New Tour Dates: Brazil!

Red Hot Chili Peppers announce new tour dates for Brazil:
Saturday November 4th, Estádio Engenhão Nilton Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tuesday November 7th, Arena BSB Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil
Friday November 10th, Estádio do Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil

Monday November 13th. Estádio Couto Pereira, Curitiba, Brazil
Thursday November 16th Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Source and ticket sales link: RHCP official website

RHCP out in Japan!

Chad, a very happy John & a grumpy Anthony photographed by a fan in Japan (public place and not paparazzi shots).
Thanks to Swan on Instagram who took them and sent them to me with permission to post them.

Review of ‘Out in LA’ by Hamish Duncan

Some of you may have seen posts mentioning a new book about the Red Hot Chili Peppers. ‘Out in LA’ is by Hamish Duncan and it’s an in-depth look at RHCP’s first year in existence. Here’s my review:
Short review: This is the best book ever written* on RHCP!
[*Tony Woolliscroft’s book, ‘Me and My Friends: Red Hot Chili Peppers’ is also amazing. This and ‘Out in LA’ are the two must have books on RHCP in my opinion. [I haven’t included Fandemonium here as it’s primarily about the fan base]. Tony Woolliscroft’s book is a very different work to Out in LA hence the * qualification. It’s a collection of the author’s memories of meeting & photographing the band along with a wide selection of his iconic photographs.]
Long review:
Very few people were there to see the inception of RHCP. As fans, we’ve pretty much all jumped on the RHCP bandwagon at some point later on. This book not only takes you back to the beginning, but it sits you slap bang right on the front row with VIP access to the first year of the band’s existence. And not only the band’s existence, but you’re fully immersed into the LA sub-culture of the time. I came away from each session reading it feeling like I’d actually been in LA witnessing the events portrayed as it’s so descriptive & informative (I was continually blown away by Hamish’s knowledge on so many areas).
It is well written, easy to read (but hard to put down) and the trained historian in me loves how excellently researched this book is. I knew Hamish was trawling through magazine articles on my websites but I had no idea just how well researched this was until opening the published edition. Everything is cross-referenced with notes, an appendix, et cetera (but done subtly so it doesn’t interfere with the narrative if you’re not interested in the minutiae of detail). Any inference made is clearly stated as such but with evidence given to support assumptions made (and to offer alternatives).
Probably the strongest point in this book is its use of primary evidence; band fliers and adverts in the press have been uniquely utilised to form and prove points made. Early photos were scrutinised and even a weather report used to suggest dates on one occasion. And probably most importantly, people who were there to witness the band’s early history have been given a voice. Their evidence (memories and photos) have led to unique details and insights. Fab, Gary Allen et al. are included and that’s exactly how it should have been.
This attention to original detail not only provides the foundation for the weaving of the vivid narrative, but it also throws up some shocking (for some especially as it goes against the traditionally accepted view), information. I knew Hamish has been postulating that RHCP began before their long accepted February 1983 date and I was like, “Yeah, whatever… I’m sticking to February ’83),” but I’m now fully convinced Hamish is correct because the evidence he’s amassed leaves absolutely no room for doubt; RHCP undoubtedly played their first concert in late 1982.
The book details the band’s creation and the concerts they played within that first year-in fact, everything is set against the chronological backdrop of said concerts. It talks about the writing process and the creation of their first songs (and when they were played live for the first time). It discusses the band’s rise out of underground obscurity while many of their fellow bands failed to do so. Recording demos, appointments of key staff & the signing of contracts are examined in a fresh way. It’s also fascinating to see names of friends and fellow musicians mentioned who we now know would later take on key roles throughout the band’s career e.g. several names mentioned are involved in The Silverlake Conservatory of Music today. It answers questions in new detail which have only been skimmed over before; most notably why RHCP, rather than the more likely What Is This, was the band which was the successful out of the two. It discusses the growing relationship between Flea and Anthony which has provided the rock of stability for the band throughout their whole career. Everything is included but it’s never overload.
I’m always concerned when sent an edition of a book with the intention I review it (I know Hamish intended it as a thank you but his publisher was hinting at a review). Even more so when I know the person who wrote it. “What if I don’t like it?” offers a dilemma of what I should then say in my review if that proves to be the case. But there was no such dilemma for this book and I would want to recommend it anyway as so many fans will appreciate it too and Hamish deserves the support for his incredible work.
Hamish ought to be the band’s official biographer. RHCP’s ‘An Oral/Visual History’ should have been produced to the standard of ‘Out in LA.’ It’s embarrassing for the band that a ‘mere’ fan can produce something of this high standard when they didn’t manage it themselves (yes, I know the sad details concerning its publication but someone really should have checked the content so it wasn’t published riddled with inaccuracies).
There are two drawbacks. One is that the book only covers 1983. I want one for every album/tour! (Although I know that’s an unreasonable wish because of sheer amount of work involved). The other drawback is that the people within the band are only represented through their words in interviews and autobiographies and they don’t always address the queries that crop up, but that isn’t Hamish’s fault. That fault lies with the band who are now so ensconced in their ivory towers that not only can’t mere mortals access them, but the stepladders have been cast aside so there’s no management you can easily contact for information either. And that point sadly also means it’s unlikely any of the band members will ever read this book. And that’s beyond a shame as it’s so exceptional. And if they read it, they might finally even use the correct date for their first concert they ever performed …
Please support Hamish’s outstanding work by buying this book. Any true Chili Pepper’s fan will be very glad they did!

RHCP on the Tippa My Tongue

The Red Hot Chili Peppers are set to release the first single from their forthcoming album, Return of the Dream Canteen, called Tippa My Tongue this Friday (19th August). A snippet has been released on the RHCP’s social media accounts:

Return of the Dream Canteen

Comments have been made by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ band members during interviews saying they had written enough material for a second album and that was confirmed with RHCP’s announcement during the Denver concert and on social media, that another double album, entitled Return of the Dream Canteen, will be released on 14th October! 


As always when a new album is announced, rumour and speculation is running hand in hand with facts and it’s hard to distinguish which is which. Early on today, two different photos of a track list appeared. Both were hand-written with one looking like it was written by AK. Then photos came out showing what looked like the back of the album with the (same) track list shown. I’ve only just got time to post and I went to look for the artwork photos only to struggle to find one. I did see a comment on a fan Instagram account saying the artwork pics were fake. We’ll know definitely at some point.

Flea says he “thinks” Tippa My Tongue is the first single- there is video online of the band announcing the new album during the Denver concert. Again, I’ve seen posts saying this single will be out on Friday (29th July) but I can’t find any official confirmation of that as yet. The only date given officially is 14th October for the album release.

As for vinyl… It seems like pre-orders were released for both a pink and a white limited edition vinyl over what was night time for those of us outside America (sketchy info based on what I’ve seen others say as the posts had gone by morning here). It seems the pre-orders were linked to (the time of) the concert and were only available to American fans. Dark Side Records are currently (in case this link goes too!) offering a pre-order with an alterative cover (second one shown):

Unlimited Love for Australia and NZ!

Red Hot Chili Peppers have announced more tour dates! This time for New Zealand and Australia at the beginning of 2023.

Presales begin on July 8th (need to sign up to the official website for details) with the general sale beginning on 11th July. Support will be Post Malone.

Sign up for the RHCP newsletter at RedHotChiliPeppers.com

for exclusive access to the ticket presale

Presales begin July 8th
General on sale begins July 11th
See you there ??

 

RHCP Cancel Billboard Music Awards Performance

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will not be able to perform at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday.
They look forward to seeing you on the road this summer!

Source: BMA Twitter

No further details have been given except to announce the band’s replacement at the awards ceremony. The story is running on the Billboard website too but there is nothing yet about the cancellation on any of the band’s own social media sites.