Red Hot Chili Peppers was 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, 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.
Red Hot 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.'"
Red Hot Chili Peppers was 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
Coffee Shop
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Searching for the unknown crumb
The crumb, the crumb
Something or someone to come
Come along, illuminate my lust
Combust
Confucius might have been confused
And Buddha might have blown a fuseI ooze the muse
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
Back and forth, my body's jerking
Will to thrill will not stop working
Work and work
Take you on a honeymoon
Jumping on a bed in a hotel room
The room, the room
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song Coffee Shop express the desire and yearning for something more in life. The first verse sees the singer describing themselves as a "lousy bum" in search of an elusive "crumb" - something that they can't quite put their finger on, but that they believe will bring them fulfillment. The repetition of "the crumb" emphasizes the sense of longing and desperation they feel, as they search high and low for this missing piece of their life.
In the next verse, the singer's search for meaning takes a carnal turn, as they implore someone to "come along illuminate my lust". They then reference Confucius and Buddha, suggesting that even these wise figures would be confounded by the intensity of their desires. The singer describes "oozing the muse", implying that they are so filled with creative potential that it is literally seeping out of them.
The chorus urges the listener to "meet me at the coffee shop", where they can "dance like Iggy Pop" - invoking the image of wild abandon and freedom. The sexual element of the song comes to the forefront in the second half of the chorus, as the singer describes "freak[ing] the cheek on your hot spot" - a phrase which is open to interpretation, but likely involves some intense physical intimacy.
The final verse returns to the theme of searching for meaning and fulfillment, as the singer's body spasms with the intensity of their desire. They vow to "take you on a honeymoon", evoking a sense of adventure and passion. The image of "jumping on a bed in a hotel room" is a simple one but is suggestive of the kind of carefree hedonism that the singer craves. The last line, "the room the groom", is an interesting one - it may simply be a rhyme, but it could also suggest a desire for commitment and stability, which would be a notable deviation from the rest of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I am just a lousy bum
I am an unimportant and unsuccessful person.
Searching for the unknown crumb
I am searching for something, but I don't know exactly what it is.
The crumb the crumb
I am fixated on finding this unidentified 'crumb.'
Something or someone to come
I am waiting for something or someone to come into my life and change it.
Come along illuminate my lust
I am hoping that someone will come into my life and light up my passions and desires.
Combust
I want to ignite and burst forth with energy.
Confucius might have been confused
Even someone as wise as Confucius might be puzzled by my actions.
And Buddha might have blown a fuse
Even Buddha, known for his enlightenment, might not be able to understand me.
I ooze the muse
I am filled with creativity and inspiration.
Meet me at the coffee shop
Let's meet up at the coffee shop.
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Let's have a wild and crazy time together like Iggy Pop.
Another go in the parking lot
Let's have another adventure in the parking lot like we did before.
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
Let's do something spontaneous and exhilarating that will bring us closer together.
Back and forth my body's jerking
I am experiencing intense physical and emotional sensations.
Will to thrill will not stop working
I won't stop seeking out excitement and pleasure.
Work and work
I will keep pushing forward and striving for success.
I'll take you on a honeymoon
I want to sweep you off your feet and treat you like royalty.
Jumping on a bed in a hotel room
Let's be carefree and spontaneous like we were on our honeymoon.
The room the groom
I am fixated on the idea of the honeymoon and the love that it represents.
Meet me at the coffee shop
Let's meet up at the coffee shop again.
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Let's have fun and be free-spirited like we did last time we met.
Another go in the parking lot
Let's revisit our past adventure in the parking lot.
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
Let's have another exhilarating and intimate experience together.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Balzary, Anthony Kiedis, David Michael Navarro, Chad Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martialwharf7724
[Verse 1]
I am just a lousy bum
Searching for the unknown crumb
The crumb, the crumb
Something or someone to come
Come along illuminate my lust
Combust
Confucius might have been confused
And Buddha might have blown a fuse
I ooze the muse
[Chorus]
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
[Verse 2]
Back and forth my body's jerking
Will to thrill will not stop working
Work and work
Take you on a honeymoon
Jumping on a bed in a hotel room
The room, the room
[Chorus]
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
[Chorus]
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Freak the cheek on your hot spot
@omarbriones2453
I am just a lousy bum
Searching for the unknown crumb
The crumb the crumb
Something or someone to come
Come along illuminate my lust
Combust
Confucius might have been confused
And Buddha might have blown a fuse
I ooze the muse
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Frewak the cheek on your hot spot
Back and forth my body's jerking
Will to thrill will not stop working
Work and work
I'll take you on a honeymoon
Jumping on a bed in a hotel room
The room the groom
Meet me at the coffee shop
We can dance
Like Iggy Pop
Another go in the parking lot
Frewak the cheek on your hot spot
@RedHotChiliPeppers
On this day in 1996, the music video for “Coffee Shop” was released. Directed by Gavin Bowden. #rhcp
@static-m-s
crazy bass !! :)
@benjagoodkid8190
Gran video chamaco
@keithjarvis9886
Great track...
@井口公木
Free is great !!
@josephblack2278
Summer of 85, BERKELEY SQUARE 5 SHOWS, A INTENSITY THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET! POP WAS AWSOME!
@renapeppers20
One Hot Minute is one of the best RHCP albums. It is seriously criminally underrated. People just can't stand change. It happened with the Chili Peppers and with Metallica. Dave Navarro did an amazing job in this album. Love it.
@durvisgay6411
Its the same now with Josh Klinghoffer people hate him because he took over from John Friuscante but I think he is very good aswell.
@samaramolix-marshall4452
You are so right. I didn't want to give One Hot Minute a chance when it came out because I wanted more Give It Away. But this album is 🔥. I've been missing out on this good music for the past 25 years because I was close minded.
@Germanarchie
Depression Cherry The real cut came with Californication. Although they still made good stuff close to mainstream, they never reached this high powerful style again after '95.