"Red Hot Chili Peppers": An Oral/Visual History

Few rock groups of the '80s broke down as many musical barriers as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Creating an intoxicating new musical style by combining funk and punk rock (with an explosive stage show, to boot), the Chili Peppers spawned a slew of imitators in their wake, but still managed to be the leaders of the pack by the dawn of the 21st century. Multiple Grammy Award-winning American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed by three school chums Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, and Hillil Slovak in 1983. For the most part, the group's lineup has consisted of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), John Frusciante (guitar), Michael 'Flea' Balzary (bass), and Chad Smith (drums). They hold the record for the most number one singles on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart, with 11, and a record of 81 weeks at number one.

Their career and individual lives have been eventful to say the least. Just as the world was warming up to the Chili Peppers with their album Freaky Styley, tragedy struck when Slovak died from a heroin overdose on 25 June 1988. The band went onto enormous international success with singles such as ‘Give It Away‘ and ‘Under the Bridge’. But all was not well in the Chili Peppers' camp. Like his predecessor, Frusciante had become addicted to hard drugs, and abruptly left the band mid-tour in early 1992. Rumours circulated that the guitarist was homeless, penniless and sickly with a death-defying drug habit. After checking himself into rehab and putting his demons behind him, Frusciante emerged once again refocused and re-energized, and promptly accepted an invitation to rejoin the Peppers once more. The rest - as they say - is history, with the release of such commercially successful and critically acclaimed albums as Californication and By the Way. The band's ground-breaking live performances, enormous struggles with drugs, wild partying and changing line-up is all here, in the ultimate authorized celebration of the world's most exciting and successful band.

About the Author:
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the most successful bands of all time, having sold over 55 million albums worldwide. Originally formed in 1983, for the most part the group’s lineup has consisted of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), John Frusciante (guitar), Michael ‘Flea’ Balzary (bass) and Chad Smith (drums).