The strange history of Red Hot Chili Peppers (it gets… messy)

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Check out my second channel! kzbin.info

[@JohnWayne-vf5bs]

Yeah he acts rude and disrespectful on his second KZbin channel but on his mane KZbin channel he's so down to earth 🌎

[@futuristic.handgun]

​@@JohnWayne-vf5bsyou have no idea what you're talking about.

[@JohnWayne-vf5bs]

@@futuristic.handgun true

[@wyattcole5452]

One Hot Minute gets more attention than you think, I’ve actually seen and met a lot who consider that album their best. Also, The Getaway’s title track, Dark Necessities and Go Robot are pretty good songs on that album

[@MBustos828]

The interview John did in his home when he was strung out is to this day one of the most depressing things I have ever seen. The fact that he was able to bring himself back from that is nothing short of a miracle. Good for him.

[@BennieTarrMusic]

He's the biggest spoiled brat in the biz.

[@fku952]

​@Nick James where'd you hear Johnny depp

[@sombra1111]

@@fku952 I don't think Johnny Depp had anything to do with that interview, but he and Gibby Haynes did direct a short film called "Stuff", which was basically film footage of the chaos inside JF's house at the time, with John's music from Niandra LaDes and Usually Just a T-Shirt era in the background

[@zacharysinger2307]

Johnny Depp and Gibby Haynes (lead singer of butthole surfers) made a documentary on John and his living conditions during that time. I believe it’s called “stuff”. You can find it online but all of the ones I’ve seen aren’t the best quality.

[@sombra1111]

@@zacharysinger2307 Does my comment about "Stuff" appears to you? I think I'm being frequently shadow-banned by youtube for no reason at all

[@robswystun2766]

Saw them on the Californication tour in Bangkok and it was an excellent show. They're the only band I've seen who, instead of doing the huge, explosive finale, did a slow fade out. Their last song was Under the Bridge and after it was done, Anthony left the stage while the band jammed and then Chad left, with Flea and John still going, and then Flea departed, and John noodled on his own for a bit before leaving. Really different from what you usually see.

[@mike04574]

smashing pumpkins did this the other day too when i saw them in Australia. Great to see the older bands do this

[@ohwellwhateverr]

“Noodled” 😂

[@lessismore74]

First time I've seen a band do this was in 1991. Over the Rhine back in their alt dream pop days.

[@magerino5587]

😢 10:51 😅😅 DC es😅😊i😊i voll o ich ich ii jetzt 😔😔zük

[@Rockinfreakapotamus333]

Yea that song really touch deep for them that song is a deep personal story

[@lukehinkle9614]

The band might not get cited as an influence often, but Flea inspired and influenced many people to pick up a bass.

[@400_billion_suns]

Probably inspired just as many to give up bass too when they saw how hard it is to play like him 🤣

[@lukehinkle9614]

@@400_billion_suns Extremely good point.

[@larrydavid6852]

@@400_billion_suns sixteen year-old me trying to play Mellowship Slinky with a Hohner Marlin bass through a ten-watt amp, devastated over how crap I sounded!

[@400_billion_suns]

@@larrydavid6852 lol! I feel your pain!

[@MomoSimone22]

I can't think of any other bass guitarist that I like better than Flea. I'd have to say he's my favourite, and bass guitar is always the instrument my ear gets drawn to when I listen to anything.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

They ACTUALLY PLAY IN THEIR LIVE SHOWS. Like so much so to a degree in this day and age that's almost unheardof. No playback at all, no click track, Not 16 backing musicians on stage, it's just 4 guys (+Chad's Drum tech on keys for a couple parts in a couple songs) and that's IT. I think they have SO MANY "good" songs, and are one of the greatest live bands, they're just unreal.

[@400_billion_suns]

100% this. I saw them during this current tour and I kept thinking “what other band still does this?!” Nothing fake about them. What you see is what you hear is what you get. Even the guitar and bass amps are real and blasting out sound, which is rare these days too. And of course, as this video pointed out, the musicianship among Chad, Flea and John is really on another level.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

​@@400_billion_suns Facts. And Anthony, he's an insane songwriter, and just a good enough singer to make it work. He's in great shape for his age (They all are, actually) and has tons of energy on stage. And although maybe not the most technically gifted singer he sure has a really unique voice. You know instantly that it's him, which is a trait all great singers share.

[@400_billion_suns]

@@djjazzyjeff1232 Yep, very much agreed. He’s a masterful frontman and the one member of the band you could never replace/substitute.

[@DuecePiece]

Don't say that to those who watched their Super Bowl "performance"! 😂 jk

[@arthurdent6828]

​​​@@400_billion_sunshave no idea what sort of delusional world you people live in but I've never seen a live band as terrible as the Rhcp. Amongst musicians they are notorious for being crap live, especially Anthony. He is pretty much the worst live vocalist in history. The chilli peppers have sucked since the mid 90's and their popularity proves this. The general public know nothing about good music which is why the charts are full of crap and why most of the really talented music acts go unheard of in the mainstream. This isn't opinion, irs a well documented fact. And as for your comment about it being rare for live bands to actually play their music live I'm at a loss to wtf you mean by this. I've seen dozens and dozens of well respected live bands and not one haven't played there shit live themselves. What are you even talking about? Bands with songs in the charts? Lol... Sorry if I come across offensive but your comment is just so delusional and far from the truth, I had to say something..

[@nspill327]

The band’s long lasting legacy is when Flea voiced Donnie in The Wild Thornberries

[@giantturd5157]

He did?!

[@PabloAfroSamurai]

As their biggest fan I hard agree

[@LaurenOliviArt]

He did ?!?!? What !!!!!!! That’s news to me wow !

[@masterknife8423]

I bet Donnie's voice was based off of some wild ramblings Flea had with Anthony when they were off their heads on drugs

[@Sammy-zi4ul]

Why is this their long lasting legacy??

[@cbeGaming]

Saw the peppers live earlier in the year and they were unreal, you couldn't ask for a better performance from a bunch of 60 year olds

[@Georgeirfx]

Well, John is only 53

[@DarthWombat]

"oNlY" 🤦

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

Me too just a couple weeks ago Fargo ND. They sounded unbelievable. There's a video of Soul to Squeeze from that show it's so good. I was super stoked to hear that song in person.

[@wuvsmusic]

Dude they are fucking boring and generic now

[@alexanderjames04]

That doesn’t make any sense. Idk how Anthony kiedis could ever sound good

[@mitchvechart7164]

You know what I appreciate about your content Finn? The fact that you’ve self proclaimed that you’re not a big fan of a lot of the bands you’ve done these videos on, but still make these reverse engineering type video essays on these bands anyway. Easily my favorite segment you do. 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

[@chadhenry961]

Red Hot Chili Peppers were actually influential to a bunch of other bands that got big in the 90's and early 2000's, such as primus, rage against the machine, 311, Sugar Ray, Papa Roach, and especially Incubus.

[@HotStrange]

Yep and three of those are among my favorite bands. Primus, Rage, and 311.

[@frog_king8383]

And Korn.

[@das0ul177]

Pretty sure Tim from rage said he didn’t play slap as much cuz he didn’t wanna be compared to flea

[@InGrindWeCrust2010]

Bingo. Faith No More, Primus, and the previous incarnation of STP as Robert DeLeo's band all sounded pretty similar to RHCP in the '80s before they each evolved more into their own sounds.

[@HILAL19564]

​@@frog_king8383actually Jonathan Davis said he doesn't like the peppers. In a video on KZbin him and head sitting in a car guessing bands and when a song of the rhcp came on he guessed it and said he doesn't like the red hot chilli peppers.. Me myself I like Korn and the peppers altough the lyrics of kiedis are way better

[@jesterr7133]

The Chili Peppers, at least to me, are kinda like Dave Matthews Band or Blues Traveler. They sold a ton of albums and are immensely popular, but you won't hear many bands citing them as influences. The simple reason is that they are impossible to imitate. They are a group of uniquely talented musicians. They are so uniquely talented that no one else can do what they do. Flea and Frusciante are two of the most talented ever at their respective instruments, and their playing is so distinctive that no one else can do it like they do it. That is why the Chili Peppers start to lag whenever Frusciante leaves. He is impossible to replicate. It would take a group of musicians of similar caliber with similar interests to do anything even remotely similar to what they do. Their music is too unique and difficult to imitate, and that limits the influence they have on other musicians.

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Well said

[@rafacsa1]

Well, Radiohead‘s Reckoner was influenced by Frusciante‘s guitar style. And I‘m sure many bass players have been influenced by Flea, in some way or another. So maybe you have a point about the band sound as a whole, but not sure if I‘d agree that the individual players are not influential. It’s the same as any other band with talented individual players (say, Van Halen for example).

[@thechunkytrucker5111]

Yeah man I'm sorry I don't agree with this, I feel like the red hot chili peppers are a very easy band to outgrow. When Finn said that they probably were a gateway band for most people, I definitely agree with that. They were a gateway band for me and I remember loving them in middle school. But then I got older and realized that they just sound like a bunch of uncles playing funky rock music in a garage. Sorry but there's just nothing super memorable about a lot of their songs. I'm 100% not denying that Flea, John and Chad are talented, but I feel like they use their talent to make really middle of the road rock music, and hearing the same 4 songs of theirs played over and over again in supermarkets, bars/restaurants, or covered by other bands really wears out their songs. It's always Under the Bridge, Dani California, Californiacation and By The Way. When I dive into their discography to listen to their lesser known songs I'm still met with the same pseudo rapping/singing over funky rock, and I'm sorry but at some point that loses it's charm, especially after almost 40 years. The reason why people don't site them as inspirations is probably just because they truly aren't that influential, they just make catchy, simple karaoke rock songs, and there are bands that do things way more creatively than them despite possibly not being as talented as them. I'm a musician and I truthfully cannot think of a single RHCP song that inspires me. It's not that people can't sound like them, its probably that they don't want to. After making a few albums, not to put a number on it but maybe between 5 and 10, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a band either calling it quits, splitting up to work on different projects or 100% overhauling and revamping their entire image and sound, and I personally believe the red hot chili peppers should have done that after By the Way or maybe even Californiacation, over 20 years ago. At this point I literally do not even care to listen to their new music, mind you I listened to them all the time in middle and high school. That's just me though.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

And Rick James' an absolute amazing musician that hardly ever gets a mention.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

​@@thechunkytrucker5111 listen to I could of lied

[@andrus108]

I think the reason why you don't hear the influence of their sound much in other bands is because an interplay between musicians is impossible to replicate unlike learning an instrument; it takes certain personality to be flexible with other band members and let others shine on the same level, and they have three such people in one band. Frusciante's sparse guitar playing revolves around Flea's bass mastery which in turn takes from Smith's drumming; they are like a cohesive music mind when playing together.

[@dtice69]

It's also just hard to replicate the sound of the band that mashes together the most different forms of music; at least the most famous band to do that. I've said it to friends, and it sounds a little hipstery to put it this way, but I can hear all the different sounds they've borrowed from in Stadium Arcadium. Punk, metal, funk, grunge, jazz, pop etc. Others can certainly attempt to match their creativity but it's almost certain to come out in a different way.

[@400_billion_suns]

Nice comment; well said.

[@MBustos828]

I was going to try to say something along those lines but had no idea how to word it. Well said.

[@megaflux7144]

..or because they stole everything from somebody else. so you attribute a funk sound to parliment NOT the chili peppers.

[@geoffw24]

You hit the nail on the head sir

[@Deezejuevos]

Josh klinghoffer is so damn nice and seems like such a freaking delightful person, wish they could have found a way to keep him more around .

[@BrotherKevinHunter]

I agree. I think that they really could have used him in some good ways, such as rhythm guitar, synth, or keyboard. There are a lot of songs in the chili peppers playlist that have multiple guitar parts and he could’ve easily taken the second ones

[@martinhincksmartin8407]

Not a patch on frusciante

[@fraggss991]

Honestly, he was the best person on the whole planet to join the band after John's. The only critique of him that actually feels valid, in a sense of being honest criticism and not emotional chatter, is his soloing that in some songs, it doesn't fit. Aside from that, he indeed has good backing vocals. That's the truth. Just because of 3 or 4 songs they play, people go on to ramble about his voice. He has better stage presence and energy than John, even though it's not about him, he is a great songwriter that was really comunicative (although Flea prefered just doing it with chemistry and jamming, which he didn't had at the time without John) and collaborative. He inputs great backing vocals, play drums, synth, piano (with Flea also), and even a six string bass like John Lennon did. He had a good relationship with Anthony and even better with Chad. Josh was responsible, hit songs out of his first album with them, and brought 2 singles that were a hit. He still with a shit ton of hate made the The Getaway and simply made a most famous single of them since John departure. Showing off at the top 10 biggest songs by them by the new generation of streaming users.

[@benweaver9151]

Well this didn’t age well lol

[@Deezejuevos]

@@benweaver9151 I don’t know, dude made a terrible mistake, how he handles it will be the tell. But yeah, this could end up looking like a really bad take.

[@ZombieUnicorn5]

I read Kedis's autobiography and he points out that Under The Bridge was a poem he wrote in his journal. He wasn't going to put it into song but in desperation to find music Flea looked into his journal and saw it and was like we have to make this into a song. Anthony didn't want to do it cause it was very personal to him and he believed in order to do it justice it would have to be sung, and he didn't think he could sing, which was why he was punk rapping the previous songs. After much convincing he tried to sing and everyone was like why haven't we been doing this before. To Anthony that was the birth of the sound of the RHCP we have today.

[@losethOS88]

Plus he likes kids. A lot!

[@peddr.o]

​@@losethOS88bro what

[@josipadrmic196]

Rick Rubin is the one who found the poem while searching through Anthony's journal. He was the one who convinced him it has to become a song! So he is the influence that led to RHCP becoming more of a melodic band :)

[@ZombieUnicorn5]

@@josipadrmic196 my bad but thanks for correcting. 😊

[@roblucchetti2993]

Louis Armstrong couldn't sing either.....and look at how that turned out.

[@bryanhatfield5800]

My favorite band of all time. That said, I get why Anthony is the make or break for people (true of any singer, really) but objectively I don’t think anyone can say they aren’t an incredible band. Seen them live again last year and they were awesome

[@girl-fromthemoon]

Tbh I don't see the problem with his lack of vocal technique. It's not like it makes their songs unbearable; he has a nice unique tone to his voice. Also, his lyrics are amazing. No one can deny that.

[@RagdollsOfLasVegas]

RHCP4EVR❤

[@HellOnWheel]

I remember we would listen to One Hot Minute while playing Road Rash on my friend's 3DO after school. Hearing Aeroplane now still takes me back.

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

3DO, wow!

[@HellOnWheel]

Yeah his dad had a huge porn collection so I think he got it for the "grown-up games" lol.

[@Nu_Retr0]

@@ThePunkRockMBA I'm good friends with the nephew of that lady who kinda got forced to do that famously bad 3DO port of Doom.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

_By The Way_ is an absolute masterpiece... I was disappointed initially, as I love their funk-punk vibe, but it would quickly come to be one of my all-time favorites. It opened me up to another level of harmony and songwriting.

[@frandsenphilip1]

Tear is my favorite song by them - and I think barely anyone would say that. The harmony is simply amazing.

[@colinadamsmusic]

@@frandsenphilip1 Amazing song!!!!

[@MoaiFromRapaNui]

I loved Dosed and Warm Tape

[@lancemiller7658]

Saw them last year in Seattle with Thundercat, The Strokes (with Eddie Veddar coming out for a song.) The energy and showmanship by RHCP was unbelievable.

[@Tang526]

Sounds random af

[@Roasty1s]

very random but seeing Eddie veddar seems pretty cool

[@J.M.Floresense]

I grew up only Listening to rap, this band was the first band to get me to let genre borders down, they just hit on so many Levels

[@fluffyking928]

RHCP are my favorite band hands down so it’s nice hearing you give them some praise! They are one of the most unique bands on the planet and they were who I listened to all throughout high school and my early adult life so they have a way of taking me back to the good ole days like no one else can!

[@pavlopaavo6144]

John Frusciantes solo work is majestic! The Empyrean is a total masterpiece from first to last second

[@HotStrange]

I like his solo stuff almost as much as his work with RHCP. Such a creative mind.

[@ThelastDJ1976]

Absolutely. That's a top 10 of all time record for me.

[@AlexGreat321]

I know I'm one of the few but One Hot Minute is in the top 3 albums for me All of the musicians who've been in the band have been really good. They choose them well

[@HotStrange]

It’s my #4. I love that album.

[@jeremysiron9622]

It’s actually my favorite album of theirs, go figure, I thought Navarro fit in with the sound well, even if his skill is nowhere near John Frusciante…. but I just thought it was their catchiest album.

[@robwalsh9843]

Jane's Addiction and RHCP were both weirdo LA California fusion bands that came about around similar times. I thought it was an interesting album.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@robwalsh9843 Aeroplane is the only song I really know off of it but Flea's bassline is iconic on that one.

[@adama7774]

Bssm, ohm and Cali is a great 3 album run and peak 🌶 🌶 . Ohm is very underrated and has some really great songs.

[@petercraig4648]

When I was 14, I got Mothers Milk on cassette. It blew me away. It opened me up to many other genres of music.

[@freddylimpster7137]

their 2016 album with Josh is titled The GETAWAY, not The Gateway. good video, but One Hot Minute is one of my fave to this day. they're the first rock band I've started listening to when i was 11, they're still firing on all cylinders in concerts for a group of four 60 y.o. former drug addicts. their last couple of albums with John back in the fold provide a lot of variety and return to that John&Flea sound all the fans have been missing. long live the Chili Peppers, gonna see them again in July! Unlimited Love

[@chrisbettis9601]

I honestly believe the Smith/ Flea/ Frusciante rhythm section is one of the best of all time.

[@400_billion_suns]

Agreed. It’s almost like some weird force of the universe brought their powers together 😂

[@HotStrange]

100000%

[@new.romance999]

In an different universe thats just the line up and they are the greateast band in history.

[@thelastgeneration5862]

Anthony may not be the best lead singer ever, but he is perfect for the most successful alternative band in history. It's not just his voice... it's his writing, his presence, and the soul he brought to the band that really put life in every performance.❤

[@philfoe551]

Thank you for this. As a RHCP longtime fan, every avenue of RHCP content has been covered, but I appreciate your approach adding some value to the discourse ❤

[@FutonParkour]

As exciting as it is that John is back, I can’t help but think they did Josh dirty by giving him the boot. He was the longest consecutive tenured guitarist the band ever had, and then some as an Auxiliary guitar off-stage. BSSM will always be my favorite of theirs, but tracks like Brendan’s Death Song, Police Station, and Goodbye Angels deserve as much praise as anything off of Stadium Arcadium

[@theblindsniper]

Totally agree. I think it does Josh a disservice to say that it was totally amicable when they just dropped the bomb on him that he was fired out of nowhere, not even giving any sort of warning. A lot of great songs came from Josh’s lens on music and I think pushed the guys towards a little bit of an evolution. Unlimited Love is boring to me. Granted I’m glad it all happened because josh has been killing it with Pearl Jam and Janes Addiction.

[@milanvndk]

I'm With You is so beautiful

[@nelsonmontano1079]

Im with you and The Getaway are straight fire, criminally underrated

[@axel.lundell]

What they did to Josh was really disrespectful imo. They just threw him out because John wanted back in. He spent 10 years with the chili peppers and got kicked out after a like 15min conversation at flea’s place. I feel bad for him. Especially after I read an interview where he said being kick out felt like a death sentence. Still a fan of them though and I’ll see them live this summer.

[@BradleyVolk3]

Josh who?

[@JonathanArguello-o4f]

bruh the getaway is so underrated, the song on that album are actually really good. Adding the piano to a lot of it was such a breath of fresh air for this band and listen to there newest stuff IMO was kind of a step down when it comes to innovation.

[@euzenjoy]

Thank u so much for this vid Finn, RHCP change my life forever and save me from dark depression in teenager years. I'm so glad that they keep things alive.

[@kayy8429]

Deep dives into bands are definitely my favorite videos of yours

[@ciaraskeleton]

I am die hard for this band, and even moreso of Frusciante. They are so genuinely passionate about music and art. They're one of the last real, raw rock (funk, rap fusion) bands to exist! Im trying not to write an essay but the influence theirs and John's music had on me is insane. I grew up listening to the californication era songs, and was a casual fan for my whole life. Then not long ago I watched the acoustic Amsterdam version of Under the Bridge and was like 'their guitarist is...a genius', since then I've lived breathed and slept Frusciante and RHCP. As an artist there's so much to learn from them. The BSSM album produced by God (Rick Rubin) is gold. The discography gets even better from there. Mothers milk is also gold! No disrespect to the other guitarists but when John touches a guitar it's magic. The synergy between them is at its peak with John there. One of the things I love most about John is that he walked away from the band multiple times. For valid reasons. He now says being a young musician and artist it really limited him as much as he initially loved it. He got that success, he didn't want it. Some people see it as rude, ungrateful, dumb, selfish. If you're an artist who's passionate about art and not money or fame I think it makes all the sense in the world. They all have extremely interesting stories and loves. All of them are equally as passionate and creative as eachother. They legitimately loveeee music, makes me love them. Big credits to Josh Klinghoffer who was best friends with John. John essentially trained him to replace him. Josh had toured with them a lot and he is insanely talented on multiple instruments and with recording and production. He and John have made some of my favourite albums together where Josh plays SICKKK drums. He deserves a lot of credit for what he did and the music he made. For everyone seeing them on tour, im so jealous and I hope everyone has an amazing time!

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

For sure... they're still among my favorite two bands - besides Queens Of The Stone Age - but in my twenties, in particular, no one inspired me more than RHCP and John Frusciante. The band's albums and John's solo work/side projects are my heart and soul. John's albums with Josh Klinghoffer are great... too bad that Josh's replacing John drove a wedge between them.

[@ciaraskeleton]

@@Jimmy1982Playlists I'm 25 and I have to say if it rocked your world like it rocked mine, I totally get it. John and rhcp will always have an influence on me and my music taste, a formative music time period for me! I think in the future he and Josh may Collab or be friends again, John seems quick to cut people off when he needs space and when time passes he's all love again.

[@МишаАнисимов-л1ы]

Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of my all time favourite bands! Back at school time I remember waiting for their video or concert on music channel, collecting their posters, articles in media and their albums on CD’s, trying to find all the information possible about them! Finn actually mentioned their appearance in one movie I did not watch! I would like to add that Flea also appeared in Back to the Future, Dudes, together with Anthony he also played an episode in Chase with Charlie Sheen. In August 1999 Red Hot Chili Peppers played a tremendous, historic and free concert on the Red Square in Moscow, to celebrate the first birthday of MTV Russia launch which gathered well over 200 000 fans of the band. It was also a landmark for the band. Chad Smith also played in pop punk band Lit while Flea also collaborated with such artists as Mars Volta and Alanis Morissette

[@nspill327]

I think their legacy for inspiring artists is their genre-bending and carefree attitude

[@400_billion_suns]

One of the keys to their enduring popularity is how they’ve managed to create an album that is memorable and relevant to each new generation. Gen X has Mother’s Milk and their earlier stuff, Gen Y has BSSM, millennials have Californication and By the Way, Gen Z has Stadium Arcadium. The way they’ve evolved over time has been a remarkably good job of keeping up with the cultural pulse of each era while still ultimately being a funky guitar-rock band. It was only in the last few years that I came to realize how much I liked them. I’d been listening to them all my life like a comfortable shoe that always fits, but had never considered just how MUCH of their music I genuinely enjoy. I don’t think any other band even approaches it, for me. Also it should be noted that these guys put on an AMAZING live show. They are one of the last real, live, no-tricks, all-risk rock bands. I was blown away when I saw them last year.

[@T.Maximus]

I'm a so-called Millennial and I remember getting into this stuff when I was a little kid, give it away and under the bridge.

[@nuriaarias4849]

True that. I am almost 30 and my friend is 23 or sth. I got enchanted by Califormication and he did so by Stadium Arcadium and even I'm with you

[@arthurdent6828]

Gen Y are the millennials and considering the eldest we're about 11 when BSSM came out I have to disagree.. And wtf do generations have to do with it anyway?. Why do people have to spew complete garbage in comment threads on the Internet.? Complete, un-founded and irrelevant garbage.. It's pointless...

[@crowkid5553]

Gen X had BBSM too, and gen y is basically millennials

[@raphaelsanluis9711]

​@@T.Maximusyep .

[@MattReno]

Great video on a great band. I had the pleasure of meeting Flea, Chad, and Josh after a concert in 2012, and I can attest that, in addition to being incredibly talented, they are all very cool guys.

[@PatrickGlennn]

If I may, the Chili Peppers had one pretty big influence if somewhat odd influence: they were a direct inspiration for Korn, among other early nu metal bands. One of the Korn guys even said that they had never even listened to a Beatles record and that Korn’s influences start with early Faith No More and RHCP.

[@christophernash8166]

They definitely are the most unique band ever with such experimentation. No album sounds the same. People can dislike the newer stuff, but it is still unique and fresh.

[@joncliffmckinley5868]

most unique band ever? branch out..

[@crazydrummer181]

Mr Bungle>Chili Peppers

[@FreakinRican6969]

​@crazydrummer181 mr. Bungle is great, but to mishmash and all over the place

[@andrewharmless8627]

I've never really been a huge RHCP fan honestly but definitely respect the dudes for keeping on keeping on

[@MysticMindAnalysis]

I was introduced to RHCP in 2002 with "By the Way", hearing the title track as a bumper on CNX (the precursor to Toonami in the UK) and later on the radio. I was in high school then, and it blew my mind compared to all the pop I'd been hearing up until that point. The whole album is close to my heart for that reason, getting me through the darkest torments of high school and setting me to be the metalhead I am today. I need to give their newest albums a proper listen, as well as do a discography deep dive. I only really listen to three of their albums regularly (Californication, By the Way, Stadium Arcadium) and have heard singles from their other stuff, but never really gave the full albums, front to back, a proper chance.

[@thetailseffect1661]

If you do get into a deep dive, their collection of singles they released in 2012/13 is brilliant. Sure you'd enjoy those!

[@uglypensacola8331]

I don't have to agree with everything that was said, but it's really, really, really refreshing to watch proper journalism! What a great piece. Thank you.

[@Don_of_the_Dad]

You’re got an album name and the original name of the band wrong I ain’t mad Just giving you grief Much love 🤘🏻 RHCP is my favorite band. I’ve listened to every album, every b-side, every bootleg, every interview, read every book, leaned a huge chunk of their discography on every instrument… I’m a straight up geek Good job bro 😎

[@Rust1809]

"Gateway" 😂 Honestly Josh isn't that bad. Love Dark Necessities. Probably one of my top 3.

[@jakesmith6702]

You nailed this documentary. I was a senior in high school when Blood Sugar Sex Magic and it was basically the soundtrack of our lives from 91-92. It was always playing.

[@dryker7085]

I've loved the Chili Peppers ever since Blood Sugar, and have bought every album. I was less into some of the albums, pretty much along the same lines as Finn mentioned, but still enjoyed them. After listening to Unlimited Love for the first time, I couldn't get that album out of my head. Pretty much every song is a banger. I think I listened to it four times in a row... and that hasn't happened since... I can't remember, if ever. The way Flea and John play off each other is just magic.

[@themoistgreenorganic]

I was such a fan of By the Way, it just hit me in the right time in life. I loved MM and BSSM, but took 10 years off from them and BTW was such a departure and so melodic, it almost felt like a new band.

[@400_billion_suns]

I love that album and felt the same way about it. It might not be as funk-punk heavy as their other stuff but it has some very original and melodic material on it. It’s one of the few albums I enjoy listening to all the way through, no skips.

[@jeffnicholas6342]

I full-on appreciate Flea’s funk! But I’m a guitar guy, so it’s nice hearing a little more of that from a band. Especially one as legendary as The Peppers

[@HotStrange]

It’s their best album, imo. A true masterpiece.

[@jager9022]

@@HotStrange 100% agreed

[@Lynsey17]

I think By The Way might be my favourite iteration of RHCP. There was just such a different tone to it.

[@satmedown]

Great video. Saw the peppers at the 49ers stadium last year and it truly was one of the best gigs I ever attended.

[@OldJayPokerman]

Yes, Anthony is not the best vocalist of all time, but it's safe to say, that he is highly talented as the other members of RHCP, for sure :) Great video, as usual!

[@tonialston1968]

His voice is so unique. I love the tone

[@gorillamilitia6327]

Josh is absolutely killer and his contributions are undeniable. Also stadium arcadium is an album I'd listen to least out of all their albums. The first album with Josh Is dope there are some bangers on that album

[@adamreinhardt9135]

The chili peppers were one of the first bands I ever remember listening to. When my older brother would come visit he always played Pearl Jam, RHCP, rage against the machine, sublime, and others. I was probably way too young to be listening to some of that stuff (we’re talking like 5-6 years old) but those bands wrote the soundtrack of my childhood. Californication in particular holds a special nostalgic place in my heart. In my early teens, when after discovering Linkin Park and Deftones I listened almost exclusively to heavy metal, I rediscovered RHCP when I picked up By The Way from the FYE at the local mall (anyone remember that store?). I’m so thankful I picked that up, because it broadened my musical taste enormously. I know it’s your least favorite Finn, but over the years it’s become my favorite RHCP album. The sheer diversity of musical genres explored, the soulfulness of Anthony’s singing and songwriting, how soul-crushing and uplifting it is at the same time, I think it’s truly their most underrated album. It’s still my favorite road trip album. I know every verse by heart and always sing along at full volume. It’s an album that never fails to move me. For me, I never really got into any of their albums after that, because I feel like BSSM, Californication, and By The Way were their triple-peak. Every album after those three just make me want to go back and listen to those three. Thanks for giving such respectful treatment to a band I know you’re not a huge fan of ❤️

[@colbeats]

Completely agree with this whole video. Great watch! And while Anthony may not be the most talented vocalist, one could argue his pure energy and eclectic lyrics bring something special to the band that no one else really could. John, Chad and Flea are undoubtedly in the top tier of players of their respective instruments.

[@Lynsey17]

I haven't read Anthony Kiedis's biography but I do remember a friend describing as just "everything in my life was going great and then I relapsed and started taking drugs again and everything fell apart and i nearly died and then I went to rehab and everything in my life was going great" over and over again and that it just became frustrating to read.

[@BobbysArchive]

Your friend forgot about the “Then I banged a couple underaged girls, I wrote a song about it” part

[@new.romance999]

I tried ro read it when I was 20. I cant remember if I finished it, but I remember it was trash.

[@crowkid5553]

Well that's how his life was, did we expect a unique story or something, we can't control everyone's lives

[@jamesrichmond8390]

It's SOOO good to finally hear you talk about RHCP in a seriously way without meming. Awesome video Finn!

[@robwalsh9843]

The Chili Peppers' fall from grace in the eyes of the music public is pretty jarring when you think about it. They were one of those "fusion" bands that really brought a lot of people together. I saw them as a kid shortly after Mother's Milk came out and you saw hardcore kids and metalheads in the audience alongside fans of funk, pop, etc. Granted, they still have a strong fanbase but it seems like public opinion just turned rapidly against them during their later combeback era.

[@thebillis8327]

The problem is that they should attract a "classic" audience from their raw and old school way of making music but the vocals make it sound like music for kids/teens. I think this divide makes it hard to really build a core audience that doesnt just like one or two songs.

[@xprettylightsx]

Turned against them? What are you talking about ? Their new records all went gold/platinum??

[@Sundog1985]

@@xprettylightsx I think it's more that popular bands are always going to have a big subset of fans that don't like them. Especially those have such a 'jarring' vocal style.

[@xprettylightsx]

@@Sundog1985 interesting, i respect your opinion

[@h1dd3n56]

We will never know what kind of music could’ve happened had Slovack survived his addiction. This is something we must never forget. *No hate to any other guitarist in / out of the band, their diversity made them global stars!

[@QQyoko]

You may not hear people cite RHCP as main influences in their music, but you will absolutely hear a ton of bass players cite Flea as a musical influence in their playing. He's gotta be one of the most popular dudes to touch the instrument in decades.

[@simongunkel7457]

When I hear a bass player cite Flea as an influence, I think they haven't been playing that long. Flea plays flashy, but his style is one that all of the band has to accomodate. That's usually not the position a bass player is in and when I think of great bass players I think of those that do amazing things within the constraints placed on them by their bands.

[@karstenpuder3605]

@@simongunkel7457why should the bassist be constrained by the other members? Chilis Are such a bass driven band, giving them their signature sound. John says he treats every song like a bass solo and he’s filling in the empty spaces. Just because bassist aren’t usually flashy and upfront doesn’t mean they’re doing it wrong or any less of a bassist.

[@simongunkel7457]

@@karstenpuder3605 Not by other members, but by the sound of their bands and the role the bass plays within that context. Most songs aren't bass solos and Flea in other contexts doesn't pan out - he briefly played with the Circle Jerks after Roger Rogerson had died and didn't work out. He stepped in as a replacement for Mike Watt in fIREHOSE and again fell short. Flea works out in RHCP because that band is built around what he can and can't do and even in RHCP the band got worse, when they had guitar players that weren't as good as John and Hillel at playing around Fleas shortcomings. Picking up the skills Flea has will make you adept at playing bass in a band like RHCP. But in most musical contexts it is far more useful to pick up the skills Flea lacks. If you work out what Mike Watt did in fIREHOSE and why that works and learn how to do that, these skills easily transfer to a wide range of musical genres. The same holds for Jack Bruce in Cream, John Deacon in Queen or Rob Wright in nomeansno. In a bass, drums, guitars and vocals ensemble, the bass is the single instrument that has a melodic, harmonic and rhythmic function, every other instrument at any given time has to perform two of these at most. And this means that bass playing involves a lot of choices where you have to compromise in some way - for the sake of melody, you'd want to play a note, but it will negatively affect your rythmic and harmonic roles. So do you play it? If you get good at making these kinds of choices, you will make any band you join sound better and there are a lot of differences in how bass players can approach this type of puzzle. With RHCP you get the sense that there is what Flea plays and then John and Chad have to work around that, which means Flea never has to make these choices.

[@joshuamorganmusic]

Uplift mofo party plan is amazing. I feel like sending them copies of the first 3 albums so they might make that type of music again, not this weird pop dribble

[@MrKjDrake]

I think Josh K is a great guitarist, he can stand his own next to John F and the issue was he wasn’t allowed to play/write what he wanted in order to push the RHCP to a higher level musically. He was more of a hired gun/touring musician than a member of the band.

[@IzunaSlap]

Fun fact about By The Way: Frusciante originally wanted it to be a gritty punk rock record inspired by The Damned's early albums. Rick Rubin talked him out of it. So we got the Beatles/Beach Boys inspired pop album we know today.

[@400_billion_suns]

I’m glad that happened. I love the old school pop flavor of that album! 👌😄👍

[@HellOnWheel]

I know you probably wanted to keep it under 20 minutes, but was hoping you'd include the ridiculous feud with Mike Patton / Mr. Bungle. Maybe you could do one just on Anthony Kiedis. Definitely a lot there.

[@__foam]

This video is such a good idea to make, I'm watching it for my second time now. Scar Tissue by Anthony Kiedis is a great read. This is an awesome video, Finn. Thank you for this content.

[@Litro740]

it's incredible that the band has been around for 40 years and they're still so great

[@Triznac52]

Love RHCP! I can still remember hearing "Knock Me Down" for the first time and it just blew me away. They were and are so needed in an industry that doesn't put out a lot of feel good vibes or make fun songs to jam out to. My gf at the time didn't like them, then BSSM came out and like so many, she was all about it. Which was cool to see them being accepted by so many that would never give them a fair shot before. I cannot recommend their Live shows enough either! They are straight energy, and they seem to keep getting better every time I see them. Happy to see they are finally being recognized as the Legends they truly are these days.

[@benjaminmajorUT]

The books Anthony and Flea put out are a must read, even if you're not much of RHCP fan

[@Gongchime]

Flea's book is crazy. His grandma going to their house parties.

[@marcstov]

I understand most people not liking their new stuff, but as an old man who originally saw them in 1991 (with Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins opening), they've kept pace with what I like.

[@mlrdmn]

One hot minute is my fav RHCP album! Love the progressive and dynamic journeys it makes.

[@HotStrange]

BTW is my favorite but OHM is super underrated. At least a top 5 for me.

[@skipdonaghue9451]

Excellent video, man! Many others would've taken a lot longer to tell that story. Job well done. Mrs. Skip even put her book down to watch it!

[@JacubWhite38]

Anthony isn't a great vocalist, but he is the right vocalist.

[@girl-fromthemoon]

And he writes great lyrics

[@psychobetha]

i first heard them because of Thrashin’ as a wee 11 year old chick who was getting sucked into skate culture. i’ve loved them ever since 😃 anthony kiedis might not be a great singer, but he’s a phenomenal front man. and really nothing more needs to be said about the others aside from them being some of the best to ever play their instruments.

[@400_billion_suns]

💯💯💯

[@Neffie42]

They’re in my top 5 favorites! Love seeing them live and that bumps them up even further!!

[@ValeriousRex]

Uplift Mofo was amazing it’s so nice to find ppl who also know about this album…So many other die hard fans hate on One Hot Minute…I always loved it…not their greatest….but it’s the last album I really love…everything since, including californication believe it or not

[@perehn8910]

I discovered RHCP during their mainstream peak with Californication in 1999, and remember being shocked when I looked up their older material. I was like "are these the same people even"

[@pedrova8058]

like Pantera before "cowboys from hell" ? xD

[@aarong5716]

I don't know about bands they've influenced, but RHCP have had an immeassurable influence on what I listen to. At first, I was just curious where RHCP's sound came from, but it led me down a HUGE rabbit hole of discovering Prince, Parliament/Funkadelic, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and God knows how many other Funk and Soul artists.

[@fettuccinealraver]

aS a gUitAr pLaYeR myself, John has shown me you can literally play it all and there’s no need to put yourself in a specific lane as a musician. Now that I’m an adult that seems fairly obvious, but as a teenager listening to RHCP and then John’s solo stuff, and thinking holy shit the same guy made this, I realized there are so many different ways you can go as a musician which opened me up to listen to much more diverse genres.

[@mastod0n1]

I'm a drummer first, bassist now, and guitarist 3rd, and Flea and Chad and John are all huge influences for me. Chad mostly. His groovy, syncopated, ghost note heavy, powerful drumming resonates with me.

[@NottyGurlStyle]

I always enjoy RHCP for years and they have some classic tracks that I love. I think for me they were never afraid to try something new and if it doesn’t work they go back to what works. I have a lot of tracks that i love from them. One of my favorite albums from the 2000s is I’m with You… I listenEd to that album for months. Their latest album I wasn’t feeling but I do like the single Eddie. The rest of the album was all over the place lol

[@jonvia]

This why I love RHCP...they have a very iconic sound and they've all overcame major life situations to be the true kings of California

[@trippyvannoir.333]

As a RHCP fan, I can say that RHCP has had a huge influence on how I write my music. I even have them listed as an influence in my music bio. Once I break through into the industry, I'll change the notation of them not being brought up as an influence. Has anyone here read the autobiography of Anthony Kiedis? It's called "Scar Tissue." Crazy stuff. Anthony is the luckiest human to be alive 🤣

[@teacherfromthejungles6671]

Funny that your video appeared right after a Drumeo massive RHCP lesson which is a MUST WATCH for everyone here

[@ontosoribeats]

I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I was 7 years old in 1999 when they played non-stop on the radio in Finland. Great music and real personalities. I would think that no one mentions them as influences because everyone knows that you can't reach their level, it's just impossible. Apart from Anthony and the band has players who are geniuses, of course you can't underestimate Anthony, Peppers wouldn't be Peppers without him.

[@mattpettit9428]

Saying BTW is your least favorite is nuts. What a beautiful masterpiece

[@JohnPap21]

18:23 Anthony is ageless and a very good showman, exactly what very good vocalists lack. Its a very good combination of people and one of my favourite bands. Many good relationships and friendships have ended due to drugs and alcohol, but not this one.

[@jonathanmartin8113]

Saw them twice in my life. Once with John during the Stadium Arcadium Tour in 2006 and with Josh during the I'm With You Tour in 2016. They are simply amazing!! The Chili Peppers have always been my favourite band since I was old enough to buy my own albums, which was during Californication. Scartissue is the song that got me curious about them. I dug into their history and eventually bought their whole catalogue and then it was then I was permanently hooked! Out in LA and Fight Like a Brave are 2 of my all time Chili Pepper songs. I do love ALL of their stuff! I appreciate musicians that try to expand their horizons without losing their core qualities that made us love them in the first place. Their last 2 with John (Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen) are solid albums. They're always playing at my house (I have them on vinyls - epic sound!) Also, Josh has only played on 2 albums : I'm With You and The Getaway (not the gateway). Their influence is much more than you think. They've been mentioned by a a lot of Nu Metal bands has being a major influence. Like Limp Bizkit, Korn and Incubus. PS. One Hot Minute is seriously underrated album!

[@jrom428]

You're right in that many people don't list RHCP as an influence but John Frusciante and Flea are common influences on guitar and bass players.

[@Georgeirfx]

Chad is a huge influence as well, his grooves are killer, and many people who haven't seen their live performances don't even realize his versatility and brutality

[@valentinej2345]

I came here to say that! Flea alone has probably sold millions of basses & equipment. He is always listed in top 5's for influential, favorite, popular, or best bass players.

[@TheJonesy425]

RHCPs is such a global/international rock band too. Like they are popular in USA, but going all over South America, people rock their T-Shirts and when you mention rock its "Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers." And they mean it! Seeing folks who dont speak English sing their songs perfectly... its sureal

[@FrankieKaro]

I really respect that despite you not being a fan of their later stuff that your analysis was well-thought out and balanced on their history. Personally By the Way is definitely my favorite album and is as much RHCP as was Uplift Mofo, and that’s what I love about this band. Very few bands are as adaptable and go with change the way they did. I would honestly say that’s part of what makes them so unique is that they embrace change and all genres Dream Canteen I actually like over Unlimited Love, as a more experimental and “weird” album. Eddie and Bella are two great tracks

[@HotStrange]

I haven’t listened to Dream Canteen yet but I thought unlimited love was decent. By the Way is my favorite of theirs as well. Damn near perfect album. That run from BSSM to SA is legendary.

[@BeigeRattlesnake]

I agree Finn was very balanced here!

[@avail657]

@@HotStrange By the Way is still my favorite album like you guys. When I first heard Unlimited Love (which was really just the single Black Summer), I was not thrilled. Then Return of the Dream Canteen came and I loved it. I have since gone back to Unlimited Love and it has grown on me to the point I dig it more than ROTDC. “It’s only natural,” “Watchu Thinkin’” and “White Braids and Pillow Chairs” are kinda buried in there and they are amazing tracks.

[@HotStrange]

@@avail657 those are probably my favorite tracks from the album as well! I need to revisit it I suppose. I listened to it fully maybe 3 times then kinda moved on. Maybe this weekend I’ll give that a Dream Canteen a listen. I’ve loved all the singles from the newer record. By the Way is just such a special album for me. I was like 11 when it came out and me and my dad played it constantly.

[@bigrick3267]

Always such good content, appreciate your work man

[@HotStrange]

RHCP were my favorite band growing up and I still love them to death. Chad+Flea are amazing and Frusciante is just an otherworldly talent. Hell even Keidis is okay lol. BSSM is a classic.

[@chudzyyy]

I love this band, it's amazing that they are still creating and you can still feel this amazing thing. I went to 5 of the band's concerts and each one was unique. I also had the opportunity to talk to Chad Smith for 20 minutes and I think he is the nicest artist on the planet. I love John Frusciante's music, I think it contains a lot of emotions and a sense of another dimension.

[@hoodie.montana]

kind words and great coverage! especially for a band you're not entirely fond of. love the enthusiasm, love the journalism great vid as always. thanks, Finn!

[@douglasmijangos3327]

I remember reading Anthony’s book and it said .. after John left the band and Dave Navarro had also left the band .. they went to get John back and Anthony was pissed and wanted to leave John but Flea told Anthony.. “If you don’t agree wit getting John back I’m leaving the band” the love that Flea has for John is insane… I think that’s what makes their music so great … it’s the love they have for one another and the love they have for music.. ❤

[@SquareWaveSymphonies]

Ironically, By the Way is one of my (if not my) favourite Chili Peppers record. That being said, I'm not really into funk and I was born in 1990, so much of their earlier music was just "way before my time".

[@NickJardine]

Really enjoyed this one, Finn. Nothing else to say other than thank you and keep doing what you do, man!

[@ThePunkRockMBA]

Thank you for watching!

[@ZL1LoVeR]

They used to be my favorite band, but now I can’t stand hearing Anthony’s voice after knowing he slept with a 14 year old

[@Plenitude_amnesique]

I only that band for a about a year while browsing on KZbin. And now that I talk about my love for the music of this band, my relatives and friends say they know them. Which is weird because no one ever mentionned them to me. It really shows to me as you said in the video, its an underrated band and people dont really pay attention to their music :(

[@zetas2968]

The getaway is far better than unlimited love IMO

[@frulica]

Man, I watched a lot biography videos but only yours have cleared all the stuff in my head. As I most admire Blud sugar sex magic and Californication to be among worlds best music masterpieces, if I would have to take two albums on a desert island, I would take the first two. I can't explain, but these early crazy funk songs with Hilel Slovak are very close to my heart. Thanks for the great video, bro!

[@Sobreversivo]

Here in Brazil most of the rock bands in the 90's were really inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[@roneyrodrigues4321]

Cara, foi exatamente oq eu acabei de dizer pra um cara ali em cima! Temos até o nosso Flea brasileiro, o Champignon

[@Sobreversivo]

@@roneyrodrigues4321 Aproveitar pra vender meu peixe como se fosse numa feira livre. O meu canal tem os melhores vídeos sobre o Red Hot da internet. Quiser dar uma checada. Canalzinho pequeno e ocultado pelos algoritmos... Mas taí! Hahahaha!!! Abraço e até o show do Red Hot em novembro.

[@Flamengo1981]

​@@roneyrodrigues4321Perfeita observação sobre o grande Champs.

[@Flamengo1981]

​@@SobreversivoHahahahaa sou inscrito há eras no seu canal. Não poderia perdê-lo de vista depois de ver algum vídeo bem legal sobre os Chili Peppers (só não lembro qual foi).

[@Sobreversivo]

@@Flamengo1981 Até agora não encontrei um momento pra voltar a publicar as viagens. Mas talvez agora que eu tô trabalhando menos quem sabe eu volte.

[@arghnothingleft]

Hi Finn, I'm Rob Gordon (otherwise known in that era as Rob East). I was RHCP's A&R guy for Mother's Milk (I started with the band at the end of Uplift). The rise of RHCP from Uplift (I agree, a masterpiece, although it sold less than 50,000 copies at the time)) to Mother's Milk (which exceeded 600,000 copies quickly) was a fabulous team effort between us young executives at EMI, management (Lindy Goetz), Booking (Trip Brown), and of course, the band. Feel free to reach out to me if you want some deeper historic references to complete your story. Best, Rob

[@sonicjrjr14]

Anthony bragging about pedophilia definitely hurt their image in my eyes.

[@fr33f4l4st1ne]

theres multiple accounts of all the band members SAing women. Everyone just ignores it. Theyve done despicable things and i have every reason to believe they are still doing these things because they have shown no remorse--case in point anthony recalling fondly in his book how he took advantage of a 14 year old girl. I loved their music a lot. I cant listen to them anymore.

[@crowkid5553]

​@pinkmoonrabbit2072 not all, they were no accounts of John SA women

[@RateOfChange]

Anthony may not be the best singer out there, but he's got some serious skills beyond just hitting notes. He's a brilliant lyricist. More like a poet, really. His words might seem weird at first, but dig deeper and you'll find real meaning hiding beneath the surface. For starters, I'd recommend doing some research on the lyrics in The Getaway. Also, his singing style adds another layer to RHCP's music. He messes around with melodies and especially rhythms in cool ways that boost the arrangements. As a songwriter, he's top-notch. Not to mention his stage presence. He's irreplaceable, in my opinion. Try imagining Red Hot Chili Peppers without Anthony. Plus, he's got a voice that sticks in your head. Anthony brings depth, complexity and glues the band's sound. Love him or hate him, he's a key part of what makes RHCP special.

[@KillerFaceification]

I don't know if Dance Gavin Dance has ever listed the Red Hot Chili Peppers as an influence, but I feel like their style of incorporating R&B into post-hardcore is very much like the Red Hot Chili Peppers incorporating funk into punk.

[@real30yearoldboomerhours53]

I commented this but I’d love to hear some DGD RHCP covers. All Around The World would make for a great swancore cover. I definitely hear a lot of John Frusciante in Will Swan’s playing