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These engaging Hollywood ruffians mixed funk, punk and grunge in the mid-80s and encouraged a legion of other bands to regurgitate the formula. Led by 'Antwan The Swan' (b. Anthony Kiedis, 1 November 1962, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA; vocals), the band's original line-up also featured 'Flea' (b. Michael Balzary, 16 October 1962, Melbourne, Australia; bass), Hillel Slovak (b. 31 March 1962, Israel, d. 25 June 1988; guitar) and Jack Irons (b. California, USA; drums). They began life as garage band Anthem before Balzary departed for seminal 80s punks Fear. When Irons and Slovak moved on to join the less notable What Is This?, the nails appeared to be firmly in place on the Anthem coffin. However, under their new name, the Red Hot Chili Peppers acquired a speculative recording contract with EMI Records America. Unfortunately, as Irons and Slovak were under contract with their new band, their debut album had to be recorded with Jack Sherman on guitar and Cliff Martinez (ex- Captain Beefheart ; Weirdos ) on drums. Production was handled, somewhat surprisingly, by the Gang Of Four 's Andy Gill. The band set about building their considerable reputation as a live outfit, much of which was fuelled by their penchant for appearing semi-naked or worse. Slovak returned to guitar for the second album, this time produced by George Clinton. Also featured was a horn section comprising Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, veterans of James Brown, among others. Martinez returned shortly afterwards to reinstate the original Anthem line-up, and their third album saw a shift back to rock from the soul infatuation of its predecessors. In 1988 they released the Abbey Road EP, featuring a pastiche of the famous Beatles album pose on the cover (the band were totally naked save for socks covering their genitalia). However, the mood was darkened when Slovak took an accidental heroin overdose and died in June. Deeply upset, Irons left, while the band recruited John Frusciante (guitar) and Chad Smith (b. 25 October 1962, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; drums). After the release of Mother's Milk, the single 'Knock Me Down' was released as a tribute to Slovak. On their most commercially successful excursion, 1991's BloodSugarSexMagik, they accurately diagnosed their motivation, and much of their attraction: 'Just recognizing that I was a freak, but knowing that was a cool place to be.' Producer Rick Rubin, usually associated with the harder end of the metal and rap spectrum ( Slayer, Danzig ), nevertheless brought out the Peppers' first ballads, including the classic 'Under The Bridge'. Such sensitivity has done little to deter the vanguard of critics who have long since raged at what they saw as the band's innate sexism. Frusciante was replaced in June 1992 by Arik Marshall, who in turn was sacked one year later. In 1994 new guitarist Dave Navarro (b. 7 June 1967, Santa Monica, California, USA; ex- Jane's Addiction ) joined in time to participate in recording One Hot Minute, released in 1995. Navarro left the band in 1998 and was replaced by ex-member John Frusciante. Having endured various personal upheavals, it was encouraging to hear the band in such good shape on 1999's US/UK Top 5 album, Californication, which featured stand-out tracks such as the lead-off single, 'Scar Tissue', and the melodic 'Easily'.
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Albums
| Year | Label | Title | |
| 1984 | EMI (America) | The Red Hot Chili Peppers | |
| 1985 | EMI (America) | Freaky Styley | |
| 1987 | EMI (America) | The Uplift Mofo Party Plan | |
| 1988 | Capitol/EMI Records | The Abbey Road E.P. | |
| 1989 | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab | Mother's Milk [Gold Disc] | |
| 1989 | EMI (America) | Mother's Milk [Edited] | |
| 1989 | EMI (America) | Mother's Milk [Gold Disc] | |
| 1991 | Warner Bros. Records | Blood Sugar Sex Magik | |
| 1992 | EMI (America) | What Hits? | |
| 1994 | EMI (America) | Out In L.A. | |
| 1995 | Warner Bros. Records | One Hot Minute | |
| 1998 | EMI-Capitol Entertainment Prop | Essential | |
| 1999 | Warner Bros. Records | Californication | |
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