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.
Runaway
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All over town
Workin' it out
When you want to
Soldiering my style and smiling
Turn it into whatever I choose
Don't be late I hear it's gonna be so very great and
Out the door I'm walkin' like a runaway
All the reasons that I count of you can't haul away and
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
Kick it around
Stare at the ground
Breakin' it down
When you want to
Soldiering my desert shows on
Dance around, do whatever I want to
Take me now it's the water
Don't be late I hear it's gonna be so very great and
Out the door I'm walkin' like a runaway
All the reasons that I count of you can't haul away and
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
I think I know everything your gonna say *eyyoooohhh*
I think you know why I wanna runaway
Don't be late I hear it's gonna be so very great and
Out the door I'm walkin' like a runaway
All the reasons that I count of you can't haul away and
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
All the reasons that I count of you can't haul away and
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
Out the door I'm walkin' like a runaway
The lyrics of Red Hot Chili Peppers' song Runaway showcase the idea of breaking free and doing whatever one wants to. The band speaks of walking around town, soldiering their style with a smile, turning their life into whatever they want to. They’re breaking it down, taking control of the situation, and doing what they like. They talk about dancing around, taking it to the desert shows and kicking it around, all showcasing the idea of living life on their terms.
The band talks about running away from their problems and not looking back. They know what others would say, but it doesn't matter as they’re determined to pave their own path. Through these lyrics, the band portrays a sense of freedom and liberation from societal norms and pressures, urging people to be themselves and do whatever they want to.
In conclusion, Red Hot Chili Peppers' song Runaway is about the idea of breaking free and living life on one's terms. The band urges people to be themselves, take control of their lives, and not let societal norms and pressures constrain them.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking around
I am wandering and exploring my surroundings
All over town
I am moving throughout the entire city
Workin' it out
I am figuring things out and working through problems
When you want to
I am doing this on my own accord
Soldiering my style and smiling
I am embracing my personal style and projecting a confident, happy demeanor
Turn it into whatever I choose
I am taking control of situations and shaping them to my liking
Take me now to the water
I want to go to the water, whether it be the ocean, a lake, or a river
Don't be late I hear it's gonna be so very great and
I've heard that it's going to be amazing, so don't keep me waiting
Out the door I'm walkin' like a runaway
I'm leaving in a hurry, like a runaway
All the reasons that I count of you can't haul away and
No matter how hard I try, I can't get rid of the reasons why I want to run away
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
With each passing moment, I feel more like a runaway
Kick it around
I am pondering and considering something
Stare at the ground
I am deep in thought and looking down at the ground
Breakin' it down
I am analyzing and breaking apart something
Soldiering my desert shows on
I am carrying on with determination and strength, even in difficult or barren situations
Dance around, do whatever I want to
I am joyfully dancing and doing whatever makes me happy
I think I know everything your gonna say *eyyoooohhh*
I believe that I can predict everything that you are going to say
I think you know why I wanna runaway
I think that you understand the reasons why I want to leave and escape
All the reasons that I count of you can't haul away and
No matter how hard I try, I cannot shake the reasons why I feel like running away
More and more I'm walkin' like a runaway
With each passing moment, I feel more like a runaway
Contributed by Miles D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
P A T H E T I C
All these Songs are rare and for true RHCP fans. You can literally feel how much love they put in these songs and I'm really thankful for these. I had to download them from Youtube with a downloader but I don't feel bad because I bought every album they ever made. This music will never die <3
Perriola
The amount of amazing unreleased content that RHCP produced is magical
Corey Ellem
Eskimo 💚
Black pill Black Life
they are the greatest music artists in history just solely for their bsides lol
danny dev
it's been 10 years and yet still haven't explored all their work .. beautiful !
Adriana M. da Rosa
Que solo do Frusciante!! Musica incrivel!
Onur B
such an underrated song
Stratocastrophy
I only found this song recently and it is now one of my all time favorite RHCP songs. These guys are simply amazing!
John F
Every one of their bonus tracks are sick
Leonardo Ortiz
No me canso de escucharla..