The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in… Read Full Bio ↴The Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982. Their music incorporates elements of alternative rock, funk, punk rock and psychedelic rock. The band consists of co-founders Anthony Kiedis (lead vocals) and Flea (bass), as well as drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, the latter of whom has been in the band across three stints. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are one of the best-selling bands of all time. They are the most successful band in the history of alternative rock, with the records for most number-one singles (13), most cumulative weeks at number one (85) and most top-ten songs (25) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. They have won six Grammy Awards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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.

Stranded
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Stranded,
Stranded,
Stranded on the toilet bowl,
Stranded,
Stranded,
Stranded on the toilet bowl,

What do you do when you're stranded,

And there ain't nothing on the roll?

To prove you're a man,
You must wipe it with your hand,

Stranded,
Stranded on the toilet bowl.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Stranded" tell the story of a person who finds themselves in a precarious situation: stranded on a toilet bowl with no toilet paper. The repeated lines of "Stranded" reinforce the feeling of helplessness that the singer must be feeling in that situation. The desperation is compounded by the fact that there is no toilet paper to be found, prompting the question, "What do you do when you're stranded, and there ain't nothing on the roll?"

The lyrics take a twist in the next lines, where the singer is advised that to "prove you're a man", you must wipe with your hand. This is a blunt reminder of the necessity of self-sufficiency in a dire situation. The humor in the song is apparent, but it is also a reminder that sometimes in life we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations and must rely on our own resourcefulness.

Line by Line Meaning

Stranded,
Feeling lost and helpless.

Stranded,
Unable to move or make progress.

Stranded on the toilet bowl,
Stuck in a situation with no escape or solution.

Stranded,
Feeling lost and helpless.

Stranded,
Unable to move or make progress.

Stranded on the toilet bowl,
Stuck in a situation with no escape or solution.

What do you do when you're stranded,
Asking for advice or a way out of a difficult situation.

And there ain't nothing on the roll?
When you have no resources or options left.

To prove you're a man,
Cultural pressure to assert dominance and strength.

You must wipe it with your hand,
Resorting to extreme measures or embarrassing actions to prove oneself.

Stranded,
Feeling lost and helpless.

Stranded on the toilet bowl.
Stuck in a situation with no escape or solution.

Contributed by John D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@1milliurn

11y↑4

This song is loosely based on the theme from an old western show on NBC called "branded." "What do you do when you're branded and you know you're a man."

@1687angle

11y↑1

:') i love this song

@landysmith8855

6y↑1

This entire show rocks. I found it on CD like 20 years ago. The rockin hillel years. Branded or stranded is classic too. Another great branded copy is the al Bundy security guard where he allows his glorious trophy to be stolen on watch and is terminated and branded for life.