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
Pea
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I love the sky and the trees
I'm a teeny tiny little ant
Checking out this and that
And I am nothing
Ah, so you have nothing to hide
And I'm a pacifist
So I can fuck your shit up
Oh yeah, I'm small
Oh yeah, I'm small
Fuck you, asshole
You homophobic redneck dick
Big and tough and macho, you can kick my ass
So fucking what?
So fucking what?
So fucking what?
So fucking what?
In the song "Pea" by Red Hot Chili Peppers, lead singer Anthony Kiedis offers a unique perspective on life and humanity. The song comes across as a lighthearted, whimsical tune about being a "little pea" who loves nature and exploring things in a curious, carefree way. But as the song progresses, Kiedis introduces darker themes of violence and conflict, contrasting his own pacifist beliefs with the macho attitudes of others. The song ultimately becomes a defiant statement against those who would try to intimidate or harm others, positioning the singer as an underdog who refuses to be cowed by bullies.
One way to interpret the song is as a commentary on the inherent power dynamics present in society. Kiedis seems to be pointing out that even those who are small and seemingly insignificant can have a lot more freedom and integrity than those who are big and strong. By embracing his own "smallness," the singer is able to navigate the world without feeling the need to exert dominance over others or prove his own strength. The provocative tonality of the refrain is directed at those people who use their power to belittle and intimidate others, particularly those who are perceived as being different or vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a little pea
I am a small entity, insignificant in the grand scheme of things
I love the sky and the trees
I appreciate the beauty of nature
I'm a teeny tiny little ant
I am a minuscule creature, almost invisible
Checking out this and that
Observing the world around me
And I am nothing
I possess no material possessions or status
Ah, so you have nothing to hide
Acknowledging that other people may also be insignificant and transparent
And I'm a pacifist
I am opposed to violence and conflict
So I can fuck your shit up
Despite my small size, I have the power to negatively affect someone who is violent
Oh yea I'm small
Reiterating my small size
Fuck you asshole
Expressing anger towards an unpleasant person
You homophobic redneck dick
Name-calling a bigoted, ignorant person
You're big and tough and macho
Addressing the other person's inflated sense of power and masculinity
You can kick my ass
Admitting that the other person may physically overpower me
So fucking what
However, their physical strength does not intimidate me
So fucking what
I am still confident in my abilities and beliefs
So fucking what
Their insults and threats have no effect on me
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Balzary, Anthony Kiedis, David Michael Navarro, Chad Smith
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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