06/2004 Metro Life

metro-june-2004

METRO Chili dogs with spice
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Red Hot Chili Peppers

It has been a bumpy ride for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who first formed 21 years ago in LA. Now one of the biggest bands in the world, only two original members remain: frontman Anthony Keidis [sic]and bassist Michael ‘Flea’ Balzary.

Their story runs a lot like this: the drug-related death of guitarist Hillel Slovak leads to John Frusciante joining the band. Drummer Jack Irons departs and a few years later Frusciante follows suit. Chad Smith takes over on drums and Dave Navarro spends a few years on guitar, but when things don’t seem to be working out he leaves and Frusciante rejoins.

Somewhere in between this giant game of hokey-cokey, the Chills managed to release multiple hit records which gained them recognition around the globe. Such songs as Under The Bridge and Love Rollercoaster quite deservedly provided them with huge commercial success and albums such as Blood Sugar Sex Magik and One Hot Minute sold by the bucketload. The 1999 album Californication saw the Chills become stronger than ever.

At so many points in their career no-one would have blamed the band for just giving up-the drug addictions, the death, the constant changes in – but instead the Chills kept on going, growing bigger and better all the time. In 2002, the band scored their first UK No.1 album with By The Way, with only Gareth Gates (of all people) stopping the title track topping the singles chart.

On the back of the album’s success, the Chills found themselves on the receiving end of many of the most prestigious music awards and quirky acceptance videos ensured that they were one of the most memorable moments of every ceremony.

Love them or hate them, the Red Hot Chili Peppers quite simply refuse to go unnoticed. The release their Greatest Hits at the end of last year reflects just how far the-band have come. Their unique blend of funk, punk and rock, combined with their heroic tales of overcoming adversity, have made them a band that don’t just entertain but can also serve as an inspiration to millions.

Fiona McKinley

Sun, Murrayfield Stadium, Munayfield, Edinburgh, 4pm, returns only.

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