Lollapalooza 2006 Artist Spotlight: The Red Hot Chili Peppers

The band began in Los Angeles, when Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, and Hillel Slovak got together in the early 70’s. After teaming with Jack Irons, a drummer, the group began to play strip bars throughout L.A., under the name Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. It wasn’t until 1983 that the group changed their name to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and bass player Balzary had officially taken the stage name of “Flea”.

The band became word-of-mouth sensation, no doubt fueled by the group’s stage gimmick. Back when they were Tony Flow, the group would often perform completely naked, with a sock covering over a delicate area. They were quickly picked up by EMI records, but Slovak and Irons had decided to leave by then.

They were replaced by Jack Sherman and Cliff Martinez, and released their first self-titled album in 1984. Even though the album was not well-received, word-of-mouth saved them again, and they had an underground following amongst the college crowd.

Sherman and Martinez quickly left the band, and Slovak and Irons returned in 1985. Freaky Styley, their second album, was released with as much reception as the first. Fortunately, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan album was able to at least make the charts in 1987, and was followed by the Abbey Road album one year later.

A great blow was dealt to the band as Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988. Irons left the band permanently, but the band still remained a quartet with Kiedis, Flea, and the additions of Chad Smith and John Fruscinate. Their next album, Mother’s Milk, was a huge hit with their cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground” and “Knock Me Down”, a song about the death of Slovak.

Their success became even greater after their move to Warner Brothers Records, with their 1991 release Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which brought the group maximum exposure. The release of “Give It Away” proved especially popular, as well as “Under The Bridge”.

Despite the success, the band changed members once again. This time it was Fruscinate who left, due to his drug addiction. After some problems with replacement, he was finally replaced with Dave Navarro. Their long-awaited follow-up, One Hot Minute, was released in 1995.

Fruscinate eventually came back to the band after rehab, and the Chili Peppers had another hit album with Californication in 1999. The title cut was a huge hit, and the video, which satirized Nintendo 64 computer graphics and the decadence of California culture, was quite phenomenal as well. They have since followed it up with 2001’s By The Way, and their 2006 Stadium Arcadium.

The band’s songs tend to weigh heavily on policital issues, and are not afraid to embrace deeper themes in their lyrics. Despite the band’s constant change of cast and other issues, they still remain one of the most popular bands of their (and probably a few other) generations. They are one of the main attractions at Lollapalooza this year.