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Other legs on this world tour so far include shows in Europe, from mid-April to mid-July 2006, as well as from November to mid-December of the same year, during which they toured with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and played at the festivals T in the Park and Oxegen, and also from late-June to early-July 2007, and in Japan, Australia and New Zealand from mid-late March to mid-April 2007. In January, a show in [[Parc des Princes]] ([[Paris]]) was confirmed; they will play at the [[Roskilde festival]] in [[Denmark]] and also have confirmed a concert at the [[Stadion Śląski]] in [[Chorzów, Poland]], as well as an appearance at the [[Live Earth]] concert on July 7th 2007. It is widely believed that the band will continue their tour, by adding summer dates in the UK in 2007.
Other legs on this world tour so far include shows in Europe, from mid-April to mid-July 2006, as well as from November to mid-December of the same year, during which they toured with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and played at the festivals T in the Park and Oxegen, and also from late-June to early-July 2007, and in Japan, Australia and New Zealand from mid-late March to mid-April 2007. In January, a show in [[Parc des Princes]] ([[Paris]]) was confirmed; they will play at the [[Roskilde festival]] in [[Denmark]] and also have confirmed a concert at the [[Stadion Śląski]] in [[Chorzów, Poland]], as well as an appearance at the [[Live Earth]] concert on July 7th 2007. It is widely believed that the band will continue their tour, by adding summer dates in the UK in 2007.


In late 2006, the Chili Peppers received six [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] nominations: [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] (''Stadium Arcadium''), [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] (''Stadium Arcadium''), [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] ("Dani California"), [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal]] ("Dani California"), Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package (''Stadium Arcadium''), and [[Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video|Best Short Form Music Video]] ("Dani California").<ref> 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List, Grammy.com, http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx</ref> [[Rick Rubin]] also received a [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year|Producer of the Year]] nomination for his work on ''Stadium Arcadium''.<ref> 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List, Grammy.com, http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx</ref>. They won the Grammy in each of these categories except ''Album of the Year'' and ''Best Short Form Music Video'', with Rubin receiving his ''Producer of the Year'' award. The Grammy ceremony included a live performance of "[[Snow ((Hey Oh))]]", their most current single, complete with confetti snow that also can be seen in the music video. [[Image:Grammy2.jpg‎ |250px|thumb|right|John and Anthony at the 2007 [[Grammys]].]]
[[Image:Grammy2.jpg‎ |250px|thumb|right|John and Anthony at the 2007 [[Grammys]].]] In late 2006, the Chili Peppers received six [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] nominations: [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] (''Stadium Arcadium''), [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album|Best Rock Album]] (''Stadium Arcadium''), [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] ("Dani California"), [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal]] ("Dani California"), Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package (''Stadium Arcadium''), and [[Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video|Best Short Form Music Video]] ("Dani California").<ref> 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List, Grammy.com, http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx</ref> [[Rick Rubin]] also received a [[Grammy Award for Producer of the Year|Producer of the Year]] nomination for his work on ''Stadium Arcadium''.<ref> 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List, Grammy.com, http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx</ref>. They won the Grammy in each of these categories except ''Album of the Year'' and ''Best Short Form Music Video'', with Rubin receiving his ''Producer of the Year'' award. The Grammy ceremony included a live performance of "[[Snow ((Hey Oh))]]", their most current single, complete with confetti snow that also can be seen in the music video.


By year's end, Stadium Arcadium was named the number one selling album of the year with over 6 million units sold and also recorded the highest one week in total sales of the year.
By year's end, Stadium Arcadium was named the number one selling album of the year with over 6 million units sold and also recorded the highest one week in total sales of the year.

Revision as of 06:11, 26 February 2007

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a multiple Grammy Award-winning [2] American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983.

Throughout their career, the band has successfully fused various elements of alternative rock, punk, funk, rap, psychedelic rock, heavy metal and in later years pop rock. Known for their past drug use (currently sober) as well as eccentric personalities, the band have become one of the most popular musical acts in the last two decades.

Constant and shakey line up changes in the past have proved problems for the Chili Peppers, with most changes being on guitar and others on drums. Hillel Slovak was their first guitarist and Jack Irons was their first drummer, but when the band signed a deal to EMI they quit to persue their other band, What Is This?, which lead the band to bring in guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez. After releasing their first album with Jack and Cliff, Hillel Slovak rejoined the band for the next two albums and Jack Irons rejoined for the third album. But after Slovak died of a herion overdose, leading to Irons leaving the group, the band brought in former P-Funk guitarist Dwayne McKnight and the Dead Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro before recruiting John Frusciante and Chad Smith. After two more albums Frusciante quit the band and began to dive into an abyss of despair and drugs. After spending time with Arik Marshall and Jesse Tobias, former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro joined. After releasing one album with Dave, the rest of the Chili Peppers reunited with John Frusciante, and after 3 more albums, this line up is still together.

With nine studio albums to their credit, they have collectively sold over 60 million records worldwide. They also hold the record for most number one singles on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart with 11, with an overall total of 81 weeks at number one, which is another record.

Band history

Early history (1983 - 1988)

File:RHCP1986.jpg
A promotional flyer from 1986.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers (originally Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem[3]) were formed after what was supposed to be a one time performance in 1983 by Fairfax High School alumni Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Jack Irons (drums), and Hillel Slovak (guitar). Later in that same year, after becoming a popular draw in the Los Angeles rock scene, they secured a record deal with EMI. Slovak and Irons both had obligations to another band, What Is This?. Consequently, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the band's 1984 debut album, was recorded with replacement members Jack Sherman on guitar and Cliff Martinez on drums. Produced by Gang of Four's Andy Gill. The album did not achieve commercial success. The ensuing tour did not fare much better, with internal fighting between Sherman, Kiedis, and Flea resulting in Sherman's departure, and Hillel Slovak returning.

Parliament-Funkadelic's George Clinton was hired to produce their second album, 1985's Freaky Styley. Cliff Martinez was fired from the band soon after the release of the album, allowing the return of original drummer Jack Irons in early 1986. During this time, drug problems started to become prevalent with the band. At one point Anthony Kiedis was fired from the band due to his heroin addiction, only to rejoin after getting clean. Hillel was also using heroin but managed to keep himself together and stay in the band.

File:EarlyRHCP.jpg
(Left/right) Jack Irons, Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak. Circa 1988.

Their next album, which entered the Billboard Top 200, was 1987's The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. It was produced by Eric Chanin. This was the only album to feature the four original members. During the supporting tour, the public became aware of Slovak's drug problems after his relapse, which resulted in erratic behavior and botched performances. The rest of the band was upset and annoyed by this, and were on the verge of firing Slovak, but backed out of doing such a thing on the advice of Fishbone lead singer Angelo Moore, who felt and warned the Chilis that firing Hillel would actually bring more bad than good for the benefit of the band. Shortly after the band returned from some performances in Europe on June 25, 1988, Slovak was found dead of a heroin overdose. Jack Irons left the band saying that he didn't want to be a part of something that involved his friends dying. He then went on to drum with Pearl Jam and Eleven.

Breakthrough success (1989 - 1992)

The band temporarily employed Dead Kennedys drummer D. H. Peligro and former P-Funk guitarist DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight, before replacing them with Chad Smith and John Frusciante to record their next album.

Mother's Milk was released in August 1989, and gave the band their first top modern rock hits with their tribute ballad to Slovak, "Knock Me Down",[4] and their cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" (later preformed by the band as a tribute to Antony and his wife Kaitlin Ferguson at their wedding). The album reached #52 on the American album charts, the best chart position the band had attained thus far.

In 1990, the group switched labels to Warner Bros. Records. Rick Rubin was hired to produce their fifth album Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which would go on to sell seven million copies in the United States alone. The album contained the single "Give It Away" which won a Grammy award in 1992 for "Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal" and became the band's first number one single. There were other singles such as "Breaking the Girl", "Suck My Kiss", and "Under the Bridge", a poignant and popular ballad that helped widen the band's audience.[5] Blood Sugar Sex Magik was listed at number 310 on the Rolling Stone magazine list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and in 1992 it climbed all the way to # 3 on the U.S. album charts almost a year after its release.

Success and drug addiction were taking their toll on Frusciante, who abruptly quit the band during the Blood Sugar tour in May of 1992.[4] The band headlined Lollapalooza festival in 1992 with replacement guitarist Arik Marshall (who appeared with them in The Simpsons episode "Krusty Gets Kancelled"), and briefly with Jesse Tobias of the California based band Mother Tongue. In 1993, former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro was brought in as a member.

One Hot Minute (1993 - 1998)

Dave Navarro first appeared with the group at Woodstock 1994 in which they wore enormous light-bulb costumes attached precariously to chrome metallic suits, making it near-impossible to play their instruments. To outsiders all seemed to be settling with the band internally, however, according to Kiedis' memoir, Scar Tissue, an inelastic relationship began to form between the three established members and Dave as he was having a difficult time creating bonds with his new band mates. His vastly different outlook on life caused clashes as they went into the studio to begin work on their next album, and further continued to be an issue over the next year as his first and only effort with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, One Hot Minute, was recorded and released on September 12, 1995.

The album featured the familiar blend of funk, metal, and jazz, but this time showed increased hard rock and psychedelic influences. Despite being critically dismissed, possibly due to the lack of Frusciante's more familiar style, the album was a commercial success and sold five million copies internationally.

Kiedis had, by this point, resumed his heroin dependence, and had, predictably, lost his focus on the band's success. Announcements of Navarro's dismissal from the group in early 1998 cited the ubiquitous "creative differences", and given the lack of agreement between Navarro and the band came as no surprise to external observers. Reports at the time however indicated Navarro's firing came after he attended a band practice, blatantly under the influence of drugs, which at one point involved him falling backwards over his own amp. Kiedis himself has since said that although the event should have been comical, it was instead pitiful and was the impetus for Navarro's departure.

Californication (1998 - 2001)

A human skeleton on the verge of death, Frusciante was talked into admitting himself to Los Encinos Drug Rehabilitation center in January of 1998. He concluded the process in February of that year and began renting a small apartment in Silver Lake.

File:Rhcpcalifornication1.jpg
The newly reunited band in a Californication promotional shot. Circa 1999.

In April 1998, Flea visited his former band-mate and openly invited Frusciante to re-join the band, an invitation an emotional Frusciante readily accepted. Within the week and for the first time in six years the foursome gathered to play, and jump-started the newly reunited Red Hot Chili Peppers.[6] Anthony Kiedis said of the situation

For me, that was the defining moment of what would become the next six years of our lives together. That was when I knew that this was the real deal, that the magic was about to happen again. Suddenly we could all hear, we could all listen, and instead of being caught up in our finite little balls of bullshit, we could all become players in that great universal orchestra again. [7]

Despite the band's obvious delight by Frusciante's storybook-like return, he was both mentally and physically rusty. John had not played in several years, having previously sold every guitar he owned for drug money, and experienced a difficult time resuming life prior to his drug usage. His former talent did, however, resurface and new songs began to roll out. On June 8, 1999, after over a year of production and meticulous practice, Californication was released as the band's seventh studio album. An almost instant achievement, the album ultimately sold over 15 million copies worldwide and became the band's most successful recording to date.

It peaked at #3 in US and produced three more modern rock hits: the Grammy-winning "Scar Tissue", "Otherside" and "Californication". It also made it onto the modern rock charts with "Around the World", "Road Trippin'" (UK single), and "Parallel Universe", which broke the Top 40 modern rock charts despite not having been released as a single. Compared to their previous albums, Californication contained few rap-driven songs. The band went on a nearly two-year tour which saw some of their largest shows, including a Moscow performance in front of 200,000 people, and a performance at the controversial Woodstock 1999 festival. It was at Woodstock 99 that the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed Fire by Jimi Hendrix, in a tribute to the late rocker who had performed at the original Woodstock. The choice of song became somewhat ironic as the Chili Peppers' set was interrupted after part of the sound system, a delay tower surrounded by audience members, caught fire.

In 2001, they released their first concert DVD, Off The Map, which was directed by longtime friend Dick Rude, who also directed the music videos for "Catholic School Girls Rule" and "Universally Speaking".

By the Way (2002 - 2004)

The band returned to the studio in early 2001 and released By the Way over a year later, on July 9, 2002.

File:RHCPBTW.jpg
BTW Era. Circa 2002.

The album, at the time, was their most noteworthy chart debut (with over 700,000 copies sold in first week), emerging at #2 and producing hit singles such as: "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song" , "Can't Stop", "Dosed", and "Universally Speaking" which was only released in Europe as a single and video. It is the most subdued and submissive album they had generated to date, focusing primarily on melodic ballads as opposed to their classic style of rap-driven funk. The album was followed by an eighteen month-long world tour from the group.

The Chili Peppers recorded two new songs, "Fortune Faded" and "Save the Population", for their Greatest Hits album released later that year, in November of 2003. To the surprise of countless fans, only two songs from By the Way were included in the compilation: "Universally Speaking" and "By the Way". Much criticism was drawn from the absence of "Can't Stop", which is, on a general basis, measured as one of the band's most popular and identifiable songs. The entire debacle may have been caused by the minor musical disagreement which began circulating between John and Flea.

At the time of By the Way, John's musical fixation was rather contrary to that of Flea's and, thus, influenced the recording process significantly. Nearly all of By the Way's harmonious melodies are credited to John's interest in a deep, textured and multifaceted guitar work, which was not completely opposing that of his band mate, though, nevertheless, generated more than a few unpleasant moments, as any bass line Flea would construct would continually be unsatisfactory for John and his scrupulous musical approach.

File:Rhcpslanecastlelive.jpg
Red Hot Chili Peppers live at Slane Castle on August 26, 2003.

The European leg of the By the Way tour would give birth to the bands second full length concert film, Live at Slane Castle; recorded during a show at Slane Castle in Ireland on August 23, 2003. The band also went on to release their first full-length live album, from the 2004 European Tour, Live in Hyde Park; recorded during their performances in Hyde Park, London, due to immensely high attendance rate. In the three evenings the band performed in Hyde Park, they accumulated an estimated 17 million dollars, making it the highest grossing concert at a single venue in history (moving the Beatles to number 2).[8] Two previously unheard songs were featured on the Album: "Rolling Sly Stone" and "Leverage of Space".

Stadium Arcadium (2005 - Present)

In 2006, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released the Grammy Award-winning Stadium Arcadium. Although 38 songs were created with the intention to be released as 3 mini-albums spaced six months apart[9] it was released in May 2006 as a 28-track double album. It was their first album to debut at #1 on the US charts, where it stayed for two weeks, and debuted at number one in the UK Albums Chart and 25 other countries as well. In the album's first week, it sold 442,000 units in the United States alone, and over 1,100,000 worldwide, setting a personal record for one week sales. The record's first single "Dani California," was the band's fastest-selling single, debuting on top of the Modern Rock chart in the US, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching #2 in the UK[1]. Dani California was a controversial song, as it is extremely similar to "Last Dance With Mary Jane" by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. In addition to "Dani California", "Tell Me Baby" and "Snow ((Hey Oh))" topped Billboard's hot modern rock tracks in early July and January 2007.[10] The songs Storm in a Teacup, Snow ((Hey Oh)), Tell Me Baby, Stadium Arcadium, If and Especially in Michigan have been featured on ESPN commercials for the 2006 and 2007 X-Games.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers began a year-and-a-half to two year long international world tour in support of Stadium Arcadium. One of the many legs on this tour is the band's touring the United States with Gnarls Barkley from mid-January to March 2007. The band also toured with The Mars Volta during the first U.S. leg of their tour from early August to early November 2006.

Other legs on this world tour so far include shows in Europe, from mid-April to mid-July 2006, as well as from November to mid-December of the same year, during which they toured with Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals and played at the festivals T in the Park and Oxegen, and also from late-June to early-July 2007, and in Japan, Australia and New Zealand from mid-late March to mid-April 2007. In January, a show in Parc des Princes (Paris) was confirmed; they will play at the Roskilde festival in Denmark and also have confirmed a concert at the Stadion Śląski in Chorzów, Poland, as well as an appearance at the Live Earth concert on July 7th 2007. It is widely believed that the band will continue their tour, by adding summer dates in the UK in 2007.

File:Grammy2.jpg
John and Anthony at the 2007 Grammys.

In late 2006, the Chili Peppers received six Grammy nominations: Album of the Year (Stadium Arcadium), Best Rock Album (Stadium Arcadium), Best Rock Song ("Dani California"), Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal ("Dani California"), Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package (Stadium Arcadium), and Best Short Form Music Video ("Dani California").[11] Rick Rubin also received a Producer of the Year nomination for his work on Stadium Arcadium.[12]. They won the Grammy in each of these categories except Album of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video, with Rubin receiving his Producer of the Year award. The Grammy ceremony included a live performance of "Snow ((Hey Oh))", their most current single, complete with confetti snow that also can be seen in the music video.

By year's end, Stadium Arcadium was named the number one selling album of the year with over 6 million units sold and also recorded the highest one week in total sales of the year.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers continued to break their own records in January of 2007, with "Snow ((Hey Oh))" becoming their eleventh number one single leading to a cumulative total of 81 weeks at number one (all singles combined). "Snow ((Hey Oh))" also set a new record for the band, becoming the third consecutive number one single off of Stadium Arcadium. "Desecration Smile" will be the next single internationally, while "Hump de Bump" will be the next for the US.

When asked whether or not he would like to cut another double album in a recent Rolling Stone interview, Anthony Kiedis replied that he would not like to, and that the next Chili Peppers release will "be one concise, straight-to-the-point, old-fashioned Beatles kind of record--eleven songs that you can enjoy during your lunch break."[13]

Beginning in 2009, the band will be eligible for induction into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[14].

Musical style

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Techniques

Flea's bass style is an amalgamation of funk and blues, borrowing from artists such as Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. The groove-heavy, low-tuned melodies, composed through either normal finger style or slapping (popping and slapping), have contributed to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' signature style. While Flea's slap bass style was prominent in earlier albums, later albums (post "Blood Sugar Sex Magik") have more melodic, but always particular, basslines. He has also recently started using bass chords on "Don't Forget Me" and "Snow ((Hey Oh))", for example.

The guitar styles of the guitarists that have recorded albums with the group share common traits, featuring a sharp, distorted sound with strong range. Jack Sherman's playing style was a funk/rock hybrid influenced by many guitarists from Leslie West to Eddie Hazel and Garry Shider. Replacement players appear to have tried to stay as close as possible to original guitarist Hillel Slovak's style with its heavy blues and funk elements. However, during his short time with the band, Dave Navarro focused on a style rooted in heavy metal, and progressive. John Frusciante brings a more melodic and textured sound to albums such as By the Way, and Californication. In his first effort with the band, 1989’s Mother's Milk, Frusciante took a more abrasive and overpowering approach, rather than his current and most noteworthy guitar style. It was followed up with nearly the exact opposite; dry, funky and far quieter styles which, even today, contrast his intricate and multifaceted guitar techniques.

Kiedis provides a range of vocal styles for RHCP songs. His style of spoken verse and rapping (the latter being the primary characteristic of his vocals up to Blood Sugar Sex Magik) complemented with more traditional vocals have helped the band maintain a relatively consistent style.

In the studio most backup vocals are currently provided by John Frusciante. His falsetto singing style is frequently used, especially on By The Way and Stadium Arcadium. It has become a tradition that at some point during a Chili Peppers concert John performs an unaccompanied cover song, usually a hit from the 1960s or 1970s, or one of his own solo songs. Songs include (but are certainly not limited to) "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John, "How Deep Is Your Love" by The Beegees, "Maybe" by The Chantels, and "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" by The Shirelles, "For Emily (Wherever I May Find Her)" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Jugband Blues" by Pink Floyd, "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer which he sang, with Flea playing the instantly recognizable galloping bass line, at the Vegas Rocks Concert (with Weezer opening for the RHCP, on July 2, 2005 to commemorate the City of Las Vegas's 100th Birthday).

Lyrical themes

Through the years, Kiedis' lyrics have dealt with a variety of topics. Themes include love and the meaning of friendship, teenage angst and good-time aggression, sexual fantasies and the link between sex and music, political and social commentary (Native American issues in particular), romance, drugs, loneliness, California, Michigan, poverty, alcohol, and dealing with death.

While Kiedis is the lead vocalist for the band, Flea provided lead vocals for "Pea" and at the end of "Deep Kick" from One Hot Minute. Frusciante often contributes backing vocals though . In live performances, Frusciante performs lead vocals for songs outside the Red Hot Chili Peppers catalogue (see 'Instrumentation', above). He shared lead vocal duties with Kiedis on "Knock Me Down" from Mother's Milk, on the chorus of "The Righteous & the Wicked", "If You Have to Ask", "Funky Monks" and most others from Blood Sugar Sex Magik, "Dosed" from By the Way and many of the songs from Stadium Arcadium.

Improvisation

Improvisation has always been a major part of the signature style of the band. Early shows were composed almost entirely of improvisations. As well, many solos recorded on the current albums and played live by guitarist John Frusciante are improvised, as well as Flea's bass solos. These live solos are considered some of the most lyrical among rock guitarists in history. The band has, for the better part of the last decade, opened the show with a short improvisation, always on the same key as the initial song. Sometimes the beginnings, middle sections and/or endings of the songs are extended by long improvisations, such as "Give It Away", "My Lovely Man", "If You Have To Ask", "Californication", "Can't Stop", "Throw Away Your Television", and "Dani California".

In popular culture

Band members Flea and Anthony Kiedis have been featured individually and together in many movies and television shows,[15][16] including the music videos for Ice Cube's "Wicked" and Johnny Cash's "God's Gonna Cut You Down", and the movie The Chase. Anthony Keidis has a small role in the 90's surfer movie Point Break, playing a crazy local surfer who shoots himself in the foot. Flea appeared in Back to the Future Parts II and III as a minor villain named "Needles", in The Big Lebowski as a Nihilist, and in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film).

The band members themselves have featured in several movies and television shows. The band played themselves performing "Set It Straight" in the 1986 movie Tough Guys, and they performed 'Black-Eyed Blonde' in the '80s skateboard film Thrashin'.

The group has been featured on many movie soundtracks, including "Show Me Your Soul" from the Pretty Woman soundtrack; "Soul to Squeeze" from Coneheads; "Love Rollercoaster", a cover of The Ohio Players' hit song and "Search and Destroy" from the Beavis and Butthead Do America soundtrack; "Taste the Pain" on the Mother's Milk album from the film Say Anything; "Sikamikanico" from Wayne's World; "Dani California" featured in the Japanese motion picture Death Note and "Snow ((Hey Oh))" also features in the second Death Note movie, Death Note: The Last Name. "Higher Ground" from the movies Center Stage, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie and also Adam Sandler's remake of The Longest Yard as well as Walking Tall.

The band, and their music, have featured on several TV shows. "Higher Ground" was also featured on an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. "Give It Away" and "Higher Ground" have been featured on My Name Is Earl. The 1992 version of the band, with Arik Marshall standing in for Frusciante, appeared in an episode of The Simpsons titled "Krusty Gets Kancelled". In the episode, Bart and Lisa help Krusty save his career by organising a "Krusty Komeback Special" featuring many celebrities.[17] The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform their song "Give it Away", although Krusty suggests that they change the song's lyric "What I got you gotta get it put it in you" to "What I'd like is I'd like to hug and kiss you", to which Flea and Marshall enthusiastically agree while Anthony Kiedis merely smiles at the suggestion. And in the Anime Ichigo Mashimaro, Matsuri's pet ferret is named John and Ana's pet dog is Fruciante.

Several of the band's songs have appeared in video games. "Fight Like a Brave" is featured on the soundtrack to the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, "The Power Of Equality" is on Tony Hawk's Underground 2 and "Higher Ground" is featured in Guitar Hero. The band is referenced in the video game Tekken 4. In the Tekken force mini game, there are five ninjas that are harder to beat than the average ninja near the end of the game. They are named after the members (and former members) of the band: Anthony (Anthony Kiedis), Flea (Michael "Flea" Balzary), John (John Frusciante), Chad (Chad Smith), and Dave (Dave Navarro)

Disneyland Resort "Rockin' Both Parks" promotion in 2007, the Red Hot Chili Peppers music has transformed two attractions into "Rockin' Roller-Coasters". From January 3 to April 26, in Disneyland the "Rockin' Space Mountain" roller coaster features "Higher Ground" and across the esplinade in Disney's California Adventure the "Rockin' California Screamin'" roller coaster features the song "Around the World" on their on-board audio speakers. The new soundtracks for both attractions were remixed by Ryan Hewitt, the man who remixes the Red Hot Chili Peppers' own music, to ensure the soundtracks are specific to the twists and turns, highs and lows of both roller coasters.[18] Disney has since pulled advertising mentioning the Red Hot Chili Peppers in regards to this promotion, while the music remains.

Band members

Current members

Current touring backing musicians

Former members

Drums
Guitar

Former touring backing musicians

  • Keith "Tree" Barry – saxophone (1987–90)
  • Rain Phoenix – backing vocals (1995–96)
  • Rob Rule – backing vocals, guitar (1995–96)[citation needed]
  • Acacia Ludwig – backing vocals (1995–96)[citation needed]
  • Vicky Calhoun- backing vocals (1989-1990)

Line-up history

1983-1984
1984-1985
1985-1986
1986-1988
1988
1988-1992
1992-1993
1993
1993-1998
1998-present

Works

Discography

Videography

Bibliography

Awards

Year Award Title
1992 MTV VMA Breakthrough Video (Give It Away)
1992 MTV VMA Best Art Direction (Give It Away)
1992 MTV VMA Viewer's Choice (Under The Bridge)
1993 Grammy Awards Best Hard Rock Performance (Give It Away)
2000 MTV VMA Video Vanguard (career award)
2000 MTV VMA Best Art Direction (Californication)
2000 MTV VMA Best Direction (Californication)
2000 MTV VMA Best Artist Website
2000 MTV EMA Best Rock
2000 Billboard Awards Best Alternative Group
2000 American Music Awards Favorite Alternative Artist
2000 Grammy Awards Best Rock Song (Scar Tissue)
2002 MTV EMA Best Live Act
2002 MTV EMA Best Rock
2002 MTV VMA Latin America Best International Rock Artist
2003 MTV VMA Japan Best Rock Video
2003 Brit Awards Best International Group
2003 Rolling Stone 18'th Greatest Guitarist of All Time (John Frusciante)
2006 MTV VMA Best Art Direction (Dani California)
2006 MTV EMA Best Album (Stadium Arcadium)
2006 Chainsaw Awards Killer Video (Dani California)
2006 American Music Awards Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
2006 American Music Awards Favorite Alternative Artist
2006 U Choose 40 (NZ) Best 90's ANTHEMS (NZ) Song (Under The Bridge)
2007 U Choose 40 (NZ) Best Big Day Out (NZ) Artist (Give it Away)
2007 Grammy Awards Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (Dani California)
2007 Grammy Awards Best Rock Song (Dani California)
2007 Grammy Awards Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (Stadium Arcadium)
2007 Grammy Awards Best Rock Album (Stadium Arcadium)
2007 Grammy Awards Best Producer (Rick Rubin - Stadium Arcadium)

References

  1. ^ a b c Prato, Greg. "Red Hot Chili Peppers > Overview". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  2. ^ http://music.msn.com/music/grammys/listofwinners?GT1=9076
  3. ^ Anthony Kiedis - Scar Tissue; page 105
  4. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Red Hot Chili Peppers > Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  5. ^ "GRAMMY Winners Search". Grammy Awards. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  6. ^ Anthony Kiedis - Scar Tissue; pages 389-400
  7. ^ Anthony Kiedis– Scar Tissue, Page 399.
  8. ^ "News Uncut". MTVe.com. 2004-07-14. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  9. ^ Catucci, Nick. "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium" (review). Blender magazine, June 2006 (Issue 48), p. 146
  10. ^ "Artist Chart History - Red Hot Chili Peppers". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  11. ^ 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List, Grammy.com, http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx
  12. ^ 49th Annual Grammy Awards Nominee List, Grammy.com, http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx
  13. ^ Rolling Stone Magazine Grammy Preview, Issue #1019, http://www.rollingstone.com
  14. ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction rule of 25 years after the release of first album.
  15. ^ "Flea on IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  16. ^ "Anthony Kiedis on IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  17. ^ "Krusty Gets Kancelled". Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  18. ^ Disneyland Resort (2006-12-28). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Spice Up Disneyland Resort". Yahoo!. Retrieved 2007-01-30.
  19. ^ Anthony Kiedis - Scar Tissue; page 191

See also

External links

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Media