List of Red Hot Chili Peppers band members

Red Hot Chili Peppers performing in 2006 (top) and 2016 (bottom).

Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) is an American funk rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in December 1982 as Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem, the group originally consisted of vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Hillel Slovak, bassist Flea (real name Michael Balzary) and drummer Jack Irons.[1] The group changed its name to Red Hot Chili Peppers on March 25, 1983.[2] In December, Slovak and Irons both left RHCP, after their other band What Is This obtained a record deal with MCA Records.[3] They were replaced before the end of the year by Jack Sherman and Cliff Martinez, respectively, who performed on the group's self-titled debut album.[4] After the resulting promotional concert tour ended in December 1984, Sherman was fired following tensions with Kiedis and Flea.[5]

Having recently left What Is This?, Slovak returned to RHCP in January 1985.[6] During the tour in promotion of Freaky Styley, Martinez was replaced by the returning Jack Irons, who rejoined in April 1986 to mark the reunion of the group's original lineup.[7] The Uplift Mofo Party Plan was released in 1987.[4] However, after struggling with a heroin addiction for a number of years, Slovak died of an overdose on June 25, 1988, following the conclusion of the album's promotional tour.[8] In the wake of the guitarist's death, Irons decided to leave the group.[9] Kiedis and Flea decided to continue, adding DeWayne McKnight on guitar and D. H. Peligro on drums in August.[7] McKnight was fired the following month and replaced by John Frusciante; Peligro was also dismissed in November, with Chad Smith taking over the following month.[2]

With its new lineup finalised, RHCP released two successful albums in Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik.[4] On May 7, 1992, however, Frusciante abruptly quit the band in the middle of the Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour, with several shows cancelled as a result.[10] Arik Marshall was brought in for the remainder of the tour, before Jesse Tobias took his place the following September.[2] Before the end of the month, however, former Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro – the band's first choice to replace Frusciante – had finally agreed to join the group.[2][11] The band released One Hot Minute in 1995 and toured extensively in promotion of the album.[4] By April 1998, however, Navarro had left RHCP due to creative differences, and his desire to focus on new band Spread.[12] Frusciante returned to the band a few weeks later.[13]

The lineup of RHCP remained constant for more than ten years following Frusciante's return, as the band continued to increase its mainstream success with 1999's Californication, 2002's By the Way and 2006's Stadium Arcadium.[4] After a brief hiatus starting in 2008, however, it was announced in December 2009 that the guitarist had departed for a second time, explaining that "my musical interests have led me in a different direction".[14] Despite the time of the announcement, Frusciante had actually left on July 29, 2009.[2] Josh Klinghoffer, previously a touring guitarist for the band, had taken his place when the band returned from its hiatus in October.[15] The band released I'm with You in 2011 and The Getaway in 2016.[4] On December 15, 2019, the band announced through their Instagram account the departure of Josh Klinghoffer and the subsequent return of John Frusciante as the lead guitarist of the band.[16] This event marked Frusciante's second comeback, in this occasion after 10 years of absence. The band released Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen in 2022.

Members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
RHChiliPeppersSpurs210723 (66 of 90) (53065771758).jpg
Flea
(Michael Balzary)
1983–present[1][2]
  • bass
  • backing vocals
  • trumpet
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • occasional lead vocals, guitars and percussion
all Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP) releases
RHChiliPeppersSpurs210723 (41 of 90) (53064693317).jpg
Anthony Kiedis
  • lead vocals
  • occasional guitars and percussion
RHChiliPeppersSpurs210723 (9 of 90) (53065669750).jpg
John Frusciante
  • 1988–1992
  • 1998–2009
  • 2019–present
[2][10][13][14][16]
  • guitars
  • backing vocals
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
  • occasional lead vocals, piano, bass and percussion
RHChiliPeppersSpurs210723 (4 of 90) (53065463159).jpg
Chad Smith 1988–present[2]
  • drums
  • percussion
all RHCP releases from Mother's Milk (1989) onwards

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
HillelSlovak1985.jpg
Hillel Slovak
  • 1983
  • 1985–1988 (until his death)
[1][2][3][6][8]
  • guitar
  • backing and occasional lead vocals
  • sitar
  • vocoder
– appears on one track
Jack_Irons_-_What_Is_This_(cropped).jpg
Jack Irons
  • 1983
  • 1986–1988
[1][2][3][7][9]
  • drums
  • backing vocals
  • The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984) – songwriting credits only
  • Freaky Styley (1985) – songwriting credits only
  • all RHCP releases from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1986) to Mother's Milk (1989)
– appears on one track
Cliff Martinez (cropped).jpg
Cliff Martinez 1983–1986[4][7] drums
  • The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
  • Freaky Styley (1985)
  • The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987) – songwriting credit only
  • The Abbey Road E.P. (1988)
Jacksherman.jpg
Jack Sherman 1983–1985[4][5]
(died 2020)
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
  • Freaky Styley (1985) – songwriting credits only
  • The Abbey Road E.P. (1988)
  • Mother's Milk (1989) – guest appearance on two tracks
DeWayne 'Blackbyrd' McKnight - SociaLibrium, Vienna2009 b.jpg
DeWayne McKnight 1988[7][2]
  • Out in L.A. (1994) – previously unreleased track "Blues for Meister"
2019 Dead Kennedys - D H Peligro - by 2eight - DSC4208.jpg
D. H. Peligro
(Darren Henley)
1988[7][2]
(died 2022)
  • drums
  • Mother's Milk (1989) – songwriting credits only
  • Out in L.A. (1994) – previously unreleased track "Blues for Meister"
Arik Marshall.jpg
Arik Marshall 1992–1993[2]
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
none – Blood Sugar Sex Magik Tour performances only
Jesse_Tobias_1999_(cropped).jpg
Jesse Tobias 1993[2] none – rehearsals, writing and demo recording only
Dave Navarro 2 at Patrick-Novello Party 20071011.jpg
Dave Navarro 1993–1998[11][12]
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Rock am Ring 2016 -2016156230903 2016-06-04 Rock am Ring - Sven - 1D X MK II - 0313 - AK8I1261 mod.jpg
Josh Klinghoffer 2009–2019
(touring 2007)[15][16]
  • guitar
  • backing vocals
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
  • occasional lead vocals, bass, drums, percussion and piano

Touring

Image Name Years active Instruments Details
OFF! IMG 3204 (14035461060).jpg
Keith Morris 1984 (substitute) lead vocals Morris filled in for Anthony Kiedis at a show on May 12, 1984, when Kiedis failed to show up for the performance.[17]
Chuck Biscuits
(Charles Montgomery)
1985 (substitute) drums Biscuits replaced regular drummer Cliff Martinez during a few shows on the Freaky Styley Tour in 1985.[18]
Keith "Tree" Barry 1989–1990 tenor saxophone Barry performed on the Mother's Milk Tour between 1989 and 1990.[19] He also contributed to the album.[20]
Kristen_Vigard,_Guiding_Light.JPG
Kristen Vigard 1989 backing vocals Vigard performed on the Mother's Milk Tour in 1989[21] and also contributed backing vocals on three of the album's songs[20] along with backing vocals on 1995's One Hot Minute album on the song "Falling Into Grace".
Vicky Calhoun Calhoun performed on the Mother's Milk Tour in 1989[22] and also contributed backing vocals on four of album's songs.[20]
Rob Rule 1995–1996
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
Rule and Phoenix were part of the touring lineup for the One Hot Minute Tour between 1995 and 1996.[23][24]
Rain Phoenix backing vocals
Acacia Ludwig 1996 Ludwig joined Phoenix as a second backing vocalist in the touring lineup of the band during early 1996.[25]
Chris Warren 2006–present
  • keyboards
  • synthesizers
  • electronic percussion
  • backing vocals
Warren has toured with the band since the Stadium Arcadium Tour, appearing on multiple live releases.[26]
Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez.JPG
Marcel Rodríguez-López 2006–2007
  • percussion
  • keyboards
Rodríguez-López performed at a number of shows on the Stadium Arcadium Tour in 2006 and 2007.[27][28]
Melt_Festival_2013_-_Atoms_For_Peace-13_cropped.jpg
Mauro Refosco 2011–2014 percussion Refosco performed live percussion for RHCP on the I'm with You World Tour and the 2013–2014 Tour.[29] Since 2014, he turned down from the touring, and being featured as session musicians only.
Mike Bulger 2011
  • piano
  • keyboards
  • trumpet
Bulger performed with RHCP at a number of warm-up shows in 2011 prior to the I'm with You World Tour.[30]
Nate Walcott 2016–2019 Walcott performed live with RHCP during The Getaway World Tour.[31]
Samuel Bañuelos III
  • 2016–2019
  • 2022
additional bass Bañuelos performed live with RHCP during The Getaway World Tour and for one show in 2022.[32]
Jane's Addiction - Stephen Perkins - 3622465999.jpg
Stephen Perkins 2020 (substitute) drums Perkins filled in for Chad Smith at the band's performance on February 8, 2020. Smith had a previously scheduled art exhibit making him unable to attend.[33]

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
December 1982 – March 25, 1983
(Tony Flow and the Miraculously
Majestic Masters of Mayhem)
none
March 25 – December 1983
December 1983 – January 1985
January 1985 – April 1986
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, backing vocals
  • Cliff Martinez – drums
  • Hillel Slovak – guitar, backing vocals
April 1986 – June 25, 1988
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, backing vocals
  • Hillel Slovak – guitar, backing vocals
  • Jack Irons – drums, backing vocals
August – September 1988
September – November 1988
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, backing vocals
  • D. H. Peligro – drums
  • John Frusciante – guitar, backing vocals
none
December 3, 1988 – May 7, 1992
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, backing vocals
  • John Frusciante – guitar, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
July 1992 – September 1993
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
  • Arik Marshall – lead guitar, backing vocals
none
September 1993
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
  • Jesse Tobias – lead guitar, backing vocals
September 20, 1993 – April 3, 1998
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
  • Dave Navarro – lead guitar, backing vocals
April 18, 1998 – July 29, 2009
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
  • John Frusciante – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
October 2009 – December 15, 2019
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
  • Josh Klinghoffer – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
December 15, 2019 – present
  • Anthony Kiedis – lead vocals
  • Flea – bass, trumpet, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Chad Smith – drums, percussion
  • John Frusciante – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

References

  1. ^ a b c d Duncan, Hamish (2023). Out in L.A. : the Red Hot Chili Peppers 1983. Chicago, Illinois. ISBN 978-1-64160-801-5. OCLC 1333620372.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Timeline". Red Hot Chili Peppers. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Kiedis, Anthony; Sloman, Larry (October 19, 2005). Scar Tissue. New York City, New York: Hachette Books. p. 127. ISBN 978-1401307455.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Prato, Greg. "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Flanary, Patrick (May 4, 2012). "Ex-Chili Peppers Guitarist Feels 'Dishonored' By Rock Hall 'Snub'". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  6. ^ a b Blandford, James R. (March 2000). "Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Road to Sock-Cess". Record Collector. London, England: Diamond Publishing. p. 93. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Thompson, Dave (August 1993). "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Spin. Vol. 9, no. 5. New York City, New York: Camouflage Associates. pp. 48–49. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  8. ^ a b Schonfeld, Zach (June 25, 2013). "Founding Red Hot Chili Peppers Guitarist Hillel Slovak Died 25 Years Ago Today (video)". PopMatters. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Prato, Greg. "Jack Irons: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Karan, Tim (May 7, 2015). "23 Years Ago: John Frusciante Quits The Red Hot Chili Peppers (For The First Time)". Diffuser. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Foege, Alec (October 19, 1995). "Cover Story: The Red Hot Chili Peppers". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (April 3, 1998). "Dave Navarro Resigns From Chili Peppers". MTV. Archived from the original on February 7, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "John Frusciante Rejoins Red Hot Chili Peppers". MTV. April 29, 1998. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (December 17, 2009). "John Frusciante Quits Red Hot Chili Peppers With "No Drama"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  15. ^ a b Fricke, David (September 1, 2011). "The Unstoppable Groove of the Red Hot Chili Peppers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  16. ^ a b c Red Hot Chilli Peppers [@chilipeppers] (15 December 2019). "Departure of Josh Klinghoffer" – via Instagram.
  17. ^ Balzary, Michael (October 19, 2010). The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History. New York City, New York: It Books. p. 147. ISBN 978-0061351914.
  18. ^ Wilkening, Matthew (June 20, 2016). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Lineup Changes: A Complete History". Diffuser. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  19. ^ "Keith Barry". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  20. ^ a b c "Mother's Milk - Red Hot Chili Peppers: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  21. ^ "Kristen Vigard". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "Vicky Calhoun". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "Rob Rule". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  24. ^ "Rain Phoenix". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  25. ^ "Acacia Ludwig". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  26. ^ "Chris Warren". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  27. ^ Pratt, Greg (May 3, 2010). "John Frusciante and Omar Rodríguez-López Release Collaborative Record". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  28. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive". Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Archive. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  29. ^ "Mauro Refosco". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  30. ^ Gallo, Phil (August 23, 2011). "Red Hot Chili Peppers Rock New Songs at Private Club Show". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  31. ^ "Nate Walcott". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  32. ^ "Samuel Banuelos". RHCP Live Archive. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  33. ^ Mamo, Heran (2020-02-11). "Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform With John Frusciante for the First Time in Almost 13 Years". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-02-20.