[Jack.]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk rock, metal, and psychedelic rock. The band consists of founding members Anthony Kiedis (vocals) and Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), longtime drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who joined in late 2009, following the departure of John Frusciante. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have won seven Grammy Awards and sold over 65 million albums worldwide.

The band's original line-up featured guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. Because of commitments to other bands, the two did not play on the debut album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Cliff Martinez was the drummer for the first two records, and guitarist Jack Sherman played on the first album only. Slovak performed on two albums with the band, Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan; he died of a heroin overdose in 1988, resulting in Irons' departure. Parliament-Funkadelic guitarist, DeWayne McKnight was brought in to replace Slovak though his tenure was short and he was replaced by John Frusciante in 1988. Former Dead Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro was brought in to replace Irons though after a short tenure with the band he was out and replaced by Chad Smith that same 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 signed with Warner Bros. Records and recorded under producer Rick Rubin the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991), which became the band's first commercial success. Frusciante grew uncomfortable with the success of the band and left abruptly in 1992, in the middle of the album tour. His use of heroin increased. After recruiting guitarist Arik Marshall to complete the tour, Kiedis, Flea, and Smith employed Jesse Tobias though after a few weeks he was replaced by Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction for their subsequent album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although commercially successful, the album failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, selling less than half as well as its predecessor. Navarro left the band in 1998. Frusciante, fresh out of drug rehabilitation, rejoined the band that same year at Flea's request. The reunited quartet returned to the studio to record Californication (1999), which became the band's biggest commercial success with 15 million copies worldwide. That album was followed three years later by By the Way, and then four years later by the double album Stadium Arcadium, their first number one album in America. After a world tour, the group went on an extended hiatus. Frusciante announced he was amicably leaving the band to focus on his solo career. Josh Klinghoffer, who had worked both as a sideman for the band on their Stadium Arcadium tour and on Frusciante's solo projects, joined as lead guitarist in 2009. Klinghoffer proceeded to record the band's tenth studio album, I'm with You, in 2011, and the album topped the charts in 18 different countries. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

Present Members

[Volcals] Anthony Kiedis.

QUOTE

Born: November 1, 1962 (Age 49) Lowell, Michigan, USA

[Bass] Michael Balzary.

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Born: October 16, 1962 (Age 49) Burwood, Mellbourne, Australia.

[Drummer] Chad Smith.

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Born: October 25 (Age 50) Minnesota, US.

[Guitarist] Josh Klinghoffer.

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Born: October 3, 1979 (Age 32) Los Angeles, US

Information bought to you by Wikipedia
I am working on this topic so please give me some time before you pile in the hate.

This post has been edited by Jack. on Sunday, Jun 3 2012, 05:13

[Jack.]

Best Songs IMO

Californication



Can't Stop



Dani California



Snow (Ayo)



By The Way



IF YOU LISTEN TO EITHER OF THESE SONGS, YOU WILL LOVE RHCP!

This post has been edited by Jack. on Sunday, Jun 3 2012, 11:44

[TheGreatGig23]

The highlight of the Chili's for me has always been Chad Smith. The rest are amazing musicians but, as a drummer, Chad Smith is a huge influence. His style is unique and addictive, all the while remaining incredibly fun to play. One of the first songs I learnt on the drums was "Scar Tissue", that was around 1999. It's still one of my favourite songs to play, especially the "Live In Hyde Park" version.

As a whole, the Chili's have always been a love of mine, maybe with the exception of "I'm With You". Maybe I haven't given it that much of a chance yet but it just doesn't go down well with me. A couple of songs are pretty good but apart from that the album seems to lack the love they've put into other albums (just my opinion). Aside from that one, I love nearly everything they've made. Their albums always have an individual feel to them and they never feel as if the band has just gone "You know what? f*ck it, I can't be arsed!".

On another note, John Frusciante has also been an influence to me. I started learning guitar a while ago and garnered a whole new level of appreciation for the man. His playing has some real depth and feeling to it. I learnt the solo for "Scar Tissue" and was amazed at how something so simple can sound so dramatic and full-on. He once said something along the lines of "It doesn't matter how it sounds, it's about how you feel when you play it". This little sentence has changed the way I play any instrument and has made me realise that my level of skill doesn't really matter, it's what I get out of playing that's important.

[Craig]

Ehhh... okay, I'm going to be as un-biased as I can.

This band, to me, is the band everybody likes before they grow their own music taste. That isn't to say that they're dropped as soon as other bands have been discovered, but RHCP are a gateway into so many aspects of popular music that would be otherwise difficult to get into, such as funk, funk metal and alternative rock as a whole. When I was around 15 or 16 I quite liked them, hammering Stadium Arcadium in particular. It was probably the album that got the most exposure from their discography from the past 5 or 6 years, excluding the massively popular By The Way single which seemed to propel them from lost Californication waters into big hitters once again.

From RHCP, I veered into more funk territory. Others wouldn't, some would, but I went onto Parliament, George Clinton, Ohio Players, Sly & The Family Stone, Funkadelic and eventually Buckethead, who is still one of my favourite musicians (and incidentally, applied for the position of replacement guitarist for RHCP back in the late 90s). In a way, I have to cite RHCP as a big influence, whether I still like their music or not. When I heard about their new album, I'm With You, I was hoping for something fresh and exciting thanks to the introduction of a new guitarist but it wasn't to be unfortunately.

One thing that always annoyed me (even when I liked them) about RHCP was Keidis' vocals, both content and actual sound. Every time I hear him now, all I can hear is "GOT DAMN, WUBBA WUBBA WUBBA ON MA CALIFORNIA DICK", though that's an extreme exaggeration. I appreciate what they've done for me in terms of finding new (or old) music, but that's as far as it goes now.

I'm also in the group that considers Frusciante to be the better guitarist, and I don't think the band will be the same without him.

[El_Diablo]

QUOTE (Craig @ Saturday, Jun 2 2012, 10:59)

This band, to me, is the band everybody likes before they grow their own music taste.

yeah it's a good thing you added the "to me" caveat.
because I don't think that statements holds any water.

sure, maybe to you it was a band that introduced you to other things that you liked more.
to most of their fans I'm sure that statement could not possibly be more false.

I've seen the Chilli Peppers live. once in Chicago, once in St. Louis.
people of all ages in the crowd. I doubt they're all at the show just because they haven't grown their own musical tastes yet

[Jack.]

PAGE UPDATED!

If someone could help me put those videos up on the page instead of just the link it would be appreciated

[Craig]

QUOTE (El_Diablo @ Sunday, Jun 3 2012, 05:54)

QUOTE (Craig @ Saturday, Jun 2 2012, 10:59) This band, to me, is the band everybody likes before they grow their own music taste. yeah it's a good thing you added the "to me" caveat. because I don't think that statements holds any water.

I'd never try and pass a musical opinion off as fact. I respect them and get how they could be someone's favourite band, it's just how I feel.

[Digital Murders]

QUOTE (Craig @ Saturday, Jun 2 2012, 11:59)

This band, to me, is the band everybody likes before they grow their own music taste.

Strange, it was the opposite for me. I never liked RHCP growing up, but after listening to Stadium Arcadium while on a trip to Canada, particularly the song "Desecration Smile", something clicked.

I'm not a huge fan of funk, although I do enjoy their more funk laden tunes of their earlier records (Good time boys, apache rose peacock), but my erogenous zone is pleasured by their more mellow songs. You'll be hard pressed to find a better sound other than when Kiedis and Frusciante harmonize.

Which brings me to "I'm With You". As Greatgig mentioned, each record has a different feel and this one is no exception. I think Klinghoffer is a suitable guitarist for the job, but without the magic Frusciante brings to the band some of the songs just seem flat and uninspired. But by no means do I think "I'm With You" is a bad record, it just seems like the band only put their toe in the water and were afraid to just dive in with the new material. Songs like Brendan's Death Song, Look Around, Did I Let You Know, Even You Brutus and Meet Me At The Corner are excellent songs and fit seamlessly into their back catalogue and shows a good amount of progression in their style. With the others, it seemed like they held something back that could have made this record something great. "I'm With You" is definitely a grower.

With all this said, I can't wait to see them live for the first time! Totally excitebike.

[Tyler]

Frusciante's solo albums are worth a listen if all you guys like him as much as you say. I started out as a big RHCP in middle school thanks to a friend I had back then, then ventured into John's solo work in 10th grade. Absolutely love it. Shadows Collide With People is his most accessible album. Definitely recommend it to any of you.

[TheGreatGig23]

QUOTE (Digital Murders @ Sunday, Jun 3 2012, 17:47)

But by no means do I think "I'm With You" is a bad record, it just seems like the band only put their toe in the water and were afraid to just dive in with the new material.

Completely agree, man. It's a good album but, as you say, it seems like they held back a bit. Klinghoffer is an excellent musician and I really hope they unleash the new-found energy in their next album. The harmonies you talked about between Keidis and Frusciante are spot on. They found a common element and used it beautifully.

As for Frusciante's solo stuff, I must admit that it's perhaps too "avant garde" for my tastes. I'd say it's a bit of an acquired taste. Shadows Collide With People is a brilliant album but I really have to be in a certain mindset to listen to it and that's very rarely I'm afraid.

Also, with regards to the Chili's being a band people listen to before they get into music, I can see where you're coming from but, to me at least, they're a band that got me into music but have also stayed with me throughout. When I was younger I loved Californication and not much else. As I grew up, I learned to appreciate their other stuff and eventually found that By The Way was one of the greatest albums I had ever heard (it still remains in my top ten). But I do agree with you one some level because my sister has followed a similar path. She started listening to them and immediately came to me asking for either more of them or something similar. Now she's into some really great music but particularly loves classic rock which just goes to show the elements that the Chili's bring to their music.

[darthYENIK]

RHCP is like comfort food. They're classic.

I definitely agree with the Frusciante stuff. I was disappointed that he didn't show up to the RHCP Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. That thing was a tear jerker, though with Hillel's brother being there in his place. (and I wont get into the Beastie Boys, just days before MCA passed away)