Here at Enter the Shell the end of August can mean two things: Back to school, and the EtS birthday. We’re not too concerned about the school part, though enrollment in the EtS School of Cool is at an all time high. So for our third birthday, it’s time to rock out with our (insert rhyming expletive here)s out, and jam out with our (insert rhyming expletive here)s out with a local band who’ve been in the business for nearly 30 years and who are dropping their tenth studio album, I’m with You, next week. This week’s legendary artist is none other than Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Formed by high school friends in the early 80’s, Anthony Kiedis, Michael Balzary, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons began their funk-punk infused journey as the band Tony Flow & the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. Playing strip bars on the sunset strip, the band developed a talent for showmanship and they truly did begin to rock with their (insert same rhyming expletive)s out. Performing with nothing but their instruments and their skin-flutes concealed in tube socks, the Masters of Mayhem were on their way to stardom. The Masters became Red Hot Chili Peppers, Balzary became Flea, and Slovak and Irons departed the band (for the first time).
RHCP’s line up changed several times and after the first album, Slovak and Irons came back to the band for two more albums until in 1988 Slovak died of a heroine overdose, prompting Irons to leave once again. Line ups changed more, with Kiedis and Flea remaining constant. With John Frusciante’s arrival, the band seemed to make the quantum leap to unprecedented fame. After the release of 1989’s Mother’s Milk, constant MTV and radio play helped the band take on the role of super stars. Though the band managed to maintain their fame, their line ups continued to change, and even managed to enlist the talents of Dave Navarro.
Since their debut in the early 80’s Red Hot Chili Peppers have been an influence to musicians and have set the bar for what on-stage entertainment should be. Taking the aggression of the punk scene and the grooves of the funk scene, audiences all over were offered something to rock out and move your hips to. With passion and energy exploding into a live crowd, one got the best of both worlds. Their music gave the ability to jump around, but without the stale repetition that punk can often have.
Band drama aside, the Chili Peppers have managed to accomplish unbelievable amounts of success. The band enjoys copious amounts of radio play and have over 65 million albums sold worldwide along with several Grammies and chart-topping singles. Though you won’t see them with their tube socks over their junk, you can still see and hear them pumping out hits and delivering the same amount of energy as ever. With their new album set to release next week, another marker has been reached in the book of RHCP. With fame already at hand, where they go now is all up to them. And hey, maybe we’ll see Flea in a few more movies. Get your fix below.
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