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.
Mommy Where's Daddy?
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mommy, where's daddy?
Right here, girl
Sweet thing, you look so sad
Cheer up, don't you know your dad is bad
Give daddy a kiss, girl
Oh, dad
There ain't no problem I can't face, 'cos
Your daddy's got a bigger bag of tricks
Give daddy a kiss, girl
Oh, dad
Mommy, where's daddy?
Mommy, where's daddy?
Come on, sit on your daddy's lap 'cos
I'm the one who pats your back
Give daddy a kiss, girl
Oh, dad
Lemme see now where to begin
Lemme start by tuckin' you in
Give daddy a kiss, girl
Oh, dad
Mommy, where's daddy?
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Mommy Where's Daddy?" are a disturbing commentary on the sexual abuse of a child by their own father. The child is asking where their father is, but the father is already there, and is sexually exploiting them. The father tells the child to cheer up and that he has a "bigger bag of tricks" to solve any problems they may have. The lines "come on, sit on your daddy's lap 'cos I'm the one who pats your back" and "lemme start by tuckin' you in" highlight the father's predatory behavior towards his own child. The song ends with the child asking repeatedly "mommy, where's daddy?", perhaps indicating a feeling of confusion and helplessness.
The subject matter of the song and its lyrics have been controversial since its release in 1985. Some have criticized the band for creating such a disturbing narrative, while others have praised them for highlighting a taboo issue that needs to be addressed.
Line by Line Meaning
Mommy, where's daddy?
The child is asking about the whereabouts of their father.
Right here, girl
The father is physically present in the room with the child.
Sweet thing, you look so sad
The father is trying to comfort the child who appears to be upset.
Cheer up, don't you know your dad is bad
The father is trying to use humor to make the child feel better.
Give daddy a kiss, girl
The father is asking for affection from the child.
Oh, dad
The child responds to the father's request for a kiss.
There ain't no problem I can't face, 'cos
The father is expressing confidence in his ability to handle any situation that may arise.
Your daddy's got a bigger bag of tricks
The father is assuring the child that he has many ways of solving problems.
Come on, sit on your daddy's lap 'cos
The father is asking the child to sit on his lap to engage in physical closeness.
I'm the one who pats your back
The father is reminding the child of his role as a comforter and caregiver.
Lemme see now where to begin
The father is trying to figure out how to proceed in caring for the child.
Lemme start by tuckin' you in
The father is beginning the process of putting the child to bed.
Mommy, where's daddy?
The child repeats their initial question about the father's whereabouts.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTHONY KIEDIS, CLIFF MARTINEZ, JACK SHERMAN, MICHAEL PETER BALZARY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike D
Daddy from: people under the stairs
http://iconsoffright.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/people-under-the-stairs-1-e.jpg
- - and - -
http://cdn.highdefdigest.com/uploads/2015/08/06/people_under_stairs_scream_6.jpg
* * Not sure why, but immediately I thought of "Daddy" from the people under the stairs
Sombrero
seeing these guys live before the 90s is definitely a bucket list item on my time travel itinerary
Glo
Me too
Bolo
Saw Peps in '86 in tiny bar in So Ca, wasn't even pack, sitting waiting for them to start, I heard some commotion coming from back of the bar, When I turned my head I saw 4 skinny dudes with no shirts on slowing walking in unison together in step "butts-to-nuts" - at first I was like, who the hell are these guys??? Then I realized it was the damn Peppers - they continued to walk through the crowd up to the tiny stage, strapped on their instruments and blazed into Black Flags Nervous Breakdown
Seen million bands going back to 1975 but this was one of the coolest intros I even seen
Amazing show
Peppers up to Hillel's death, this is truly the only real Chilli Peps - their energy was off the chart
Air Guitar
When I first heard this song when I was like 13, I thought it was the creepiest thing ever. I thought it was fucking weird.. Now, no words can describe the groove in this song. Sure, the singing is a little creepy but it's also pretty funky. Usually the vocals is what adds to the groove, as well as of course bass, guitar, drums.
Ice Garmendia
The voice from Anthony on the first 3 albums was more natural, less tuned up, but it had a lot of personality and made those albums so special.
sethamphetamine xd
yea i think they were just crazy on drugs when they made this song
Brian Montes de oca
Jack Sherman Genius ❤️❤️❤️
Spacedawg
To me, these songs on that album have some kind of "desert" vibe. It reminds me of hot summers and funky nights of my youth. This and "Why dont you love" me are my favourites.
Nas Oinotna
probably my favourite album from the reds, these guys used to funk good !
Fli
@Inka D. Ibañez One Hot Minute was good, but Dave killed their wtule5