The Red Hot Chili Peppers (also sometimes shortened to "The Chili Peppers" or abbreviated as "RHCP") 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 and psychedelic rock. When played live, their music incorporates elements of jam band due to the improvised nature of much of their performances. Currently, the band consists of founding members Anthony Kiedis (vocals) and Flea (bass), longtime drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, who joined in late 2009, replacing John Frusciante. Red Hot Chili Peppers have won seven Grammy Awards, and have become one of the best-selling bands of all time, selling over 80 million records worldwide.[1] In 2012, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band's original line-up featured guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons, alongside Kiedis and Flea. Because of commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on the band's debut album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984). Cliff Martinez was the drummer for the first two records (Irons played on the third), and guitarist Jack Sherman played on the first. Slovak performed on the second and third albums by the band, Freaky Styley (1985) and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987); he died of a heroin overdose in 1988. As a result of the death of his friend, drummer Irons chose to depart from the group. Parliament-Funkadelic guitarist DeWayne McKnight was brought in to replace Slovak though his tenure was short and he was replaced by 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 world tour.
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 much as its predecessor. Navarro was fired from the band in 1998.[2] 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 16
million copies worldwide. That album was followed three years later by By the Way (2002), and then four years later by the double album Stadium Arcadium
(2006), 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 in 2009 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 shortly
after Frusciante's departure and the band spent the next year and a half
recording their tenth studio album, I'm with You,
which was released in 2011 and topped the charts in 18 different
countries and included a world tour which lasted until April 2013. The
band quickly followed up that tour a month later with another tour
lasting into mid-2014 and that included an appearance with Bruno Mars as a part of the halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVIII,
a performance that was viewed by a record 115.3 million viewers. The
band started recording their eleventh studio album in December 2014,
which is scheduled to be released in 2015.
Red Hot Chili Peppers' musical style is characterized as funk rock,[142][143] alternative rock[144][145] and funk metal,[146][147] with influences from hard rock, psychedelic rock and punk rock. The band's influences include Defunkt, Parliament-Funkadelic, Jimi Hendrix, The Misfits, James Brown, Gang of Four, Bob Marley, Big Boys, Bad Brains, Sly and the Family Stone, Ohio Players, Queen, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, Deep Purple, The Beach Boys, Black Flag, Ornette Coleman, Led Zeppelin, Yes,[148] Fugazi, Fishbone, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Santana, Elvis Costello, The Stooges,[149] The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees,[150] Devo, and Miles Davis.[151]
Vocalist Anthony Kiedis provided multiple vocal styles. His primary approach up to Blood Sugar Sex Magik was spoken verse and "rapping". Complemented with traditional vocals, he helped the band maintain a consistent style.[152] Nevertheless, as the group matured, starting with Californication (1999) the group reduced the number of rapped verses. By the Way contained only two rap-driven-verse/melodic chorus form.[153] Kiedis' more recent style was developed through ongoing coaching.[154]
Original guitarist Hillel Slovak's style was strongly based on blues and funk. Slovak was primarily influenced by hard rock artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Kiss and Led Zeppelin.[155] His playing method was highly based on improvisation, a style commonly used in funk music.[156] He also was noted for his aggressive playing style; he would often play with such force, that his fingers would "come apart".[156]
Kiedis observed, that his playing evolved during his time away from the
group in What Is This?, with Slovak adopting a more fluid style
featuring "sultry" elements as opposed to his original hard rock techniques.[157] On The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987), Slovak experimented with genres outside of traditional funk music including reggae and speed metal.[158]
His guitar riffs would often serve as the basis of the group's songs,
with the other members writing their parts to complement his guitar
work. His melodic riff featured in the song "Behind the Sun" inspired
the group to create "pretty" songs with an emphasis on melody.[32] Kiedis describes the song as "pure Hillel inspiration".[159] Slovak also used a talk box
on songs such as "Green Heaven" and "Funky Crime", in which he would
sing into a tube while playing to create psychedelic effects.[160]
Guitarist John Frusciante's
musical style has evolved over the course of his career. His guitar
playing employs melody and emotion rather than virtuosity. Although
virtuoso influences can be heard throughout his career, he has said that
he often minimizes this.[161] Frusciante brought a more melodic and textured sound to albums such as Californication (1999), By the Way (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006). This contrasts with his previous abrasive approach in Mother's Milk,[162][163] as well as his dry, funky and more docile arrangements on Blood Sugar Sex Magik. On Californication (1999) and By the Way (2002), Frusciante derived the technique of creating tonal texture through chord patterns from post-punk guitarist Vini Reilly of The Durutti Column, and bands such as Fugazi and The Cure.[80][164][165] He originally intended By the Way to be made up of "these punky, rough songs", drawing inspiration from early punk artists such as The Germs and The Damned. However, this was discouraged by producer Rick Rubin, and he instead built upon Californication's (1999) melodically driven style.[166] During the recording of Stadium Arcadium
(2006), he moved away from his New Wave influences and concentrated on
emulating flashier guitar players such as Hendrix and Van Halen.[167]
Guitarist Dave Navarro brought an entirely different sound to the band during his tenure, with his style based on heavy metal, progressive rock and psychedelia.[168]
Current guitarist Josh Klinghoffer's style employs a wide range of unconventional guitar effects and vocal treatments. In his debut Chili Peppers album, I'm With You
(2011), he focused heavily on producing a textured, emotional sound to
complement the vocals and atmosphere of each song. He has stated that he
is a huge fan of jazz and funk, which shows itself in many of the
album's tracks.
Flea's electric bass style is an amalgamation of funk, psychedelic, punk, and hard rock.[169] The groove-heavy, low-tuned melodies, played through either finger–picking, or slapping, contributed to their signature style. While Flea's slap bass style was prominent in earlier albums, albums after Blood Sugar Sex Magik[169] have more melodic and funk–driven bass lines. He has also used double stops
on some newer songs. Flea's bass playing has changed considerably
throughout the years. When he joined Fear, his technique centered
largely around traditional punk rock bass lines,[170]
however he was to change this style, when Red Hot Chili Peppers formed.
He began to incorporate a "slap" bass style, that drew influence
largely from Bootsy Collins.[171] Blood Sugar Sex Magik
saw a notable shift in style as it featured none of his signature
technique but rather styles, that focused more on traditional and
melodic roots.[172] His intellectual beliefs, on how to play the instrument, were also altered: "I was trying to play simply on Blood Sugar Sex Magik
because I had been playing too much prior to that, so I thought, 'I've
really got to chill out and play half as many notes'. When you play
less, it's more exciting—there's more room for everything. If I do play
something busy, it stands out, instead of the bass being a constant
onslaught of notes. Space is good."[172]
Drummer Chad Smith blends rock with funk. He mixes funk, rock, metal and jazz to his beats. Influences include Buddy Rich to John Bonham.[173] He brought a different sound to Mother's Milk, playing tight and fast. In Blood Sugar Sex Magik, he displays greater power. He is recognized for his ghost notes,
his beats and his fast right foot. MusicRadar put him in sixth place on
their list of the "50 Greatest Drummers Of All Time", behind Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Rich and Bonham.[174]
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