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Red Hot Chili Peppers Bio Southern California's Red Hot Chili Peppers have earned the title of one of the most enduring bands of the past two decades. Despite group controversy and numerous setbacks, the band has risen time and time again to retain their huge fanbase and climb even higher. Part of the Chili Pepper's success lies in it's originality: the band mixes an eclectic sound of funk, punk and thrash with even more eclectic members. Fronted by lead signer Anthony Kiedis, the original lineup consisted of bassist "Flea" (born Michael Balzary), guitar player Hillel Slovak (who died in 1988), and drummer Jack Irons. The four musicians met at Los Angeles’ Fairfax High and brought together diverse roots. The only member who was actually born in California was Jack Irons. Kiedis hailed from Michigan, Flea from Australia and Slovak from Israel. The group's first project was a band called An-them School, a project which was fortunately short-lived. Balzary soon left to join the punk rock band Fear, while Irons and Slovak joined forces to create a spin-off group called What Is This? It wasn't until 1983, with Flea back on board and a new name - the Red Hot Chili Peppers - that the band began making serious inroads into the music industry. Despite the absence of Irons and Slovak (who were under contractual obligations to What Is This?), the new group, consisting of Flea, Kiedis, Jack Sherma, and Cliff Martinez, managed to release a self-titled debut. Soon Irons and Slovak would return, and the Chili Pepper's set about the ultimately successful task of achieving recognition for their energetic live show. In 1985 the band released their second album Freaky Styley, produced by George Clinton. Although the album failed to achieve high sales with the album, it was a critically step in the development of the still young Red Hot Chili Peppers. It wasn't until their third album that the band returned to it's Anthem roots and presented its original lineup. The Uplift Mofo Party Plan was released in 1987 to better-than-expected record sales and featured one of the band's most legendary songs, "Party on Your Pussy". Tragedy struck the band shortly after the release of their next album, the Abbey Road EP when guitarist Hillel Slovak died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1988. Dumbstruck and depressed, the band was on the verge of falling apart after Irons left to come to terms with what had happened. To replace the two departed members of their band, the remaining Chili Peppers recruited drummer Chad Smith and fan John Frusciante on guitars.

Sponsored Links: EMusic FREE Trial MP3 Subscriptions  Market your band or artist Get 100 Free 80's MP3s at EMusic Red Hot Chili Peppers @ CanEHdian Message Board Audio Files Album Reviews Interactive Poll Links Store Newsletter Mother's Milk was released in 1989 and it seemed as though the band would finally climb the music ladder. Building upon the success of their Slovak tribute " Knock Me Down" and the Stevie Wonder cover "Higher Ground", the band achieved modest MTV exposure and were set form something bigger. Hard times fell once again, however, as the band found its way into trouble. Kiedis was convicted of indecent exposure and sexual battery in 1989 and the band greater even larger problems during the taping of a MTV special. Flea and Smith had an altercation with a female audience member and were promptly charged and found guilty of numerous, moderately serious battery charges. It was with the release of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's next album, BloodSugarSexMagik that the band slowly began to turn things around. The release was both a critical and commercial success, selling more than three million copies and featuring the hit singles "'Under The Bridge" and "Give It Away". Critics differed, however, on just what message the album held. While some felt that it was a mark in the career of the Chili Peppers, others "raged at what they saw as the band's innate sexism". If anything, the album announced to the world that the Red Hot Chili Pepper's had arrived. A headlining act followed on Lollapalooza, and record sales remained strong. In May 1992 Frusciante left the band and was ultimately replaced ex-Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro. The Chili Pepper's remained fairly silent until 1995 when the monster animated film Beavis And Butt-Head Do America was released to theatres. "Love Rollercoaster", a Chili Pepper's track featured on the movie's soundtrack reached the charts and brought the band back into the public eye. The Red Hot Chili Pepper's endless member-shuffle continued in 1998 as the newest member Navarro left and was replaced by ex-member John Frusciante. Their latest album Californication came out in 1999 and has also done extremely well on the record charts, featuring the stand-out single of the same name. Dave Brosha, CanEHdian.com. Copyright 2000.