The Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP or The Chili Peppers) was formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The band’s current line-up includes vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, however there have been a number of member changes over the years. Flea and Kiedis are the only founding members that have consistently been in RHCP.
The Chili Peppers released their self-titled debut album in 1994, followed by their sophomore album, Freaky Styley in 1985, and Uplift Mofo Party Plan in 1987. Original guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons did not play on RHCP’s debut album due to commitments to other bands. Instead, the album featured guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez. Slovak rejoined for Freaky Styley and Irons came back for The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. After Hillel Slovak died of a drug overdose in June of 1988, Irons left the band.
John Frusciante and Chad Smith joined the Chili Peppers in 1988 and recorded Mother’s Milk which was released the following year. Mother’s Milk became the band’s first successful album selling over 500,000 units and selling out the album’s entire tour. The follow-up Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 1991 became the band’s first commercial success peaking at #3 on the US Billboard 200 with help from the hit singles “Under the Bridge,” “Give It Away,” “Suck My Kiss,” “Breaking the Girl” and “If You Have to Ask.” Frusciante became uncomfortable with RHCP’s popularity and abruptly left the band while on tour in 1992. After a handful of temporary guitarists, Dave Navarro officially joined the band in 1993 and appeared on their sixth album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although the album reached number 4 on the US Billboard 200 and sold 2 million copies, it was considered a commercial failure because it sold fewer than half as many copies as its predecessor.
In 1998, Dave Navarro left the Chili Peppers and Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album, Californication was released in 1999 and became their biggest commercial success selling over 16 million copies worldwide. RHCP followed that up with By the Way in 2002 and Stadium Arcadium in 2006. Stadium Arcadium was their first album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and won 5 of the 7 Grammy nominations it received including Best Rock Album. Frusciante left the band again in 2009. He was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer for the next 10 years (2009-2019). Klinghoffer appeared on their 10th and 11th albums, I’m with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016). Frusciante once again rejoined the Chili Peppers in 2019 and the band announced new album plans before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the best-selling bands of all time with over 120 million records sold worldwide. They have won six Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. They hold a number of records as well, including one for the most number-one singles, one for most cumulative weeks at number one (85), and one for the most top-ten songs (25) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
In 2022, the Red Hot Chili Peppers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and released their 12th and 13th albums, Unlimited Love (4/1/2022) and Return of the Dream Canteen (10/14/2022).
Discography
