The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been writing and releasing music for the entirety of my existence. I was born in 1989, and their initial self-titled album was released in 1984. They have been a big influence on me as a musician and a soundtrack to my life. This dates all the way to their (admittedly disappointing) 2022 release Unlimited Love. Almost every major moment in my life can be attached to a certain RHCP song or album that I was listening to or performing at the time. I have a Bachelor of Music majoring in performance and am by no means an expert. I do, however have an extensive musical background which guides my opinions on the subject.
The RHCP’s music has undergone many evolutions since they started on the LA scene writing songs grounded in funk.
On this day in 1984, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ debut, self-titled album was released! Produced by Andy Gill.
Listen now: https://t.co/wlGvYxkvZZ pic.twitter.com/1Q5TlzTWfo
— Red Hot Chili Peppers (@ChiliPeppers) August 10, 2019
Like any iconic rock group, they managed to adapt enough to stay relevant despite some incredibly disruptive personal struggles within the band. This was also a factor that fascinated me about them. The storylines away from the music are the kind that only rock and roll can procure.
Tragedy and drug abuse have marred the creative process at times for the Peppers. Original guitarist Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988. Both singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea come from immense childhood trauma and have used drugs for most of their lives. While drummer Chad Smith seems to have had a more benign life in comparison, he has had his brush-ups with the law. These storylines are not necessarily rooted in good and positivity, but throughout all this turbulence they managed to create an incredible career and a deep archive of songs that drew me into their eclectic universe.
After Slovak’s passing, Jon Frusciante joined the band as the next permanent guitarist. Unfortunately, Frusciante also struggled with addiction over his career. He left the band in 1992 and entered an incredibly fast and detrimental downward spiral of heroin and cocaine usage. By the time he re-entered the Peppers in 1998, he had amassed 5 overdoses and needed a completely new set of teeth. The musical product suffered in his absence, as Dave Navarro just did not offer the same stylistic taste or songwriting capabilities.
https://twitter.com/rhcpsessions/status/1522802451543629825
Yet, the main element of the band that keeps me so close to the music is Frusciante. Being a guitar player myself, I have always admired how he weaves his own style into their music. There is something whimsical and effortless about the melodies he crafts. Kiedis is so busy lyrically that there is not always a lot of space for Frusciante to work, especially in their earlier material. But he always makes the most of the windows that he has.
He treats the guitar like another voice in the band, and his lines are often rooted in establishing harmony when the rap-rock style lyrics cannot. This ability to give the guitar a distinct melody is also evident in how he creates his solos. Instead of being flashing and showing off his chops, Frusciante always elected to focus more on the melodic structure and unique ways to use his pedalboard to elevate his solos. This can be seen here in Californication, where the solo is an expressive new voice in the ensemble that you could hum along to just as easily as the main vocal hook.
Some of the best RHCP moments are when Frusciante adds his backup vocals to the mix as well. His warm vocal tone sits naturally in a tenor range which allows for his harmonies to lightly float over the lead part. He does not possess the energy or traits to be a frontman, but he can deliver some of the best background vocals in modern rock. These harmonies are challenging to sing and pleasing to the ear. When they are added to the more relaxed and free-flowing writing of his guitar section, it results in a cacophony of harmonies (which is when the band reaches its greatest heights). Jon Frusciante’s creative stamp on the RHCPs is a major reason their music remained relevant to me for so many years.
One song I must mention is Can’t Stop, because of my high school band’s connection to it. I used to play in a small three-piece band in high school called Burning Light Out. A wave of nostalgia as I type that. We would perform at house parties and do cover sets, and this song was one of the best ways to get a crowd fired up. Right from the initial build-up of the guitar hammer on section, I can recall the blurry living room setting in front of me and red keg cups in the crowds’ hands. We would often open with the set with this one and that build-up to the main guitar hook will forever take me back to dropping into those performances. As soon as I hear the song start, I am transported to the glow of my pedalboard as I start to play the riff. I would lock eyes with my drummer, who would lead the crescendo and give the final nod before chaos ensued. We would all hit the main hook and start jumping around like idiots, bumping into the crowd, and getting the party going. It is fun to think of those old high school sets, and this song will always bridge me to those times.
I would also be remised if I did not mention the most influential and impactful album in their catalogue. Stadium Arcadium was released when I was in high school, and it was a massive deal. This double-sided album is the peak of their discography. Paying homage to their funk roots but fully embracing the modern pop and rock tunes that had been gaining momentum from the success of Californication. This album was one of the few I can still listen to cover to cover, just as I would driving home from high school. Hard to Concentrate is a tune that will always stick with me as it was on the wedding playlist that I curated. The Peppers are often thought of for their energy and pizazz, but this is the softest moment that they hit out of the park. It is the whimsy of Frusciante with the best vocal tone that Kiedis has to offer. The result and context of the lyrics will forever take me to my wedding – the soft drum line bobbing along to the happiest evening of my life.
It is astounding to me that these guys have been churning out quality music for as long as I have had air in my lungs. They are not the most talented band ever, but something about their sound always had a place on my airwaves. Do you have a similarly influential artist in your life? Perhaps even one that has been creating for your entire time on planet earth?