We Can’t Stop and won’t stop getting excited about our favourite artists here at Rockschool Singapore. We don’t want to Give It Away, but this band has been popular all Around the World since 1983 and, By The Way, were almost named the “Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem” (yikes, what a mouthful!).
That’s right, we’re talking about the Red Hot Chili Peppers – we’ll see you on the Otherside.
Do Not Try This At Home!
With over 80 million records sold worldwide, this LA rock band have cemented themselves as one of the best-selling artists of all time, and they’re certainly the most successful band in the history of alternative rock. That’s quite the achievement, right?!
Their 1984 debut album sold an enormous 300,000 copies, the success of which led to a slightly ridiculous tour of 60 shows in 64 days (do not try this at home!). The second album saw the band introduce a little more funk into their sound, something that they would become known and loved for in the future.
Sadly, it was early on in their journey that drugs began to take over, taking them from one disaster to the next. When album number three was on the horizon, multiple producers turned down the project. This might give you an idea of the scale of the problems they faced throughout their careers.
John Frusciante
John Frusciante (check him out on the cover of the Grade 1 Rockschool Classics for Electric Guitar!) joined the group in 1988, bringing with him a darker and more melodic rock style which the Red Hot Chili Peppers listeners loved. Album number four, the first to feature Frusciante, sold over 500,000 units. In fact, Mother’s Milk was such a success that record labels were fighting it out to represent them.
1991 saw Blood Sugar Sex Magik be released into the world, producing some of their biggest (and Grammy Award winning) hits like “Give It Away” and “Under The Bridge”. This album sold over 12 million copies! The Red Hot Chili Peppers were going from strength to strength.
For a period, the band lost John Frusciante and he was replaced by guitarist Dave Navarro, though this was not a match destined for success. He admitted fairly quickly that he was not too bothered by funk music or even jamming (a crime in their eyes, no doubt!). It’s safe to say that their relationship didn’t last long, and old favourite John Frusciante was back in 1998.
And then the moment that fans didn’t know they were waiting for, Californication. This album still remains their most successful of all time, with over 16 million copies sold. It produced a number of the biggest Chili Peppers tunes that we all know and love, including “Scar Tissue”, “Otherside” and “Californication”, of course.
Frusciante left the band in 2009 to pursue solo projects, with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer – another accomplished musician – filling in until 2019. If you caught the Chili Peppers at Formula One 2019, Klinghoffer featured in the lineup!
Now John Frusciante is back with the band, and will be with them as they play live at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 16th February 2023! Their 2 new albums “Unlimited Love” and “Return of the Dream Canteen” are definitely worth checking out.
The Rockschool Acoustic Guitar syllabus would simply not be complete without some influence from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. We’ve included “Road Trippin’” in the Grade 4 repertoire so you can satisfy your Chili cravings. You’re welcome!
The Red Hot Chili Peppers join some incredible artists on the Acoustic Guitar syllabus, including Alanis Morissette, Bill Withers, The Beatles and Taylor Swift, and don’t miss out on more RHCP goodness in the Grade 4 Ukulele Syllabus with “Under the Bridge”, as well as the Rockschool Classics Series books for Electric Guitar and Drums, and so be sure to check those out too.Get your Rockschool Books on our new E-Shop! Click here to check it out.