Train - Calling All Angels
I need a sign, to that blonde girl from Bleecker Street, Red Lion Sat 12:34 we had a moment...
Out to LA
Radiohead - High and Dry
💙 For That Someone Who'll Know It's for Them “I'm not putting their name here because they'll know exactly who they are when they hear it!!!
Michelle
Foo Fighters - Times Like These
🖤 For Anyone Having a Rough Week “To anybody who's had one of those weeks where nothing seems to go right...
Red Hot Chili Peppers started as a chaotic Los Angeles funk-punk party band and became one of the best-selling rock bands in history. Flea’s slapping bass, Anthony Kiedis’ rapid-fire vocals, Chad Smith’s grooves and John Frusciante’s melodic guitar created a sound that is instantly recognizable, from “Give It Away” to “Under the Bridge” and “Californication.”
| Formed | 1983, Los Angeles |
| Members | Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (bass), Chad Smith (drums), John Frusciante (guitar) |
| Notable former members | Hillel Slovak, Jack Irons, Dave Navarro, Josh Klinghoffer |
| Genres | Funk rock, alternative rock, rap rock |
| Hall of Fame | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2012 |
Kiedis, Flea, guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons were friends from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. They formed the band for a one-off show in 1983 and quickly became a fixture of the L.A. club scene. After Slovak’s death in 1988, Frusciante, then a teenage fan, joined, and Chad Smith took over on drums.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984), Freaky Styley (1985, produced by George Clinton) and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987) built their reputation for wild funk-punk.
The first album with Frusciante and Smith, featuring “Knock Me Down” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”
The breakthrough, produced by Rick Rubin. “Under the Bridge,” “Give It Away,” “Suck My Kiss” and “Breaking the Girl” made them superstars.
Heavier and darker, with Dave Navarro on guitar.
Frusciante returned and the band found a new melodic depth. “Scar Tissue,” “Otherside” and “Californication” are among their most loved songs.
Lush, harmony-rich albums. “By the Way,” “Can’t Stop,” “Dani California” and “Snow (Hey Oh)” continued their run of hits.
With Josh Klinghoffer on guitar, they released I’m with You and The Getaway (2016). Frusciante returned again in 2019, and the band released two albums in 2022: Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen.
Flea is one of the most influential bassists in rock, mixing funk slap technique with punk energy and melodic invention. He has also acted in films and co-founded a music school in Los Angeles.
The Chili Peppers fused funk, punk, rap and melodic rock in a way that shaped a generation of alternative and rap-rock bands. Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication remain essential alternative albums; see our 50 essential alternative rock albums.
Faith No More, Jane’s Addiction, Incubus, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys and Rage Against the Machine.
In 1983 in Los Angeles.
Californication (1999), with Blood Sugar Sex Magik close behind.
“Under the Bridge” (1991) and “Californication” (1999) are the most famous.
Yes. Their most recent albums came out in 2022.
The Chili Peppers’ funk-rock energy and California melodies are a staple of our alternative rotation. Catch it on The Modern Rock Radio Show, check the radio show schedule, or press play on the live stream. Want a specific song? Send a request or dedication.
About this article: Written and fact-checked by The Alternative One editorial team, the programmers and music writers behind the station’s on-air shows. Official artist website: redhotchilipeppers.com. Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Read our editorial standards or tell us about a correction.
We are “The Alternative One!” – your go-to modern rock radio station featuring the best in grunge, modern rock music and underground tracks since the 1990s! Modern alternative rock combines rock, grunge, Alt pop, and electronic elements to deliver a unique, catchy, and introspective sound. #modernrockradio #alternativerock #grunge
