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.
Warped
Red Hot Chili Peppers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is offending me
It's upending me
I'm pretending see to be strong and free
From my dependency
It's warping me
(Whoa)
So much love, so rare to dare
Afraid of ever being there
Take me home, I need repair
Take me, please, to anywhere
Descend
All the way, all the way
(Whoa)
Descended from demented men
Struggle with the art of Zen
Please don't look too close at me
You might not like what you see
She said
All the way, all the way
Everyday
Warped and scared
Of being there, of being there
Craving sends me crawling, whoa
Beg for mercy, does it show?
A vacancy that's full of holes
Hold me please, I'm feeling cold
She said
All the way, all the way
Everyday
Warped and scared
Of being there, of being there
The lyrics to Red Hot Chili Peppers' song Warped explore the theme of dependency and its ramifications. The first stanza brings about the internal struggle and conflict within oneself about their need for dependency. The singer feels as though their tendency for dependency is offensive and warping them, leading them to pretend to be strong and free from it. This demonstrates the idea that sometimes we are aware of our flaws but struggle to overcome them, leading us to sometimes pretend to be someone we are not to hide our insecurities.
The second and third stanzas delve into the struggles of the singer’s past and how it has influenced their current mindset. The singer feels as though they are descended from demented men and struggle with the art of zen, leading the listener to believe that possibly their past may have led them to their dependency issue. The singer pleads with the listener not to look too closely for fear that they will not like what they see. The final stanza finds the singer begging to be held as they are feeling cold, demonstrating a sense of loneliness and fear that comes with dependency.
Overall, the lyrics to Warped deal with heavy themes of dependency, past struggles, and the internal conflict that comes with both. The song is a reminder to be aware of our flaws and to seek help when needed.
Line by Line Meaning
My tendency
My natural inclination
For dependency
To rely on something or someone else excessively
Is offending me
Is causing me to feel upset or bothered
It's upending me
It's turning my life upside down
I'm pretending see
I'm pretending, you see
To be strong and free
To act as if I am strong and independent
From my dependency
From the thing or person I rely on too much
It's warping me
It's distorting my perception of reality
So much love
There is so much love in the world
So rare to dare
It's rare to take a risk for love
Afraid of
Fearful of
Ever being there
Being vulnerable and open with someone
Take me home
Bring me back to where I belong
I need repair
I need to fix myself
Take me please
Please take me
To anywhere
To any place that isn't here
Descend
Go down
All the way
Completely
Descended from
Originating from
Demented men
Crazy people
Struggle with
Have difficulty with
The art of zen
The practice of finding inner peace
Please don't look
Don't examine me too closely
Too close at me
Too closely at me
You might not like
You may not be pleased with
What you see
What you observe
Everyday, warped and scared
Every day, feeling distorted and afraid
Of being there
Of being vulnerable and open with someone
Craving
Intense desire for something
Sends me crawling oh
Makes me feel desperate
Beg for mercy
Plead for forgiveness
Does it show
Is it visible
A vacancy
An empty space
That's full of holes
That is incomplete or lacking
Hold me please
Please comfort me
I'm feeling cold
I'm feeling emotionally distant and numb
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Balzary, Anthony Kiedis, David Michael Navarro, Chad Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DanielBenshimol
My tendency
for dependency
Is offending me
It's upending me
I'm pretending see
To be strong and free
From my dependency
It's warping me
So much love
So rare to dare
Afraid of
Ever being there
Take me home
I need repair
Take me please
To anywhere
[Chorus:]
Descend
all the way
all the way
Everyday
Warped
and scared
Of
being
there
Descended from
Demented men
Struggle with
The art of Zen
Please don't look
Too close at me
You might not like
What you see
[Chorus]
Night craving
Sends me crawling oh
Beg for mercy
Does it show
A vacancy
That's full of holes
Hold me please
I'm feeling cold
[Chorus]
@martialwharf7724
[Intro]
My tendency for dependency is upending me
It's upending me
I'm pretending see, to be strong and free
From my dependency
It's warping me
[Verse 1]
So much love, so rare to dare
Afraid of ever being there
Take me home I need repair
Take me please to anywhere
[Chorus]
Descend
All the way all the way
Everyday
Warped and scared
Of being there, of being in there
[Verse 2]
Night craving sends me crawling oh
Beg for mercy does it show
A vacancy that's full of holes
Hold me please I'm feeling cold
[Chorus]
Descend
All the way all the way
Everyday
Warped and scared
Of being in there, of being in there
@peterdoesburg4312
My tendency
For dependency
Is offending me
It's upending me
I'm pretending see
To be strong and free
From my dependency
It's warping me
So much love
So rare to dare
Afraid of
Ever being there
Take me home
I need repair
Take me please
To anywhere
Descend
All the way
Descended from
Demented men
Struggle with
The art of zen
Please don't look
Too close at me
You might not like
What you see
Descend
All the way
Everyday, warped and scared
Of being there
Craving
Sends me crawling oh
Beg for mercy
Does it show
A vacancy
That's full of holes
Hold me please
I'm feeling cold
Descend
All the way
Everyday, warped and scared
Of being there
@johnaguiar7679
I don't understand why RHCP shy away from this album... Inventive, ecletic and all killers and no fillers!!! An underrated gem!
@nathancastillo764
They shy away due to the drug use around that time they dont want to forget the music its just the memories of the drug abuse ot brings along with it they dont want to recall
@nm7891
John Prujante refuse to play the song
@gogoyubari366
What makes you believe it's underrated?
@moustachio334
John can’t play these songs. That’s why
@sixty-nine3574
I think it’s probably because it sucks
@Twofirmfeet1024
3:26 I love that transition from loud hard metal into calm, soothing music as if finally you've been able to outrun your addiction and have piece of mind even if just for a little bit.
@gustavoo1902
3:43 this part gives me a very good feeling
@suckdizkit
i love it when metal songs have that 30 sec bit of just peaceful, soothing music during the middle or end of a song
@MartinBaron69
Not a big fan of this album, but that's a RHCP birthmark, in the newer album it's amazing how you're moving from a slow guitar solo to an I WANNA DANCE moment