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.
Walkabout
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And find out what it's all about
And that ain't hard
Just me and my own two feet
In the heat I've got myself to meet
A detective of perspective
I need to try and get a bigger eye, open wide
Walkabout in a sunny daze
To me now
On a walkabout
You could do it in the city
You could do it in a zone
You could do it in the desert
You could do the unknown
On a walkabout
High desert skies, are what I spy
So fly, you've got to wonder why
The stingrays must be fat this year
Moving slow in my lowest gear
The digeridoo original, man with a dream
I believe the Aborigine
On a walkabout
You could do it with a shuffle
You could do it with a stroll
You could do it with a stride
You could do the unknown
On a walkabout
A walk could cure almost all my blues
Bare feet or in my two shoes
One, two
I think I'll go on a walkabout
Find out what it's all about, can't hurt to try
Use your legs to rock it wide
Take a ride to the other side
“Walkabout” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers is about taking a journey of self-discovery and seeking a new perspective. The song is about getting out of your comfort zone and exploring the world around you in order to find yourself. The opening line, “I think I'll go on a walkabout and find out what it's all about”, sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is looking for answers and is willing to embark on a physical and emotional journey to find them.
The lyrics capture the essence of what it means to be on a walkabout – a traditional Australian Aboriginal rite of passage where young men would leave their homes, families and everyday lives to spend months living in the wilderness. This was a time for them to learn new skills, discover their spirituality and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and others. The “digiridoo original, man with a dream, I believe the Aborigine” lyric references this important aspect of Australian history and culture.
The song’s upbeat tempo and rhythmic guitar riff complement the free-spirited essence of the lyrics. The chorus of “You could do it in the city, you could do it in a zone, you could do it in the desert” speaks to the universal nature of the song’s message – that getting out of your comfort zone and into the world can lead to new insights and perspectives. The song encourages listeners to take that step away from the familiar, with the promise that it will lead to the other side and new horizons.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'll go on a walkabout
I want to take a journey of self-discovery
And find out what it's all about
To learn more about life and discover its mysteries
And that ain't hard
It is easy to take a walk and explore
Just me and my own two feet
I do not require any vehicle or companion, just myself
In the heat, I've got myself to meet
I want to push myself outside my comfort zone and see how I handle it
A detective of perspective
I am going to look at my surroundings with keen focus to gain insight
I need to try and get a bigger eye, open wide
I want to broaden my perspective and opportunities
Blood wood flowers in my gaze
I am intrigued by the beauty and uniqueness of nature
Walkabout in a sunny daze
I am wandering while enjoying the sunshine and positivity
To me now, on a walkabout
I am determined to complete my adventure
You could do it in the city
Exploration is possible even within a bustling urban setting
You could do it in a zone
Exploration of both the physical and mental realms is possible
You could do it in the desert
Nature can be explored and appreciated even in harsh environments
You could do the unknown
The adventure lies in the discovery of the unknown
High desert skies, are what I spy
The grandeur of nature captures my attention
So fly, you've got to wonder why
The beauty of nature captivates and inspires
The stingrays must be fat this year
Even wildlife is impacted by seasonal changes
Moving slow in my lowest gear
I am content to move slowly and enjoy the experience
The digeridoo original, man with a dream
I am inspired by the Aboriginal culture and their customs
I believe the Aborigine
I have respect for the indigenous people's values and beliefs
You could do it with a shuffle
The pace of discovery can be laid back and comfortable
You could do it with a stroll
Exploration can happen at a leisurely pace
You could do it with a stride
Exploration can be completed at a quick, confident pace
A walk could cure almost all my blues
Granting me peace of mind and encouraging a positive attitude
Bare feet or in my two shoes
The physical state of being is not a determinant of success in this journey
One, two
Just like a walk, life has a straightforward rhythm and path to follow
Find out what it's all about, can't hurt to try
There is no harm in trying and discovering the unknown
Use your legs to rock it wide
I will capitalize on my abilities to explore and expand my opportunities
Take a ride to the other side
The adventure lies in the discovery beyond my current perspective
Lyrics © MoeBeToBlame
Written by: MICHAEL BALZARY, ANTHONY KIEDIS, DAVID MICHAEL NAVARRO, CHAD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lewhitey
I think I'll go on a walkabout
And find out what it's all about
And that ain't hard
Just me and my own two feet
In the heat I've got myself to meet
A detective of perspective
I need to try and get a bigger eye, open wide
Blood wood flowers in my gaze
Walkabout in a sunny daze
To me now
On a walkabout
You could do it in the city
You could do it in a zone
You could do it in the desert
You could do the unknown
On a walkabout
High desert skies, are what I spy
So fly, you've got to wonder why
The stingrays must be fat this year
Moving slow in my lowest gear
The digeridoo original, man with a dream
I believe the Aborigine
On a walkabout
You could do it with a shuffle
You could do it with a stroll
You could do it with a stride
You could do the unknown
On a walkabout
A walk could cure almost all my blues
Bare feet or in my two shoes
One, two
I think I'll go on a walkabout
Find out what it's all about, can't hurt to try
Use your legs to rock it wide
Take a ride to the other side
Jorge NO-REMIX
In my opinion, this is one of their best 5 or 10 songs. Everything is perfect in this song.
Ade69
This bass Line ….
Michael Perry
😂🤘
Sonic Youth
Voy camino a la playa, caminando con una botella de agua y el mp3 sonando el one hot minute. Que tremendo álbum!!!!!!!!
Michael Perry
😂
L. Cruces
Love this song. Navarro and Flea played so well off of each other here. Reminds me of the old school Chili Pepper days of Yertle the Turtle.
Raul Vargas
Agreed
Mateo E. J. Tinajero
Indeed
Aaron Cramer
This is probably one of my all time favorite songs...got a good chill vibe to it. Great on a road trip...
Jason Goodman
Also, the transition at the end of the song, into Tearjerker...fucking A. I'm sure we all noticed it...but did we recognize the brilliance? This album is literally one of the best ever.