Red Hot Chili Peppers
These engaging Hollywood ruffians mixed funk and punk in the mid-'80s and encouraged a legion of bands to regurgitate the formula. Led by ‘Antwan The Swan’ (b. Anthony Kiedis; vocals), the band's original line-up also featured ‘Flea’ (b. Michael Balzary, Melbourne, Australia), Hillel Slovak (b. Israel; guitar, d. 25 June 1988) and Jack Irons (b. California, USA; drums). They began life as garage band Anthem before Balzary departed for seminal '80s punks Fear. When Irons and Slovak moved on to join the less notable What Is This?, the nails appeared to be firmly in place on the Anthem coffin. However, under their new name, the Red Hot Chili Peppers acquired a speculative recording deal with EMI America. Unfortunately, as Irons and Slovak were under contract with their new band, their debut album had to be recorded with Jack Sherman on guitar and Cliff Martinez (ex-Captain Beefheart, Weirdos) on drums. Production was handled, somewhat surprisingly, by the Gang Of Four's Andy Gill. The results were disappointing. Nevertheless the band set about building their considerable reputation as a live outfit, much of which was fuelled by their penchant for appearing semi-naked or worse. Slovak returned to guitar duties for the second album, this time produced by George Clinton. Also featured was a horn section comprising Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley, veterans of James Brown among others. Martinez returned shortly after to reinstate the original Anthem line-up, and their third album saw a shift back to rock from the soul infatuation of its predecessors. 1988 brought the release of their renowned ABBEY ROAD EP, featuring a pastiche of the famous Beatles album pose on the cover (the band were totally naked save for socks covering their genitalia). However, the mood was darkened when Slovak took an accidental heroin overdose and died in June. Deeply upset, Irons left, while the band recruited John Frusciante (guitar) and Chad Smith (drums). After the release of FREAKY STYLEY the single Knock Me Down was released as a tribute to Slovak. Of their most recent excursion, 1991's BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK, they successfully diagnosed their motivation, and much of their attraction: ‘Just recognizing that I was a freak, but knowing that was a cool place to be.’ Producer Rick Rubin, usually associated with the harder end of the metal spectrum (Slayer, Danzig), nevertheless brought out the Peppers’ first ballads. Such sensitivity has done little to deter the vanguard of critics who have long since raged at what they saw as the band's innate sexism. Frusciante was replaced in June 1992 by Arik Marshall, who in turn was sacked one year later. 1994 saw new guitarist Dave Navarro (ex-Jane's Addiction) perform his live UK debut as the band headlined the Reading Festival, before joining the Rolling Stones on their US tour.