As one of the most influential rock bands of all time, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have cemented their place in music history with their ability to blend different musical genres, including funk, punk, psychedelic rock, and hip hop. So, their innovative sound and willingness to experiment with different styles have set them apart from their peers and contributed to their popularity.
- 5. Producer George Clinton’s Personal Cocaine Dealer Said The Opening Line In ‘Yertle The Turtle’
- 4. Record Labels Literally Despised RHCP In The First Place
- 3. In 2008, Flea Enrolled In The Music Program Of The University Of Southern California
- 2. In ‘If You Have To Ask,’ The RHCP Members Are Clapping And Cheering For John Frusciante After His Solo
- 1. The Red Hot Chili Peppers Were Sued For The ‘Mother’s Milk’ Album Cover
With their originality and longevity in the rock scene, it would be hard to deny their influence on the work of countless other artists and the music world. While the band’s hardcore fans are no strangers to the more well-known facts about RHCP, today we will dive into exploring lesser-known details that might surprise you. Here are five trivia facts you’ve probably never heard of.
5. Producer George Clinton’s Personal Cocaine Dealer Said The Opening Line In ‘Yertle The Turtle’
‘Yertle the Turtle‘ was a part of RHCP’s second studio album, ‘Freaky Styley,’ released in 1985. During the production process of the record, the band’s producer George Clinton and the RHCP members consumed large amounts of substances.
As Anthony Kiedis revealed in his 2004 autobiography, ‘Scar Tissue,’ Clinton’s drug dealer came in during the album recordings and demanded the producer pay his debts. However, Clinton could not repay, so he offered the dealer a spot on the album. The cocaine dealer eventually ended up saying the opening line, ‘Look at that turtle go, bro,’ as an exchange for pay.
4. Record Labels Literally Despised RHCP In The First Place
The RHCP members’ reputation as sexually-perverse junkies in the Hollywood scene made them appear immature in the first place, leading to doubts about the band’s potential for success. In his autobiography, ‘Scar Tissue,’ Kiedis also talked about this issue, saying that industry moguls treated the act poorly due to rumors about their behavior, including being unwilling to shake hands or allow them to sit on the furniture.
The famous producer Michael Beinhorn also confirmed Kiedis in a 2019 interview with Ultimate Guitar by revealing that some people in the industry had actively despised RHCP due to their unconventional style. One example of that could be their taking the stage naked in the early days of their career. They would wear only sports socks to cover their genitals.
3. In 2008, Flea Enrolled In The Music Program Of The University Of Southern California
It is publicly known that Flea was not classically trained. So, the bassist wanted to learn more about the academic side of music and enrolled in the University of Southern California’s music program in 2008. When Flea talked about this issue in several interviews before, he stated that his playing in RHCP was based on intuition and emotion, but he didn’t know much about the math of music. So, he went back to school to study music theory, music composition, and jazz trumpet.
2. In ‘If You Have To Ask,’ The RHCP Members Are Clapping And Cheering For John Frusciante After His Solo
‘If You Have to Ask‘ was released as the final single of RHCP’s fifth studio album, ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik,’ released in 1991. During the recording of the song, John Frusciante improvised and enhanced the solo beyond what the band had originally planned. This led to enthusiastic clapping and cheering from the other Red Hot Chili Peppers members, which can be heard through the end of the song. They eventually decided to keep John’s improved version of the solo despite the cheers in the background.
1. The Red Hot Chili Peppers Were Sued For The ‘Mother’s Milk’ Album Cover
For the cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ‘Mother’s Milk,’ two models were initially photographed, one of whom was Anthony Kiedis’ girlfriend, and the other was Dawn Alane. Pure Music noted that the band selected Alane’s photo, but she was not informed about it, leading to some tension. Dawn sued the band, winning a $50,000 settlement. In the original version, her breasts were visible, causing stores to refuse to display it. As a result, the official release featured Kiedis covering her nipples with a rose instead.
