The Bite Magazine Issue 17

I t’s not uncommon to see Anthony Kiedis with barely any clothes on. Even at the age of 53, the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman still has a reasonable looking body. He also doesn’t have to compete with rock veteran Iggy Pop who at the age of 69 is still going strong baring his torso. For fans who have followed the band from their inception in 1983 or even those who have experienced some ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers’ flavour along the way, there is no denying that this L.A. quartet has impacted music in a massive way. With their unique combination of funk and punk (influenced by music producer George Clinton) with macho, sexed-up lyrics in the beginning to a more laid-back approach in lyrics today, the Red Hot Chili Peppers has no doubt cemented their rightful place in the history of music. When you consider the original name of Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem (which you have to admit is a bit of a mouthful), you’ll be so thankful that they changed it to the more interesting name of Red Hot Chili Peppers. From playing their first gig at California’s Rhythm Lounge to only 30 people, to eventually playing sold out shows worldwide; extremely energetic guitarist Flea appearing in a number of films such as Back to the Future 2 and 3 , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Suburbia ; as well as Anthony Kiedes playing the gun-toting surf dude Tone in Point Break , there are some things we do not know about the band. Flea isn’t just crazy and a genius on the guitar but he also has a kind heart – he completed a LA Marathon to raise money for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, (albeit in purple dyed hair), having founded the organisation in 2001 that offers music lessons and instruments to chil- dren in need and also featured in Runner’s World when preparing for the race. You may also recall one of the May 1993 episodes in The Simpsons entitled ‘Krusty Gets Kancelled’ where the band is seen performing ‘Give It Away’ in their under- wear with Krusty the Clown peeping through the curtain. When the band performed a cover of Stevie Wonder’s 1972 ‘Superstition’ which suited their style down to the ground, Kiedis joked that it was between “this song and covering New Kids on the Block’s ‘Hanging Tough.’” At one point the future of the band hung in the balance when Hillel Slovak’s drug overdose led to his death in 1988. It was a wake-up call for Kiedes who was also seriously doing drugs at that time. He fled the city and did not attend Slovak’s funeral which is referenced in the song ‘This is the Place’, saying the situation was too “surreal and dreamlike.” Thankfully, the band was able to pick up the pieces and continue what Slovak had bite music celeb The way