“Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement.” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Are you ready for some Californication? Get ready for some rock, some craziness and a lot of Anthony Kiedis.
Red Hot Chili Peppers Facts
28. World Premier
Back then they were known as Tony Flow and the Majestic Masters of Mayhem, and their first show consisted of Anthony Kiedis reciting poetry to some improvised instrumentals.
27. Did you get a receipt?
In 1986, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were given $5,000 to make their third album and spend about $2,000 of it on drugs. This was especially becoming problem for the group’s original guitarist, Hillel Slovak.
26. Kyle quit the band
At the onset, Kiedis and Flea had a tough time keeping their original members. One of their former drummers, Cliff Martinez, went on to writing soundtracks for films such as Drive, Solaris, Traffic and Only God Forgives.
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25. Scar Tissue
Anthony Kiedis was once developing a series for HBO about his offbeat upbringing in Los Angeles. There were clearly some issues as it never was aired and then was sold to FX before production was finished.
24. Haunted Mansion
Their first big album the 1991 Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik, was recorded in an LA studio called the Mansion. This Mansion was reportedly haunted after a man pushed his lover from its balcony. The band Slipknot says that many strange, inexplicable things happened there while they were recording, and you know if those guys said it was weird, it was really weird.
23. Meatballs and music
The Peppers’ current drummer Chad Smith has an instrumental funk-rock side project called Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatballs.
22. One concert to rule 1997
Due to various band members' drug problems , the Peppers only scheduled one concert in 1997 at the Fuji Rock Festival. It sadly had to be cut short after only 8 songs, because a typhoon struck.
21. Probably didn't think that one through
In 1989, Kiedis was arrested for indecent exposure and sexual battery after exposing himself to a woman after playing a show in Virginia.
20. Immortalized
The band has so far won seven Grammy Awards and has sold over 60 million albums across the globe. In 2012 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their unique mix of rock, punk, funk, and rap that made them the truly unique band they are.
19. Venice Queen
Kiedis wrote the song “Venice Queen” about a drug counsellor who helped him get though some tough times, Gloria Scott. The song was written after she died of cancer.
18. Stadium Arcadium cover
The cover for the Stadium Arcadium album was originally designed by Storn Thergerson – the graphic designer famed for his work with Pink Floyd, T Rex and Muse. The band, however, rejected his ideas and used their own, which Thergerson publicly denounced. Below are the design concepts that Thergerson created.
17. Tribute to Slovak
The songs “Knock Me Down”, “My Lovely Man”, “Otherside” and “Dosed” were written for the band’s original guitarist Hillel Slovak – who died in 1988 from a heroin overdose.
16. Giving back
Flea founded the non-profit organization Silverlake Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, which provides free music lessons and instruments to underprivileged children.
15. Flea in the movie business
RHCP bassist, Flea, (or Michael Peter Balzary IRL) has dabbled in movies during his long career in entertainment. The musician appeared in Back to the Future II and III, Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas, as well as Suburbia.
14. Kiedis also on the big screen
Anthony Kiedis also tried on the acting hat, appearing as a surf dude named Tone in Point Break with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves.
13. River Phoenix
Flea was close friends with River Phoenix and was with him at The Viper Room, when the actor went into seizures from his fatal drug overdose. Flea rode in the ambulance with him to the hospital. The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song “Transcending” is about Phoenix.
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12. Rough upbringing
Flea’s stepfather was a violent alcoholic, who became involved in shoot-outs with the police. Kiedis’ father was a struggling actor, who dealt drugs and was a huge part of the singer’s later drug addiction as he introduced his young son to marijuana and cocaine.
11. Back to school
In 2008 Flea attended the University of Southern California to study music theory, composition, and jazz trumpet. Flea was not classically trained and was quoted saying "There's stuff that I want to know that I don't know."
10. The best cameo
The whole band made an appearance on The Simpsons to play “Give it Away” in their underwear.
9. Finding yourself
It's no secret that Kiedis was an off-and-on drug user throughout his life. In recent years he has completely cleaned up his act, is a devoted vegan (since 2008), and practices Vipassana meditation. He is also a follower of Kabbalah.
8. Sexy veggies
Anthony Kiedis was declared the Sexiest Male Vegetarian Alive by PETA in 2008.
7. He's pretty good, I guess
Flea was named the second best bassist ever in a poll run by Contact Music, coming in second after The Who’s late bassist John Entwistle.
6. Documentary appearance
Anthony Kiedis and his son Everly appeared in the documentary Bob and the Monster – about the musician and drug counsellor Bob Forrest. The Chilis’ Josh Klinghoffer wrote the original music for the film.
5. Platinum, baby
Seven out of the band’s 11 albums are certified platinum – meaning, they have sold at least one million copies. Out of the seven, six are certified multi-platinum.
4. Chad Smith vs. Will Ferrell
The Peppers’ drummer Chad Smith is often said to look like actor Will Ferrell (they do look strikingly alike). The drummer once attended The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien in 2009 wearing a t-shirt that read, “I am not Will Ferrell”.
3. It’s not about a girl
Despite the popular belief that the song “Tearjerker” is about a woman, it was actually written about Kurt Cobain.
2. What about “Dani California”?
That song is about a woman. Or, according to Kiedis, it’s about every woman the singer has ever met in his life.
1. Probably should ask first?
After Kiedis’ arrest, the very next year Flea and Chad Smith were charged with battery, disorderly conduct and solicitation, after jumping off the stage during the filming of MTV’s Spring Break in Florida and allegedly inappropriately touching a female audience member.