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.
Nobody Weird Like Me
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the show of my own
Living my life in and out
Of the twilight zone
Bust my britches
Bless my soul
I'm a freak of nature
Look and see I think you'll agree
Nobody weird like me
Intercourse with a porpoise
Is a dream for me
Hell bent on inventing
A new species
Bust my britches
Bless my soul
I'm a freak of nature
Walking totem pole
Look and see I think you'll agree
Nobody weird like me
Riding down the path
On the back of a giraffe
Me and the giraffe laughed
Cause I passed some gas
Bust my britches
Bless my soul
I'm a freak of nature
Walking totem pole
Look and see I think you'll agree
Nobody weird like me
Enchanted as a rabbit
That my life is a dream
Well everything is never
Just as it seems
The freakiest show I know
Is the show of my own
Living my life in and out
Of the twilight zone
The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Nobody Weird Like Me" celebrates the uniqueness of individuality. The band recognizes that each person has their quirks and idiosyncrasies that set them apart from the rest of the crowd, and they embrace that. The song is an anthem for all those who feel like outsiders, reminding them that it's okay to be different.
The lyrics of the song reference some bizarre situations, including the line "intercourse with a porpoise," which is probably meant to be taken metaphorically. The band might be suggesting that they're interested in exploring new territory and pushing boundaries in their music, just as they're interested in imagining new creatures and unusual experiences. The song speaks to a sense of adventure and risk-taking, as well as a desire to challenge conventions and expectations.
At the same time, the song is also lighthearted and whimsical, with lines like "riding down the path on the back of a giraffe" and "enchanted as a rabbit." The band is having fun with their lyrics and inviting the listener to join them in a playful, imaginative world. Ultimately, the song celebrates the joy of being alive and the power of music to bring people together, no matter how weird or different they may be.
Line by Line Meaning
The freakiest show I know
My own life is the most bizarre thing I have ever witnessed
Is the show of my own
Everything that happens in my life is beyond my comprehension
Living my life in and out
Some days I'm in control and other days I'm not
Of the twilight zone
My life is often surreal and strange
Bust my britches
Expression of surprise
Bless my soul
Expression of disbelief
I'm a freak of nature
I'm not like other people
Walking totem pole
I am a unique and strange entity
Look and see I think you'll agree
If you get to know me, you will see that I am different from others
Nobody weird like me
I am the only one like me
Intercourse with a porpoise
A weird sexual fantasy
Is a dream for me
It is an unlikely but fascinating desire
Hell bent on inventing
Determined to create something new and unusual
A new species
Something that hasn't existed before
Riding down the path
Moving forward in life
On the back of a giraffe
Doing so in an improbable way
Me and the giraffe laughed
Finding humor in the absurdity of the situation
Cause I passed some gas
Doing something crude and unexpected
Enchanted as a rabbit
Feeling like I am living in a fantasy
That my life is a dream
Wondering if everything is just imaginary
Well everything is never
Things are rarely the way they seem
Just as it seems
The truth is often hidden or obscured
Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, JOHN FRUSCIANTE, ANTHONY KIEDIS, CHAD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
RatDad
Hopefully Flea doesn't get arthritis any time soon, because this is just amazing,
Itamar Peled
You right,
Balzary's best bass player EVER!
Purple Lamborghini
@nate but is he fast tho?
nate
My bass teacher has Parkinson’s and he still jams out
Zach Douglas
Imagine the confidence with having flea on bass no stress with someone that good
Edwin Montesinos
It's actually great that they made Nobody more common in shows now. I'm sure it made people that were familiar with the latter hits to listen to it more.
Dc Mac
What I’d give to hear Nobody Weird Like Me live… life goal
David Backhaus
Yes. More old ish to old stuff live please. :)
Rodolka
@Sophia Pavlidou what about Me and My Friends ?? 🤔
Sophia Pavlidou
well, john doesn't want to play songs before bssm