# Red Hot Chili Peppers

By [Opel](https://paragraph.com/@winnereveryehere) · 2023-01-21

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**Red Hot Chili Peppers** are an American [rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_music) band formed in [Los Angeles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles) in 1983, comprising vocalist [Anthony Kiedis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Kiedis), bassist [Flea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flea_\(musician\)), drummer [Chad Smith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Smith), and guitarist [John Frusciante](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Frusciante). Their music incorporates elements of [alternative rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_rock), [funk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk), [punk rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punk_rock), [hard rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_rock), [hip hop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music), and [psychedelic rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_rock). Their eclectic range has influenced genres such as [funk metal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funk_metal),[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-1) [rap metal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_metal),[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-gw-2) [rap rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rap_rock),[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-3) and [nu metal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_metal).[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-4)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-gw-2) With over 120 million records sold worldwide, Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the [best-selling bands of all time](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_music_artists).[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-5) They hold the records for most number-one singles (14), most cumulative weeks at number one (85) and most top-ten songs (25) on the [_Billboard_ Alternative Songs chart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_Alternative_Songs_chart).[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers#cite_note-2020book-6) They have won six [Grammy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award), were inducted into the [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame) in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame).

Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by Kiedis, Flea, guitarist [Hillel Slovak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_Slovak) and drummer [Jack Irons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Irons). Due to commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on the band's 1984 [self-titled debut album](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers_\(album\)), which instead featured guitarist [Jack Sherman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Sherman) and drummer [Cliff Martinez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Martinez). Slovak rejoined for their second album, [_Freaky Styley_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaky_Styley) (1985), and Irons for their third, [_The Uplift Mofo Party Plan_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Uplift_Mofo_Party_Plan) (1987). Irons left after Slovak died of a [drug overdose](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_overdose) in June 1988.

With new recruits Frusciante and Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded [_Mother's Milk_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother%27s_Milk_\(album\)) (1989) and their first major commercial success, [_Blood Sugar Sex Magik_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Sugar_Sex_Magik) (1991). Frusciante was uncomfortable with their newfound popularity and left abruptly on tour in 1992. After a series of temporary guitarists, he was replaced by [Dave Navarro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Navarro), who appeared on the group's sixth album, [_One Hot Minute_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Hot_Minute) (1995). Although successful, the album failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of _Blood Sugar Sex Magik_. Frusciante and Kiedis struggled with drug addiction throughout the 1990s.

In 1998, following Navarro's departure, Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album, [_Californication_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_\(album\)) (1999), became their biggest commercial success, with 16 million copies sold worldwide. [_By the Way_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/By_the_Way) (2002) and [_Stadium Arcadium_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium_Arcadium) (2006) were also successful; _Stadium Arcadium_ was their first album to reach number one on the [_Billboard_ 200](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billboard_200) chart. Frusciante left again in 2009 to focus on his solo career; he was replaced by [Josh Klinghoffer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Klinghoffer), who appeared on [_I'm with You_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_with_You_\(album\)) (2011) and [_The Getaway_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Getaway_\(Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers_album\)) (2016), before Frusciante rejoined in 2019. They released their 12th and 13th albums, [_Unlimited Love_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unlimited_Love) and [_Return of the Dream Canteen_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return_of_the_Dream_Canteen), in 2022

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*Originally published on [Opel](https://paragraph.com/@winnereveryehere/red-hot-chili-peppers)*