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.
Castles
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"You're a disgrace"
As she slams the door in his drunken face
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbors start to gossip and drool
He cries "Oh girl, you must be mad
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?"
Against the door he leans and starts a scene
And so castles made of sand
Fall in the sea eventually
An Indian brave, who before he was ten
Played war games in the woods with his Indian friends
And he built a dream that when he grew up
He would be a fearless warrior Indian chief
Many moons passed and the dream grew strong until tomorrow
He would sing his first war song
And fight his first battle but something went wrong
Surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night
And some castles made of sand
Fall in the sea eventually
Take it Johnny
There was a young girl whose heart was a frown
Because she was crippled for life and couldn't speak a sound
And she wished and prayed she could stop living
So she decided to die
She drew her wheel chair to the edge of the shore
And to her legs she smiled
"You won't hurt me no more"
But then a sight she'd never seen made her jump and say
"Look a golden winged ship is passing my way"
But it really didn't have to stop
It just kept on going
And some castles made of sand
Slips into the sea eventually
The lyrics of “Castles Made of Sand” tell the stories of three different individuals whose hopes and dreams have crumbled down like castles made of sand. The first verse narrates the story of a couple arguing, where the woman is furious with her partner, probably due to his incessant drinking. The man pleads her to remember their good times but to no avail. The second verse tells the tale of a Native American man who fantasized about becoming a warrior chief but was killed in his sleep before achieving his dream. The third verse portrays the life of a young girl who was physically disabled and mute. She wanted to end her pain by ending her life but was distracted by the sight of a beautiful ship in the ocean.
The chorus of the song, “And so castles made of sand, fall in the sea, eventually,” reflects the idea that all our aspirations in life are short-lived and will ultimately disintegrate into nothingness.
Line by Line Meaning
Down the street you can hear her scream
"You're a disgrace"
As she slams the door in his drunken face
A woman screams at her partner for being drunk and slams the door in his face, humiliating him in front of the neighbors.
And now he stands outside
And all the neighbors start to gossip and drool
He cries "Oh girl, you must be mad
What happened to the sweet love you and me had?"
Against the door he leans and starts a scene
But his tears fall and burn the garden green
The man tries to reason with his partner, but she won't let him in. He cries and makes a scene, causing the neighbors to gossip. He's upset that their love has turned sour, and his tears remind him of the pain he's feeling.
And so castles made of sand
Fall in the sea eventually
Everything is temporary, and even the strongest structures will eventually fall apart.
An Indian brave, who before he was ten
Played war games in the woods with his Indian friends
And he built a dream that when he grew up
He would be a fearless warrior Indian chief
Many moons passed and the dream grew strong until tomorrow
He would sing his first war song
And fight his first battle but something went wrong
Surprise attack killed him in his sleep that night
A young Native American boy dreams of being a warrior chief, but he is killed in a surprise attack before he can realize that dream. His childhood innocence is shattered by this tragedy.
And some castles made of sand
Fall in the sea eventually
Take it Johnny
Johnny is encouraged to keep playing, as the theme of impermanence is further explored.
There was a young girl whose heart was a frown
Because she was crippled for life and couldn't speak a sound
And she wished and prayed she could stop living
So she decided to die
She drew her wheel chair to the edge of the shore
And to her legs she smiled
"You won't hurt me no more"
But then a sight she'd never seen made her jump and say
"Look a golden winged ship is passing my way"
But it really didn't have to stop
It just kept on going
A disabled girl contemplates ending her life but is interrupted when she sees a beautiful ship pass by. Though it doesn't stop for her, the sight gives her a new appreciation for life.
And some castles made of sand
Slips into the sea eventually
As before, the song returns to the theme of impermanence and how everything will eventually come to an end.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMI HENDRIX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DimenOr
“Intro” 0:24 - 2:00
2. “By the Way” 2:03 - 6:25
3. “Scar Tissue” 6:26 - 10:10
4. “Around the World ” 11:06 - 14:57
5. “Maybe” (cover by John Frusciante) 15:10 - 16:33
6. “Universally Speaking” 16:58 - 21:01
7. “Parallel Universe” 22:27 - 27:00
8. “The Zephyr Song” 27:38 - 31:23
9. “Throw Away Your Television” 31:50 - 37:29
10. “Havana Affair” (Ramones cover) 38:03 - 40:07
11. “Otherside” 41:20 - 45:35
12. “Purple Stain” 45:52 - 49:48
13. “Don’t Forget Me” 51:18 - 56:18
14. “Right on Time” 56:50 - 58:56
15. “Can’t Stop” 59:26 - 1:04:11
16. “Venice Queen” 1:05:48 - 1:11:47
17. “Give It Away” 1:12:18 - 1:16:47
18. "Jam" 1:22:27 - 1:24:12
19. “Californication” 1:24:14 - 1:29:42
20. “Under the Bridge” 1:30:02 - 1:34:16
21. “The Power of Equality” 1:35:17 - 1:39:15
Claudio Cisternas
“Intro” 0:24 - 2:00
2. “By the Way” 2:03 - 6:25
3. “Scar Tissue” 6:26 - 10:10
4. “Around the World ” 11:06 - 14:57
5. “Maybe” (cover by John Frusciante) 15:10 - 16:33
6. “Universally Speaking” 16:58 - 21:01
7. “Parallel Universe” 22:27 - 27:00
8. “The Zephyr Song” 27:38 - 31:23
9. “Throw Away Your Television” 31:50 - 37:29
10. “Havana Affair” (Ramones cover) 38:03 - 40:07
11. “Otherside” 41:20 - 45:35
12. “Purple Stain” 45:52 - 49:48
13. “Don’t Forget Me” 51:18 - 56:18
14. “Right on Time” 56:50 - 58:56
15. “Can’t Stop” 59:26 - 1:04:11
16. “Venice Queen” 1:05:48 - 1:11:47
17. “Give It Away” 1:12:18 - 1:16:47
18. "Jam" 1:22:27 - 1:24:12
19. “Californication” 1:24:14 - 1:29:42
20. “Under the Bridge” 1:30:02 - 1:34:16
21. “The Power of Equality” 1:35:17 - 1:39:15
POTATHOM
“Intro” 0:24 - 2:00
2. “By the Way” 2:03 - 6:25
3. “Scar Tissue” 6:26 - 10:10
4. “Around the World ” 11:06 - 14:57
5. “Maybe” (cover by John Frusciante) 15:10 - 16:33
6. “Universally Speaking” 16:58 - 21:01
7. “Parallel Universe” 22:27 - 27:00
8. “The Zephyr Song” 27:38 - 31:23
9. “Throw Away Your Television” 31:50 - 37:29
10. “Havana Affair” (Ramones cover) 38:03 - 40:07
11. “Otherside” 41:20 - 45:35
12. “Purple Stain” 45:52 - 49:48
13. “Don’t Forget Me” 51:18 - 56:18
14. “Right on Time” 56:50 - 58:56
15. “Can’t Stop” 59:26 - 1:04:11
16. “Venice Queen” 1:05:48 - 1:11:47
17. “Give It Away” 1:12:18 - 1:16:47
18. "Jam" 1:22:27 - 1:24:12
19. “Californication” 1:24:14 - 1:29:42
20. “Under the Bridge” 1:30:02 - 1:34:16
21. “The Power of Equality” 1:35:17 - 1:39:15
Josh Lockwood
This performance needs to be put on Spotify. Absolutely flawless
Who Ami
x107
Nicolás Quidel
X70
Geoff Budd
x69
haraka hooop
x68
One de Vries
x67
End Of Fate
This is RHCP at their absolute peak.. God's level of perfection.
guitareater69
@Thomas William different strokes for different folks I guess.
B B
@buckbumble and another aspect is they were in there 40’s when they peaked a lot of bands hit that stride at a more younger age imo.
Thomas William
Not really very far from their peak.
Their peak where after Blood Sugar Sex Magic . More energy when they toured for Mother Milk album . After Californication ( maybe after One Hot Minute ) they just became another pop rock band ...