The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in Los Angeles by Kiedis, Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. Due to commitments to other bands, Slovak and Irons did not play on the band's 1984 self-titled debut album, which instead featured guitarist Jack Sherman and drummer Cliff Martinez. Slovak rejoined for their second album, Freaky Styley (1985), and Irons for their third, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987). Irons left after Slovak died of a drug overdose in June 1988.
With new recruits Frusciante and Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded Mother's Milk (1989) and their first major commercial success, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). Frusciante was uncomfortable with their newfound popularity and left abruptly on tour in 1992. After a series of temporary guitarists, he was replaced by Dave Navarro, who appeared on the group's sixth album, One Hot Minute (1995). Although successful, the album failed to match the critical or popular acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante and Kiedis struggled with drug addiction throughout the 1990s.
In 1998, following Navarro's departure, Frusciante rejoined the band. Their seventh album, Californication (1999), became their biggest commercial success, with 16 million copies sold worldwide. By the Way (2002) and Stadium Arcadium (2006) were also successful; Stadium Arcadium was their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Frusciante left again in 2009 to focus on his solo career; he was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer, who appeared on I'm with You (2011) and The Getaway (2016), before Frusciante rejoined in 2019. They released their 12th album, Unlimited Love, in 2022.
The Chili Peppers' mix of hard rock, funk and hip hop has influenced genres such as funk metal, rap metal, rap rock and nu metal. Kiedis said the band were early to combine "hardcore funk and hip-hop-style vocals", and suggested they had influenced Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and Linkin Park. Smith said, "Certainly Anthony's singing style and voice lends itself to being unique, and nobody sounds like him. The cool thing about it is we can play any style of music whether it's hard and fast, or loud or quiet, slow or medium, whatever it is; rock or funk, and it still sounds like us. I'm proud of that because sometimes bands don't have that strong personality where you go, 'Oh, that's boom, right away.'"
The Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame In April 2012. The induction lineup was Kiedis, Flea, Smith, Klinghoffer, Frusciante, Slovak (represented by his brother James), Irons and Martinez; Frusciante was invited, but did not attend. Navarro and Sherman were not inducted; Sherman said he felt "dishonored". The band performed "By the Way", "Give It Away" and "Higher Ground", which included Irons and Martinez on drums. It was the first time Kiedis and Flea had performed with Irons in more than 20 years.
In 2003, Rolling Stone released their first list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at 310 and Californication at 399. In 2012, a revised list was released, with Californication at 401. In 2020, Rolling Stone released another version of the list, with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at 186 and Californication at 286.
The band received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 31, 2022. George Clinton, Woody Harrelson and Bob Forrest unveiled the star at the ceremony.
American Ghost Dance
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the buffalo roam
And the death of a race is a game
Where seldom is heard
A peaceable word
From the white trash
Who killed as they came
They offer no relief
God save the queen
I am an Indian chief
There is a secret I keep
It's called the talking leaf
And you better believe
That he speaks his beliefs
Like a rock that bleeds
A sea of grief
My talking leaf speaks of
A wounded knee creek
American ghost dance
A new man who is with old ways
He walks the streets of life
But he's in chains
I'm alive he cried
I can feel the flame
Burning red inside
I am an Indian brave
There is a memory
That lives in my blood
Of the brand you laid
On all you touched
But the burning flame
Turns to burning pain
Genuine genocide
And that's truly insane
So like a wild hurricane
I will dance on the grave
Of my race that died
When it should have been saved
American ghost dance
The lyrics to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' song American Ghost Dance are a powerful commentary on the brutal history of Native Americans in the United States. The song opens with a desire for a home where the buffalo roam, a reference to the natural beauty and abundance of the American West before it was colonized. However, the reality of that colonization is quickly revealed in the line "And the death of a race is a game," which highlights the ways in which the white settlers and their descendants engaged in a violent campaign of conquest and genocide against the indigenous peoples of North America.
The lyrics continue with a focus on the brutality of this history, particularly as it relates to the ways in which Native Americans were treated by white settlers. The phrase "From the white trash/Who killed as they came" is a scathing indictment of the genocidal policies of American expansionism, and the following lines about the "talking leaf" and the memories of the brand laid on Native Americans by white people evoke the deep wounds and traumas that continue to impact Native American communities today.
The theme of resistance and resilience runs throughout the song as well, particularly in the lines "I'm alive he cried/I can feel the flame/Burning red inside" and "I will dance on the grave/Of my race that died/When it should have been saved." These lines suggest that despite the centuries of oppression and violence faced by Native Americans, there is still a spirit of resistance and a deep connection to heritage and culture that continues to burn fiercely.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh give me a home
I long for a place to call my own
Where the buffalo roam
Where the animals can wander free
And the death of a race is a game
Where killing people is treated like a sport
Where seldom is heard
Where people rarely
A peaceable word
Speak kindly
From the white trash
The white people who have no respect for others
Who killed as they came
Who murdered those they met
Though these words dig deep
Although these words are painful
They offer no relief
They do not bring any comfort
God save the queen
May the queen be safe
I am an Indian chief
I lead my people
There is a secret I keep
I have something hidden
It's called the talking leaf
It's a plant that I use to communicate
And you better believe
And you should trust
That he speaks his beliefs
That it expresses his values
Like a rock that bleeds
Like a stone that is wounded
A sea of grief
A lot of sadness
My talking leaf speaks of
The plant tells me about
A wounded knee creek
A place where my people were massacred
American ghost dance
A dance to honor our ancestors
A new man who is with old ways
Someone who respects our traditions
He walks the streets of life
He moves through the world
But he's in chains
But he is oppressed
I'm alive he cried
He shouts that he is still living
I can feel the flame
He experiences the passion
Burning red inside
That is deep within him
I am an Indian brave
I am a courageous Native American
There is a memory
There is something remembered
That lives in my blood
That is a part of me
Of the brand you laid
Of the mark you left
On all you touched
On all you came into contact with
But the burning flame
But the passion
Turns to burning pain
Becomes a source of agony
Genuine genocide
An actual attempt to destroy a people
And that's truly insane
And that's completely mad
So like a wild hurricane
So like a violent storm
I will dance on the grave
I will honor my ancestors
Of my race that died
Who were killed
When it should have been saved
When their lives should have been preserved
American ghost dance
A dance to remember our fallen relatives
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL PETER BALZARY, ANTHONY KIEDIS, CLIFF MARTINEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Alvarez
on Californication
People who harness the power of the mind try to manipulate your emotions
Young girls aspire to Hollywood fame and fortune while reciting memorable movie quotes
If you desire superficial fame and materialistic success, California is the place to be
California represents the epitome of the quintessential Western society
Although the sun rises in the East, California remains a constant and established location in contrast to the ever-changing world
Hollywood creates and sells the illusion of the California dream
Spend a lot of money to prevent or delay the physical symptoms of aging
The superficial appearance of celebrities can be deceiving; they may be fighting a personal battle to maintain their image
The rarities and impossible things that are unique to California
The explicit and suggestive nature of the entertainment industry in California
Marry me and be my inspiration to create new things and leave a mark in the world
Young women with information and resources at their disposal may make decisions that lead them down certain paths, such as becoming pregnant at a young age
Owning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a symbol of achieving fame and fortune, representative of the Californian dream
Despite space being seen as the most uncertain and mysterious frontier, the idea of it is created by Hollywood and is not a reality
Kurt Cobain, who died before the song was written, may still be listening to music in another realm
The fictional planet Alderaan from Star Wars represents another aspect of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood
People in California are often raised with the idea that control over population is important and necessary
Everyone has experienced being controlled or manipulating others in some way, which is not limited to people being on vacation
While destruction can lead to difficult times, it can also provide the opportunity for new and creative things to be born
Earthquakes, which may be seen as destructive and terrifying, can also be seen as inspiring or beneficial, similar to how a girl's guitar strings vibrate to produce beautiful music
Even in the face of disaster, the draw and allure of the Californian dream or illusion created by Hollywood remains strong
There is no way to measure someone's mental or emotional state, but perhaps you crave these superficial things that come with the Californian illusion
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