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.
Transcending
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You kept me close, love never lost
I called you hippie, you said fuck off
Said your brother's a real punk rocker
Something gonna happen
Something very soon
Transcending flesh could be a breeze
Sending me oh over the moon
Friends near death, you gave respect
Sympathetic intellect
Choices are, for one and all
All we are is, leaves that fall (that's all)
Always be loving you
Now I'm away from you
Always be loving you
Round and round inside your head
Smartest fucker I ever met
Vicious fish bit at your toes
Made you lie and numb your soul
Something gonna happen
Something very soon
Transcending flesh could be a breeze
Sending me over the moon
Mule donkey ass you bore the load
Of all creations tortured souls
Choices are, for one and all
All we are is, leaves that fall
(Like no other, I love you your my brother)
Water flowing and I will drink it
I will drink for you
A part of me left that only you knew
Will never be understood, will never be understood
Hey, gone to stay
Entire lifetime flash before me
In a loving stream
Hey mother may I have lost a child
But she gave birth
To a loving stream
Oh, never know
When the gods will come and take you
To a loving stream
Oh, heart of gold
The most special things you gave me were
From your loving stream
In a loving stream
Fuck the magazines
Fuck the green machine
See the human being
In a loving stream
Fuck the legal greed
Fuck the nothing scene
See the family
In a loving stream
The song Transcending by Red Hot Chili Peppers is a deeply poignant and emotional track about the friendship between lead singer, Anthony Kiedis, and his best friend and guitarist Hillel Slovak who died of a heroin overdose in 1988. The song is a homage to Hillel and speaks of the bond they shared despite differences in personality and their previous disagreements. The opening lines "You are my god, you are my dog" describe the dynamic of their friendship. Kiedis saw Hillel as both a higher power, someone who he could turn to for guidance and inspiration, and a loyal pet who stayed by his side no matter what.
The chorus of the song speaks to the idea of transcending beyond the limitations of the physical body and into the realm of something higher. Kiedis is speaking of the possibility that his friend Hillel is now free from the constraints of his physical body and living in a new, spiritual way. The lines "Transcending flesh could be a breeze, sending me oh over the moon" express both Kiedis's hope and his belief that Hillel continues to exist beyond the mortal plane.
The song touches on major themes such as love, loss, and the human experience. It is a reminder that in death, we can sometimes find beauty, as we acknowledge the true essence of a person, rather than just their physical form. The song is an ode to friendship but at its core is a tribute to the ways in which humans connect with one another, both in life and beyond it.
Line by Line Meaning
You are my god, you are my dog
You are the most important thing in my life, and I'm completely devoted to you.
You kept me close, love never lost
We have always been close, and our love for each other has never faded.
I called you hippie, you said fuck off
I used to call you names, but you always stood up for yourself and refused to let me disrespect you.
Said your brother's a real punk rocker
You spoke proudly of your brother, who is a true rebel and an individual.
Something gonna happen
I have a feeling that something big and important is going to take place soon.
Something very soon
Whatever it is that's about to happen, it's going to happen very soon - perhaps even today.
Transcending flesh could be a breeze
It's possible that we could experience something that takes us beyond our physical bodies, and it might be a lot easier than we think.
Sending me oh over the moon
If we do transcend our bodies, it could be an incredibly positive and transformative experience.
Friends near death, you gave respect
When we were visiting our friends who were dying, you treated them with kindness and respect, even though it was a difficult situation.
Sympathetic intellect
You were able to understand what our dying friends were going through, and you offered them thoughtful and compassionate support.
Choices are, for one and all
Each of us has our own choices to make and our own paths to follow in life.
All we are is, leaves that fall (that's all)
Ultimately, we are all temporary and fleeting, just like fallen leaves that will one day decompose and disappear.
Always be loving you
No matter where life takes us, I will always love you.
Now I'm away from you
Even though we might be separated by distance or other circumstances, my love for you will never fade.
Round and round inside your head
You have a brilliant and curious mind that is always exploring new ideas and concepts.
Smartest fucker I ever met
You are one of the most intelligent and insightful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Vicious fish bit at your toes
You have been through difficult and painful experiences that have left you feeling wounded and vulnerable.
Made you lie and numb your soul
Those experiences have also made you feel disconnected from your true self, and you have had to hide your pain from others.
Mule donkey ass you bore the load
You have carried the weight of the world on your shoulders, and you have shouldered many burdens and responsibilities throughout your life.
Of all creations tortured souls
You have a deep empathy and compassion for all those who are suffering or struggling, because you understand what it's like to experience pain.
(Like no other, I love you your my brother)
You are a unique and special person in my life, and I love you like a brother.
Water flowing and I will drink it
Life is constantly changing and moving forward, and I will embrace it and make the most of what it has to offer.
I will drink for you
I will try to honor your memory and carry your spirit with me as I continue on my journey.
A part of me left that only you knew
You had a deep understanding and connection with me that was unique and special, and I will always treasure that.
Will never be understood, will never be understood
There are some things about our relationship and our connection that are impossible to put into words or fully explain to others.
Hey, gone to stay
You might be gone from this world, and there's no changing that fact.
Entire lifetime flash before me
When I think about my life and my memories, you are an essential part of that story.
In a loving stream
Ultimately, the most important thing is love and connection, and that is what we will carry with us always.
Hey mother may I have lost a child
You might have been taken from us too soon, but you gave us so much love and joy while you were here.
But she gave birth
Even though we might be separated from you now, we will always carry a part of you with us and remember you fondly.
To a loving stream
We will continue to honor your memory and keep your spirit alive in our hearts and minds.
Oh, never know
None of us knows exactly what the future holds or what fate has in store for us.
When the gods will come and take you
At some point in our lives, we will all have to face death and the unknown.
Oh, heart of gold
You had a kind, generous, and loving heart that touched all those who knew you.
The most special things you gave me were
Your love, your friendship, and your compassion were some of the most precious gifts anyone could ever receive.
From your loving stream
Ultimately, what matters most is love and connection, and that is what you brought into our lives.
Fuck the magazines
We shouldn't place too much importance on superficial or materialistic things like magazines or consumerism.
Fuck the green machine
We live in a society that often prioritizes greed, competition, and profit over human connection and compassion.
See the human being
It's important to remember that we are all human beings with our own struggles, fears, and desires.
In a loving stream
Ultimately, what truly matters is love, connection, and compassion, which are the things that will carry us through life and beyond.
Fuck the legal greed
We also shouldn't forget how much our society is driven by the powerful forces of money and politics.
Fuck the nothing scene
There are many people who feel lost, disconnected, and without purpose in the world today, which is a heavy burden to bear.
See the family
However, even in the face of all these challenges, we can find strength and support in our families and loved ones.
In a loving stream
Ultimately, it's love and compassion that create the strongest bonds between people and that make life worth living.
Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame, Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
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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