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.
Battle Ship
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
New Jersey's guns get ready to shoot
Take a walk down the firing room
Fire one it's shakedown cruise
Battle ship battle ship
See the sailor boys dressed in blue
Send the shell down the spiral groove
Bombs away it's a shakedown cruise Yeah
Battle ship battle ship
In Red Hot Chili Peppers' song Battle Ship, the lyrics describe the scene of a naval battle. The first line mentions Beirut, a city that has been at the center of many conflicts, and immediately sets the tone for a war-like atmosphere. The second line mentions New Jersey's guns getting ready to shoot, indicating that the battle is about to take place. The following lines give the listener a glimpse of the inside of a firing room, where the sailors are preparing to launch their attack. The repetition of the phrase "shakedown cruise" emphasizes that the attack is more of a practice run, a test of the ship's capabilities, than a real confrontation.
The chorus of the song is simple and direct: "Battle ship, battle ship". It serves as a reminder of the nature of the song, that it is about naval combat. The second verse contains similar imagery but also emphasizes the human aspect of the situation. The sailor boys dressed in blue cheer for the opportunity to make the news, indicating that they are excited for the chance to prove themselves in battle. The line "send the shell down the spiral groove" is a reference to the process of loading a shell into the gun before firing. The final line "bombs away it's a shakedown cruise" underscores the idea that this confrontation is not life or death, it is a test.
Line by Line Meaning
Three miles off the coast of Beirut
We are situated three miles away from Beirut's shoreline.
New Jersey's guns get ready to shoot
The firepower of New Jersey is prepared for attacking purposes.
Take a walk down the firing room
Come and join us as we enter into the firing room.
Fire one it's shakedown cruise
This is our first test and we're about to fire the first bullet.
Battle ship battle ship
Repeating the name of the vessel signifies its readiness for war.
See the sailor boys dressed in blue
Observe the naval soldiers dressed in blue clothing.
Cheer the change to make the news
Give your support to the shift in power that is going to make a headline.
Send the shell down the spiral groove
Launch the ammunition in the pathway of the corkscrew-shaped barrel.
Bombs away it's a shakedown cruise Yeah
The bombs have been launched, marking the beginning of the war simulation.
Battle ship battle ship
The repetition of the name of the ship signifies its readiness for battle.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL PETER BALZARY, ANTHONY KIEDIS, CLIFF MARTINEZ, JACK SHERMAN
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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