Things You Should Know About RHCP
11- Hillel's death was a wake-up call...
In 1988, Slovak died of a heroin overdose. "That seemed like as low as it could get," Kiedis says. "Best friend dead, drugs not working, nowhere to run. But it actually turned out to be a blessing. For the first time, it got me interested in finding another way, instead of getting high."
12- ...But not for long
Kiedis eventually got hooked again, and in a moment of cash-strapped desperation traded a Rolling Stones - autographed Stratocaster for a mere 10 minutes' worth of junk. "That's how unmanageable it had become for me," he says. "I just hope somebody was able to put lots of food on the table."
13- Chad's not actually in the band (Shhh!)
After Slovak's death, drummer Jack Irons quit the band and Smith auditioned to replace him. Impressed by his thunderous sound, the Peppers said the job was his - if he'd shave his head. Smith's response ? "Fuck you." "I think they thought that was pretty cool," he says. "But they never officially told me I was in. I've just been sorta hanging around for 18 years."
14- They ain't afraid of no ghosts (except for Chad)
For their first album with Rick Rubin, 1991's septuple - platinium Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the band rented an old, supposedly haunted house in L.A.'s Laurel Canyon. Kiedis, Flea and guitarist John Frusciante all moved in; the wary Smith did not. "I mean, I'm not scared of ghosts," he insists. "But I felt... a presence."
15- "The bridge" is a real place
"Under The Bridge," the melancholy ballad that made them international superstars, was inspired by an actual L.A. drug den. "It's one of those hard-to-get-to spots in the shadows of the Harbor Freeway, where like 12 different overpasses come together," Kiedis says. "I only went once - this Mexican gang controlled who could get in, and the guy I was with was apparently in their good graces. But I didn't buy anything; it was more a BYO kind of deal."
16- They've got a serious basketball jones
"Basketball is how we first bonded," says Smith. The band has had courtside Lakers seats for years, and Smith and Flea used to play together on a team called the 69ers. So who's the Jordan of the group ? "Flea's a better outside shooter for sure," Smith admits. "But nobody can take me in the paint."
17- They once headlined alt-rock's ultimate bill
At a few West Coast shows in 1991, Pearl Jam and Nirvana were the Peppers' opening acts. "We were supposed to have Smashing Pumpkins, too," says Kiedis, "but Billy Corgan backed out because of his history with Courney Love."
18- They played with fire... and got burned
When the band headlined Lollapalooza I, the highlight of every night was their legendary "fire helmet" encore. "It was basically just a propane tank and a hardhat," Smith says. "The first time we did it, in San Fransisco, it was so windy that my drum tech couldn't get the flame going. But all of a sudden the wind died down and WHOOOSH ! - this huge ball of fire. From then on we were more careful."
19- The Peppers go through guitarists like spinal tap through drummers
Between 1983 and 1995 the band went through seven different guitar players. "I wish it was as mythical and light-hearted as the death of the Spinal Tap drummers," Kiedis said in 1996, during the tenure of Lucky No. 7, Dave Navarro. "But I don't think it's any kind of hex or curse." Two years later, Navarro was out.
20- No one though John Frusciante would live to see 30
Before he kicked drugs and rejoined the group for 1999's Californication, the guitarist was all but dead. His teeth were falling out; his skin was peeling off; he was quite literally rotting away." John was embracing it, says Smith. "He wanted to be a junkie. You do that, you're gone."
