Artist: RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Album: STADIUM ARCADIUM (2CD)

Year: 2006/ 2019
EAN/UPS: 0093624422228
Media type: CD

Hardcore Funk mongers RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS have attained global cross over appeal by way of their obvious on and offstage lunacy and unique blend of funked up, souled out Rock. The band's history can be traced back to Israeli guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Iron's Los Angeles club act CHAIN REACTION. Adding bassist Alain Johannes this band became ANTHYM in 1979. Slovak and Irons created a knockabout side project with Australian born bassist Michael 'Flea' Balzary and vocalist Anthony Keidis (then going under the name of 'Antwan The Swan') with the unwieldy title of TONY FLOW AND THE MIRACULOUSLY MAJESTIC MASTERS OF MAYHEM. Keidis had previously been a child actor, appearing as Sylvester Stallone's son in the 1976 movie 'Fist'.

At this stage the band was purely a release valve as Slovak and Irons had career intentions with their main act, now retitled WHAT IS THIS?

Keidis suggested the more sensible title of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS in 1983, culling this from two well known Los Angeles clubs, Chili Willies and Red Hot Pepper. The band famously signed to major label EMI, insisting this ceremony be performed naked!

However, both Irons and Slovak decided to stick it out with WHAT IS THIS? and ex-WEIRDOS and TEENAGE JESUS guitarist Cliff Martinez and former CAPTAIN BEEFHEART drummer Jack Sherman were drafted for their 1984 self titled debut, produced by Andy Hill of GANG OF FOUR.

In 1985 Flea took time out to sub in notorious Punk band FEAR. The drummer with FEAR, ex-D.O.A. Canadian Chuck Biscuits, joined RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS for a brief term prior to finding national recognition with SAMHAIN and DANZIG.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 1985 follow up, 'Freaky Styley' recorded with Slovak back in tow, was produced by Funk Godfather George Clinton and included covers of THE METEORS 'Hollywood (Africa)' and SLY STONE's 'If You Want Me To Stay'. Guests included FUNKADELIC's Fred Wesley and Maceo Parker. The band appeared with 'Set It Straight' in the 1986 movie 'Tough Guys'.

By 1988's 'Uplift Mojo Party Plan' RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS had Irons part of the band again and were starting to attain some serious record sales and receiving attention globally. EMI Records objected though to the song 'Party On Your Pussy', duly changed by the band to 'Special Secret Song Inside'. However, the band's joy was cut short by the death of Slovak in the summer of that year from a heroin overdose. Keidis was wrestling with his own drug demons too, exorcising this with a sabbatical to Mexico, and as a consequence Irons opted out to create ELEVEN reuniting with Johannes, later joining PEARL JAM in 1995.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS persevered during 1989, bringing in former TOBY REDD drummer Chad Smith (Chadwick Gaylord Smith) and former RED KROSS, THELONIOUS MONSTER and CIRCLE JERKS man Zander Schloss. The latter only managed a handful of gigs before John Frusciante joined the fold. Frusciante had just accepted an offer to join the fellow Los Angeles act THELONIOUS MONSTER but the same day got the call from the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. The album was originally to be titled 'Rocking Freakapotomous' but Keidis adopted this title for the band's fan club instead.

Live dates found Flea's extrovert nature taking full hold. Well known for playing his bass hanging upside down by now Flea's stage attire consisted of either a pair of Y fronts or a baby's nappy.

Flea continued his ad hoc movie career by appearing as Michael J. Fox's boss, made up to look like an old man, in the movie 'Back To The Future II'. Flea was also in the follow up movie sporting a huge mohican!

1990 brought further trouble for the band as a backstage frolic went badly wrong. Keidis was jailed for indecent exposure and sexual battery. Both Flea and Smith were charged at the same time.

'Blood Sugar Sex Magick' album finally broke the band into the big league. Produced by Rick Rubin on new label Warners the band scored an American number 1 with the ballad 'Under The Bridge'. The album broke the US top 5 and 'Give It Away' gave the act its first British top ten single. Touring in America saw the TWO FREE STOOGES as support, actually a duo of erstwhile band member Zander Schloss and drummer Bobby Schayer. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS also toured as headline act for 1992's 'Lollapalooza' touring festival.

The band were still blighted by line up problems though as Frusciante had bailed out to go solo (issuing the 1994 album 'Niandra Ladies And Usually Just The Shirt' and a later effort 'Smile From The Streets You Hold'). The band recruited ex-MARSHALL LAW man Arik Marshall whose first gig was in front of 60'000 fans at a festival in Belgium. Before long though Marshall was out and in came Jesse Tobias.

Another Rick Rubin produced effort, 1995's 'One Hot Minute', saw the exit of Tobias and welcoming of new guitarist Dave Navarro, previously with the eclectic JANE'S ADDICTION. HUMAN WASTE PROJECT's Aimee Echo contributed backing vocals.

Flea and Smith created a side project THERMIDOR in 1996 cutting the 'Monkey On Rico' album.

In time out both Navarro and Flea teamed up with the guitarist's former JANE'S ADDICTION colleague Perry Farrel to create an incarnation of that band for a 1997 tour of America. Although the tour was a quick sell out both men returned to their priority act.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS had yet another British hit with a cover of THE OHIO PLAYER's cut 'Love Rollercoaster', recorded for the 'Beavis & Butthead Do America' movie. The band shared this single with 60's crooner ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK!

Dave Navarro split in 1998 to concentrate on solo work and the SPREAD project in collusion with Smith. Rumours that John Frusciante was to make a return abounded. However, a reporter from the Los Angeles Times tracked the guitarist down only to find a heroin addict that had reportedly lost his teeth such was his health so bad. The printed article shocked the Rock fraternity. However, pulling himself back into the land of the living, Frusciante did in fact rejoin the fold, debuting on the 'Scar Tissue' single.

Flea involved himself on a version of the 1970 EDWIN STARR hit 'War' that also included HENRY ROLLINS, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello and Rappers BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY for inclusion on the 'Small Heroes' movie soundtrack.

Navarrro issued his debut solo album in 2000 titled 'Spread'. His erstwhile colleague Chad Smith supplied drums.

Flea has made numerous appearances in film and music. ALANIS MORRISETTE's huge hit 'You Oughta Know' has both Flea and Navarro playing on it, the duo also perform on PORNO FOR PYROS track 'Hard Charger' on the Howard Stern movie soundtrack 'Private Parts' and the bassist supplies the groove to M.C. YOUNG's hit 'Bust A Move'. The man has also contributed to album's by JANE'S ADDICTION's 'Nothing's Shocking', WARREN ZEVON's 'Sentimental Hygiene', JOHNNY CASH's 'Unchained' and MICK JAGGER's 'Wandering Spirit'.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS were of course brought to the attention of a whole new mass market audience when girl band ALL SAINTS had a huge global hit with 'Under The Bridge'. The band, with a rejuvenated and healthy Frusciante back on board, bounced back quite spectacularly in 2000 with the 'Californication' opus. The album hosted a succession of huge radio hits and gave the band both renewed status and sustained world-wide album sales.

Kiedis, Frusciante and Flea would all divert their attentions to a guest showing on the 2001 'Blowback' album by British Electro Popster TRICKY. Flea turned up in the movies yet again when he played the part of Casanova's ghost in the 2001 film 'Goodbye Casanova'. Other studio activity found the band appearing amongst a genuine all star cast donating their take of ‘Havana Beach’ to the 2002 Joey Ramone and ROB ZOMBIE assembled RAMONES tribute album 'We're A Happy Family'.

The reception afforded internationally to the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS eagerly anticipated new studio album 'By The Way' confirmed the band's status, debuting at no. 1 in Australia, Germany, Holland and the UK, the latter territory also witnessing chart re-entries for 'Californication' and 'Blood Sugar Sex Magick'. In the USA 'By The Way' bowed in at the no. 2 spot. A world tour kicked off in the traditional environs of New Zealand and Australia during November, support on the Australian leg coming from PAPA ROACH.

Frusciante included his version of 'Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World' to the ROB ZOMBIE assembled tribute to the RAMONES 'We're A Happy Family'. 2004 opened with Chad Smith busy on the live front with the DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH credited GLENN HUGHES. , featuring on the concert DVD 'Soulfully Yours In The City Of Angels'. September found Chad Smith recording the song 'Soul Mover' with former RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist DAVE NAVARRO and GLENN HUGHES. The following month Smith roped in JOHN FRUSCIANTE in a further union with Hughes to cut a cover version of THE MOODY BLUES 'Nights In White Satin'.

Commencing work in March 2005, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS announced a new, Rick Rubin produced double album entitled 'Stadium Arcadium'. This emerged in May 2006 as an expansive 28 song double CD set, with discs titled 'Jupiter' and 'Mars'. Quite spectacularly, not only did 'Stadium Arcadium' give the band it's first ever US number 1 bit also grabbed the top spot in over 20 other countries, selling over 2 million copies in its first week of sale.

TRACKLIST CD1:

1. Dani California
2. Snow (Hey Oh)
3. Charlie
4. Stadium Arcadium
5. Hump De Bump
6. She's Only 18
7. Slow Cheetah
8. Torture Me
9. Strip My Mind
10. Especially In Michigan
11. Warlocks
12. C'mon Girl
13. Wet Sand
14. Hey

TRACKLIST CD2:

15. Desecration Smile
16. Tell Me Baby
17. Hard To Concentrate
18. 21st Century
19. She Looks To Me
20. Readymade
21. If
22. Make You Feel Better
23. Animal Bar
24. So Much I
25. Storm In A Teacup
26. We Believe
27. Turn It Again
28. Death Of A Martian

LINE-UP:

Anthony Keidis (vocals)
John Frusciante (guitar)
Flea (bass)
Chad Smith (drums)