 Red Hot Chili Peppers are a multiple Grammy Award-winning American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. For the majority of their 24 years as a band, they have mainly consisted of, Anthony Kiedis (vocals), John Frusciante (guitar), Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), and Chad Smith (drums).
Throughout their career, the band has fused various elements of punk rock, funk, heavy metal, alternative, and rap. They hold the record for most number one singles on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart with 11, and has held a record of 81 weeks at number one.
Inconsistent and unstable lineups have influenced the band's music, style and success throughout the nine studio recordings they have produced. The band originally featured Hillel Slovak on guitar and Jack Irons on drums. After Slovak died of a heroin overdose, Irons resigned, and they were replaced with guitarist John Frusciante and Chad Smith. With the band, Frusciante assisted in propelling the foursome's once turbulent musical career into a successful and popular affair. Their second album together (fifth collectively), 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik, has since gone multi-platinum in numerous countries, and become an international sensation selling over 12 million copies, being labeled one of the most influential albums of all time. However, during the process, Frusciante became uncomfortable with the new found success of the band, abruptly parting from the group in the late summer of 1992. The Chili Peppers thus employed former Jane's Addiction guitarist, Dave Navarro for their subsequent album, One Hot Minute. Released in 1995, it failed to meet the recognition which Blood Sugar Sex Magik saw, and, as a result, sold roughly 5 million units, less than half of its predecessor; vast creative differences between him and the rest of the band caused Navarro to be fired from the Peppers not long after.
Frusciante, in his absence, became severely addicted to heroin and cocaine and almost lost his life. Nevertheless, in 1998 he completed drug rehabilitation and rejoined the Chili Peppers at the request of Flea. The foursome returned to the studio to create 1999's Californication, which would go on to sell 15 million units worldwide, becoming the band's most successful album to date. It was followed up three years later by By the Way, an album which showed a far more subdued side to the Chili Peppers. Four years following, the group released Stadium Arcadium, making it the first time a Red Hot Chili Peppers' line-up had not changed in three consecutive studio recordings.
Red Hot Chili Peppers (originally Tony Flow and the Miraculous Masters of Mayhem) were formed by Fairfax High School alumni Anthony Kiedis (vocals) Hillel Slovak (guitar), Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), and Jack Irons (drummer), following what was supposed to be a one-off performance. It was never the intent of the foursome to become part of the ubiquitous Los Angeles punk scene, as Slovak and Irons were already committed to another group, What Is This?. The band's first performance was at the Rhythm Lounge, to a limited crowd of roughly 30 people. One song had been created for the occasion,  which involved the band improvising music while Kiedis rapped a poem he had written called "Out in L.A.", regarding the wild, fanatical, and fervent scene that was L.A. Following a week of scrupulous practice, the band began to feel confident in their work.
The performance was so full of energy and vigor, that those in charge of promoting the show begged the band to return once again the next week. As a result, the band changed their name to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. There followed several shows at various LA clubs and musical venues. Six songs were derived from these initial shows, which were taped and recorded onto a demo tape, for reference and demonstration to, possibly, a record company.
Several months after their first performance, the band was signed to the record label EMI. However, two weeks prior, What Is This? had obtained a record deal with MCA; Slovak and Irons considered the Red Hot Chili Peppers a side project; so they quit to pursue their first project. Nonetheless, the two remaining Chili Peppers' minds were focused on enduring the hindrance. Cliff Martinez, an acquaintance of Flea's was asked to join the band shortly afterwards. Auditions for a new guitarist generated Jack Sherman, who was the exact opposite of what the Red Hot Chili Peppers were conceived of. Sherman failed to integrate into the compulsive lifestyles of the band members, consequently causing friction, and, often, arguments.
Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill was hired to produce their first album. Despite their warnings, he pushed the band to play with a cleaner, crisper and more radio viable sound, defying Anthony and Flea. This caused tension, as the Chili Peppers felt pressured into conforming into something they were not, and tried their best to remain original and unique. The Red Hot Chili Peppers was released on August 10, 1984, to virtually no commercial success. It initially sold an approximate 25,000 units, and garnered little marketable recognition. The ensuing tour did not fare any better, as circulating tension between Kiedis and Sherman began to compromise the transition between concert and daily band-life. Consequently, soon after, Sherman was fired; Hillel Slovak returned after the liquefaction of What Is This?. Free music ringtones
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