Gemma (October 15, 2021). "Red Hot Chili Peppers world tour 2022 – UK ticket updates". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Bogosian, Dan (May 15, 2020). Red Hot Chili Peppers FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Best-Selling Alternative Band. Backbeat. ISBN 9781493051427. Retrieved September 26, 2021.