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.
Minor Thing
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You see, to me, it's just a minor thing, y'all
He knows everything
To readjust you've got to trust
That all the fuss is just a minor thing, y'all
He knows everything
It's just a minor thing and I'm a minor king
He knows everything
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
You've got your bit part, Mozart
Hot dart acceleration
Pop art, pistol chasing
Catfight intimidation
Oh, oh, oh, oh
To read a mind you've got to
Redefine the line to make your circle sing, y'all
He knows everything
You make a sound, the spell is bound
To come around, it's just a minor thing, y'all
He knows everything
It's just a minor thing and I'm a minor king
He knows everything
Ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh
You've got your bit part, Mozart
Hot dart acceleration
Pop art, pistol chasing
Catfight intimidation
All out interfacing
Black star motivation
Vampire, sugar junkie
Databasing infiltration
I change the key from C to D
You see to me it's just a minor thing, y'all
He knows everything
To readjust you've got to trust
That all the fuss is just a minor thing, y'all
He knows everything
It's just a minor thing and I'm a minor king
It's just a minor thing and I'm a minor king
The lyrics of Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Minor Thing" touch on several themes including trusting and letting go, self-confidence, and the power of music. The opening lines of the song, "I change the key from C to D, you see to me it's just a minor thing," suggest the band's musical prowess as they effortlessly change keys. This can be seen as a metaphor for life where sometimes we need to make small adjustments that result in significant changes.
The chorus that repeats throughout the song, "He knows everything, it's just a minor thing, and I'm a minor king," speaks to the importance of self-confidence and trusting oneself regardless of external circumstances. The lyrics "To readjust, you've got to trust, that all the fuss is just a minor thing" encourage the listener to let go of their worries and trust themselves.
The second verse of the song touches on various themes, including the superficiality of modern society, the importance of communication, and the desire for a mystical connection. "Hot dart acceleration, pop art, pistol chasin', cat fight intimidation" can be interpreted as a commentary on pop culture's fascination with violence and superficiality. Meanwhile, "To read a mind, you've got to redefine the line to make your circle sing" suggests the importance of open communication and understanding. Finally, the lyrics, "Vampire sugar junkie, data basin' infiltration" hint at the desire for a mystical connection to something greater than ourselves.
Overall, "Minor Thing" is a song that encourages self-confidence and the importance of trusting oneself. Its lyrics delve into deep themes such as communication, societal pressures, and the human desire for something mystical.
Line by Line Meaning
I change the key from C to D
I’ve made a change, from C to D, in the musical notes I’m using.
You see to me it's just a minor thing, yo
I don’t think it’s a major change, just a small one.
He knows everything
A higher power knows all and sees all.
To readjust you've got to trust
To make a change work, you have to have faith in it.
That all the fuss is just a minor thing
All the commotion is insignificant compared to the bigger picture.
And I'm a minor king
I may not have much power, but I still rule over my kingdom (life).
You've got your bit part, Mozart
You have your small role to play, like Mozart had his notes to contribute.
Hot dart acceleration
The rapid pace of life can be compared to the speed of a dart.
Pop art, pistol chasin'
The superficiality of pop culture mixed with the danger involved in a moment of chasing a gun.
Cat fight intimidation (oh, oh, oh, oh)
The intimidation of a cat fight suggests a fierce confrontation.
To read a mind you've got to
In order to understand someone, you must put yourself in their shoes.
Redefine the line to make your circle sing, yo
You must redefine your approach to life to make it harmonious.
You make a sound
The actions you take have a ripple effect.
The spell is bound to come around
The consequences of your actions will eventually catch up to you.
All out interfacing
We’re constantly connected and communicating through technology.
Black star motivation
The motivation to succeed is powerful, like a star burning brightly in the night sky.
Vampire sugar junkie
An addiction to something artificial that feeds off of you like a mythical vampire.
Data basin' infiltration
The invasion of privacy through technology and data-mining.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, Michael 'Flea' Balzary, John Frusciante
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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