History of Red Hot Chili Peppers in Timeline

The Red Hot Chili Peppers, formed in 1982, are a highly successful American rock band known for blending alternative rock, funk, punk, and hip hop. The current lineup features Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante, and Chad Smith. With over 120 million records sold, they're among the best-selling bands ever, holding records for most #1 singles and weeks at #1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. They've won three Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2022, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying their lasting impact on music and popular culture.

December 16, 1982: First Performance

On December 16, 1982, Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem, later known as Red Hot Chili Peppers, performed their first show at the Grandia Room club on Hollywood Boulevard.

1982: Band Formation in Los Angeles

In 1982, the Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in Los Angeles, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums).

November 1983: Record Deal with EMI America and Enigma Records

In November 1983, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, managed by Lindy Goetz, signed a seven-album deal with EMI America and Enigma Records.

1983: Four Founding Members Together Since 1983

In 1983, It marked the first time all four founding members were together since 1983.

August 1984: Release of Debut Album

In August 1984, The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their debut album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, which helped build their fan base through college radio and MTV airplay.

1984: Self-Titled Debut Album

In 1984, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their self-titled debut album, featuring Jack Sherman on guitar and Cliff Martinez on drums.

February 1985: Sherman Fired and Slovak Rejoined

In February 1985, guitarist Jack Sherman was fired from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Hillel Slovak, who had just quit What Is This?, rejoined the band.

August 16, 1985: Release of Freaky Styley

On August 16, 1985, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Freaky Styley, produced by George Clinton, which introduced elements of punk and funk.

1985: Release of "Freaky Styley"

In 1985, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their second album, Freaky Styley, with Hillel Slovak rejoining the band on guitar.

April 1986: Martinez Fired, Irons Rejoined

In April 1986, Cliff Martinez was fired from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jack Irons rejoined the band, marking the first time all four founding members were together since 1983.

1986: Appearance in Films

Around 1986, the Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared in the films Thrashin', playing "Blackeyed Blonde" from Freaky Styley, and Tough Guys, performing "Set It Straight".

September 1987: Release of 'The Uplift Mofo Party Plan'

In September 1987, The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their third album, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.

1987: Rubin turned down the band

In 1987, Rick Rubin, turned the band down because of their drug problems but he felt that they were now healthier and more focused.

1987: Release of "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan"

In 1987, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their third album, The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, with Jack Irons on drums.

1987: Slovak experiments with genres

On The Uplift Mofo Party Plan in 1987, guitarist Hillel Slovak experimented with genres outside of traditional funk music, including reggae and speed metal.

June 1988: Death of Hillel Slovak

In June 1988, Hillel Slovak, the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, died of a drug overdose. Following this, Jack Irons left the band.

June 25, 1988: Death of Hillel Slovak

On June 25, 1988, Hillel Slovak, the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, died from a heroin overdose shortly after the Uplift tour. Following this, Jack Irons left the band.

September 1988: First Show with Frusciante

In September 1988, John Frusciante, an 18-year-old fan of the band, performed his first show with the Red Hot Chili Peppers after being introduced by Peligro.

December 1988: Chad Smith Hired

In December 1988, Chad Smith was hired as the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers after open auditions, solidifying the band's new lineup.

1988: Work on Fourth Album

In late 1988, The Chili Peppers began work on their fourth album.

April 21, 1989: Kiedis convicted of sexual battery and indecent exposure

On April 21, 1989, Anthony Kiedis was convicted of sexual battery and indecent exposure after a concert at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and was fined $1,000 on each charge.

August 16, 1989: Release of Mother's Milk

On August 16, 1989, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Mother's Milk, which peaked at number 52 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

1989: Release of Mother's Milk

In 1989, the Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded Mother's Milk, marking the introduction of John Frusciante and Chad Smith to the lineup.

March 1990: Mother's Milk Certified Gold

In March 1990, Mother's Milk was certified gold, becoming the first Red Hot Chili Peppers album to ship over 500,000 units.

1990: Flea and Smith arrested on charges of battery in Daytona Beach

In 1990, Flea and Chad Smith were arrested on charges of battery in Daytona Beach, Florida, at a spring break performance for MTV. Flea was also charged with disorderly conduct and solicitation to commit an unnatural and lascivious act. They pled guilty and were sentenced to pay fines and write letters of apology.

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1990: Alleged Inappropriate Behavior at Epic Records

In 1990, Julie Farman, a former music executive, said that two members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers pressed themselves against her and "told me about all of the ways we could make a super sexy sandwich" after a meeting with them at Epic Records.

1990: Kiedis's comment on the 1989 sexual battery incident

In 1990, Kiedis commented on the incident that happened in 1989, calling it "blown way out of proportion" and "a playful thing that happened backstage".

1990: Appearance in Rock the Vote ads

In 1990, Red Hot Chili Peppers appeared in PSA ads for Rock the Vote, encouraging voter turnout in the United States Presidential Election among voters ages 18 to 24.

1990: Signed with Warner Bros. Records

In 1990, following the success of Mother's Milk, the Red Hot Chili Peppers left EMI and signed with Warner Bros. Records, hiring Rick Rubin as their producer.

September 1991: Release of 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik'

In September 1991, Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released, featuring "Give It Away" as the first single, achieving international fame.

1991: Release of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik"

In 1991, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which became their first major commercial success.

May 1992: Frusciante Quits After Tokyo Show

In May 1992, John Frusciante abruptly quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers after a show in Tokyo, returning to Los Angeles and struggling with addiction.

September 1992: MTV Video Music Awards Performance and Wins

In September 1992, the Chili Peppers performed "Give It Away" at the MTV Video Music Awards, winning three awards, including Viewer's Choice.

1992: Funk-metal acts following Red Hot Chili Peppers

AllMusic claims that in 1992, many funk-metal acts were following in the footsteps of Faith No More and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

1992: Frusciante's Departure

In 1992, John Frusciante left the Red Hot Chili Peppers while on tour due to discomfort with the band's newfound popularity.

1992: Success of "Blood Sugar Sex Magik"

In 1992, almost a year after its release, Blood Sugar Sex Magik rose to number three on the US album charts and was accompanied by a documentary, Funky Monks. The Chili Peppers began their Blood Sugar Sex Magik tour, which featured Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Smashing Pumpkins as opening acts.

1992: Flea's statement about the 1990 Daytona Beach incident

In a 1992 Rolling Stone interview, Flea commented on the 1990 Daytona Beach incident, stating that it was a stupid thing to do, he was out of control, but it was not sexual assault.

February 1993: Grammy Award for "Give It Away"

In February 1993, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed "Give It Away" at the Grammy Awards and won their first Grammy, Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal, for the song.

August 1993: Release of 'Soul to Squeeze'

In August 1993, the non-album single "Soul to Squeeze" was released and featured on the soundtrack to the film Coneheads, topping the Billboard US Modern Rock chart.

1994: Irons Joins Pearl Jam

In 1994, after years of depression following the death of Hillel Slovak, Jack Irons became a member of the Seattle grunge band Pearl Jam.

September 1995: Release of One Hot Minute

In September 1995, One Hot Minute was released after several delays, departing from the Chili Peppers' previous sound with heavy metal riffs and psychedelic rock.

1995: Release of "One Hot Minute"

In 1995, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released the album One Hot Minute, featuring Dave Navarro on guitar. However, the album failed to match the success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

1995: One Hot Minute features darker lyrics

When the band recorded One Hot Minute in 1995, Kiedis' drug use resulted in darker lyrics, reflecting anguish and self-mutilating thoughts. The album also featured tributes to Kurt Cobain and River Phoenix.

June 1996: Performance at Tibetan Freedom Concert

In June 1996, Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco, invited by the Beastie Boys and the Milarepa Fund.

June 1998: Performance at Washington, D.C. concert

In June 1998, Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the Washington, D.C. Tibetan Freedom Concert, which was broadcast worldwide to support Tibetan independence.

1998: Navarro's Departure and Frusciante's Return

In 1998, Dave Navarro departed from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and John Frusciante rejoined the band.

1999: Release of Californication

In 1999, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their seventh album, Californication, which became their biggest commercial success, selling 16 million copies worldwide.

1999: Shift in Kiedis' vocal style

With the release of Californication in 1999, Kiedis reduced the number of rapped verses, marking a shift from his earlier spoken verse and rapping approach.

2000: Kiedis' sobriety and lyrical influence

Since 2000, Kiedis' lyrics were influenced by his sobriety, with tracks like "This Is the Place" and "Don't Forget Me" expressing his dislike for narcotics.

2002: By the Way album contains few rap-driven verses

By 2002, with the release of the album By the Way, Kiedis further evolved his vocal style, and it contained only two songs with a rap-driven verse and melodic chorus.

2002: Release of By The Way

In 2002, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their album, By the Way, which proved to be another success for the band.

2003: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list

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.

2004: Nick Cave criticizes the band

In 2004, Nick Cave criticized Red Hot Chili Peppers' music, calling it "garbage", a line that has since been widely quoted.

September 2005: Performance at ReAct Now: Music & Relief benefit

In September 2005, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed "Under the Bridge" at the ReAct Now: Music & Relief benefit to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. The live event raised about $30 million.

2006: Frusciante's melodic and textured sound

During the recording of Stadium Arcadium in 2006, John Frusciante moved away from his new-wave influences and concentrated on emulating flashier guitar players such as Hendrix and Van Halen.

2006: Flea describes the band's genre

In 2006, Flea stated in a Guitar World interview that the Red Hot Chili Peppers never aligned themselves with any specific musical movement, distinguishing themselves from bands like Fishbone and Faith No More.

2006: Release of Stadium Arcadium

In 2006, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released Stadium Arcadium, which became their first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

2006: Stadium Arcadium themes of love and romance

Stadium Arcadium in 2006 continued the themes of love and romance in Kiedis' lyrics, reflecting the band's experiences with relationships and love.

July 2007: Performance at Live Earth concerts

In July 2007, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the London version of Al Gore's Live Earth concerts to raise awareness about global warming and environmental issues.

2009: Frusciante's Second Departure

In 2009, John Frusciante left the Red Hot Chili Peppers again to focus on his solo career.

2011: Release of "I'm with You"

In 2011, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released the album I'm with You, featuring Josh Klinghoffer on guitar.

2011: Brendan's Death Song released

The I'm With You album, released in 2011, featured "Brendan's Death Song", which was written by Kiedis about the loss of the close friend and club owner Brendan Mullen.

April 2012: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In April 2012, Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the induction lineup of Kiedis, Flea, Smith, Klinghoffer, Frusciante, Slovak (represented by his brother James), Irons, and Martinez. Frusciante did not attend and Navarro and Sherman were not inducted.

April 2012: Free concert in support of Obama's re-election campaign

In April 2012, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a free concert in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, to support President Obama's re-election campaign. Admission required volunteering for the Obama 2012 phone bank.

2012: Revised Rolling Stone list released

In 2012, a revised list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums was released, with Californication at #401.

2012: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2012, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

May 2013: Concert for the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit

In May 2013, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a concert in Portland, Oregon, for the Dalai Lama as part of the Dalai Lama Environmental Summit.

January 2015: Performance at Sean Penn & Friends Help Haiti Home fundraiser

In January 2015, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the Sean Penn & Friends Help Haiti Home fundraiser to support the J/P Haitian Relief Organization, marking their first show of the year.

September 2015: Endorsement and fundraiser for Bernie Sanders

In September 2015, the Red Hot Chili Peppers endorsed Bernie Sanders for President during the Democratic primary. They also performed at a fundraiser event at the Belly Up Tavern, donating the money to various music academies.

February 2016: Fundraiser concert in support of Sanders

In February 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers headlined a fundraiser concert in support of Bernie Sanders.

2016: Julie Farman's Allegations

In 2016, Julie Farman, a former music executive, alleged that two members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers behaved inappropriately towards her after a meeting at Epic Records in 1990.

2016: Release of "The Getaway"

In 2016, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released The Getaway, with Josh Klinghoffer on guitar.

2016: Kiedis and Flea hosted the annual benefit for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music

In October 2015, Kiedis and Flea hosted the annual benefit for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. The band performed a special rare acoustic set.

February 2018: Smith joins Ferrell at One Classy Night benefit

In February 2018, Chad Smith joined Will Ferrell at his One Classy Night benefit in Seattle to raise money for Cancer for College, raising $300,000 in college scholarship money.

January 13, 2019: Benefit show for fire victims

On January 13, 2019, Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a benefit show for victims of the Woolsey Fire, which had delayed the recording of their next album.

February 2019: Month-long tour begins

In February 2019, Red Hot Chili Peppers embarked on a month-long tour, including their first headlining shows in Australia in 12 years, and their first show in Tasmania, which was briefly halted due to a power outage.

November 22, 2019: Klinghoffer releases solo album

On November 22, 2019, Josh Klinghoffer released his debut solo album, To Be One with You, featuring Flea and former Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons.

December 15, 2019: Frusciante rejoins the band

On December 15, 2019, Red Hot Chili Peppers announced that John Frusciante had rejoined the band after 10 years, replacing Josh Klinghoffer.

2019: Frusciante Rejoined Again

In 2019, John Frusciante rejoined the Red Hot Chili Peppers for a third stint with the band.

February 8, 2020: Frusciante performs with the Chili Peppers

On February 8, 2020, John Frusciante performed with Red Hot Chili Peppers for the first time in 13 years at a memorial service held by the Tony Hawk Foundation for Andrew Burkle.

2020: Another version of Rolling Stone list released

In 2020, Rolling Stone released another version of the list, with Blood Sugar Sex Magik at #186 and Californication at #286.

April 24, 2021: New management company announced

On April 24, 2021, Red Hot Chili Peppers announced they had left Q Prime and would be managed by Guy Oseary, founder of Maverick Records.

March 31, 2022: Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

On March 31, 2022, Red Hot Chili Peppers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. George Clinton, Woody Harrelson, and Bob Forrest unveiled the star at the ceremony.

April 1, 2022: Unlimited Love album released

On April 1, 2022, Red Hot Chili Peppers released their 12th album, Unlimited Love, which debuted at number one in ten countries and was promoted with the singles "Black Summer" and "These Are the Ways".

August 28, 2022: Global Icon Award at MTV Video Music Awards

On August 28, 2022, Red Hot Chili Peppers received the Global Icon Award at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards, presented by Cheech & Chong.

2022: Releases of 'Unlimited Love' and 'Return of the Dream Canteen'

In 2022, the Chili Peppers released their 12th and 13th albums, Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen.

2022: Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 2022, the Red Hot Chili Peppers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

April 2024: Announced break after 2024 tour

In April 2024, Chad Smith announced that Red Hot Chili Peppers would take a break following their 2024 tour dates and would start writing their next album in 2025.

January 30, 2025: Performance at FireAid benefit concert

On January 30, 2025, the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at the FireAid benefit concert, which took place at the Kia Forum.

2025: Nick Cave apologizes for criticism

In 2025, Nick Cave apologized for his 2004 criticism of the band, stating it was an "offhand and somewhat uncharitable remark" and announced a collaboration with Flea.