In the 411 Mania’s column top 5, this week’s theme is Top 5 comeback albums and, according to Dan Marsicano, What The Hell Happened To…, News, Reviewer, Californication made it to the top. And, naturally, the explanation focuses on John.

5. Californication: by Red Hot Chili Peppers - The mid-90’s were probably the bleakest period for the funk metal band Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1995’s One Hot Minute didn’t sell as well as their previous albums and relations between new guitarist Dave Navarro and the band deteriorated. Former guitarist John Frusciante was near death from a drug addition that was eating him alive and the other band members started to sub come to the deadly temptation of heroin. Navarro left and Frusciante was brought back into the band. Songs would take a while to come out, but finally, in 1999, Californication was released and brought the band back into the spotlight. The album sold over 15 million copies worldwide and hits “Scar Tissue” and the title track would top the charts nationwide. Californication is the album that saved the band from obscurity and showed that they still had some life left in them.

And, according to Blake Lauderback, Californication would be the second album on his list.

The argument against this being a great comeback album is that its predecessor, One Hot Minute, actually sold very well, but it was not very highly regarded by the fans, or for that matter the band itself. Dave Navarro was given his walking papers shortly after its release. Californication is the first album after the return of guitar player John Frusciante, and his presence made all of the difference. Not only did Californication continue their financial success, but it put the band back on track creatively, and they are still riding that wave of greatness to this day. Plenty of can’t miss tracks including “Otherside” and the title track.

*Thanks to orangevarld for the correction.

As it was announced earlier, Bram van Spluteren’s amazing documentary on various bits of Red Hots’ career, focusing on John and his contribution to the band as well as going to hell and back; was one of the movies shown on Beverly Hills Film Festival, and that was its world premiere on the big screen and overall premiere in North America.

I’m very very glad to inform you that the movie WON the audience choice award for the best documentary! And, in his short speech, mr. van Spluteren told the crowd in the room that he hoped this award would help make the release possible of the film on DVD, so all Chili Peppers fans can finally see the documentary in a proper fashion, and not in poor quality and cut up to pieces on You Tube.

Until that happens, just to remind you of how good the documentary is, here’s an excerpt from it. Stay tuned for more regarding this subject.

Many many congratulations to Bram van Spluteren on the behalf of all visitors of Invisible Movement!

Thanks to Flavia for translation and news.

Red Hot Chili Peppers and GN’R will play shows in Brazil; RBD announces extra concert.
From Folha Online

The bands RHCP and GN’R will come to Brazil this year. Still pending to set places and dates of the concerts.

As some of you have probably seen on the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ official website, the documentary which was first aired last year after the show in Nijemegen will be shown again on Nederland 3, VPRO at 19.50 CET. However, there’s much more to it….

…this stunning documentary is making its USA premiere today, at 2:30 PM at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. It will be shown without Dutch subtitles, entirely in English language and, of course, in a quality much better than ever before.

Here’s the author’s own synopsis:

When Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante was living the life of a junkie in a tiny appartement in Venice California in the mid nineties, Dutch filmmaker Bram van Splunteren was the only one to ever film him.

Van Splunteren has been a good friend of the band, since he made a documentary about their first European tour in 1988.

After that he filmed them on many occasions both in the States and in Europe.
In the summer of 2007 Van Splunteren looks the band up again, during their world tour. With bassplayer Flea he looks back at those years right before the band became a huge stadium act.
“A Dutch Connection” shows the history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers with lots of exciting footage from the band both live, in rehearsal and on tour. All from a unique and very personal point of view, that of filmmaker Bram van Splunteren and focusing on the role of guitarist John Frusciante.

And here’s how the movie is described on the festival’s website:

A story of the Red Hot Chili Peppers like you’ve never seen it told before, by Dutch filmmaker Bram van Splunteren, a friend of the band. The film focuses on the role of guitarist John Frusciante, who started out being the saviour of the band, then fell from grace and became a junkie, and then again joined the band and rose with them to great fame.

So, if you’re able to attend the documentary premiere, click here to get the tickets. Many thanks to mr. van Splunteren himself for the heads up on this.

Various celebrities will be featured on a MTV documentary series titled 4 Real which captures the stars embarking to different countries to connect with leaders inspiring change in their nations.

The eight part series, which will launch on April 14, will be separate 30-minute episodes.

Stars who will be feature don the show include rapper K’naan, M.I.A, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joaquin Phoenix, Cameron Diaz, Eva Mendes and Casey Affleck. The RHCP episode will be aired on 28th April.

On her new EP, Shine, Anna Nalick has covered RHCP’s Breaking The Girl. It’s up to both her and the guys’ fans to decide if this is actually good or it’s as catastrophic as Taylor Daine or (god forbid) All Saints’ take at Under The Bridge; or as hillarous and brilliant as Dick Brave’s take on Give It Away or Richard Cheese’s swing-jazz short version of Suck My Kiss.

Here’s an excerpt of the review:

Also included is a sparse and piercing cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ track, “Breaking the Girl,” which Nalick strikingly turns on its head. She sticks to Anthony Kiedis’ lyrical point of view, thus enriching the already-beguiling sense of this song.

You can read the whole review of Anna’s effort at the following link and listen/buy the song here. The whole EP is available here.

(Many thanks to Lauren for the heads up!)

According to AlbumVote, EMI is, oops, doing it again. Red Hot Chili Peppers are to have their first four studio albums re-mastered, re-packaged and re-released on March 24 2008.

1984’s self-titled debut will have five extra tracks, 1985’s Freaky Styley will have four extra tracks and there will be an extra two tracks included on 1987’s The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. 1989’s Mother’s Milk will come with an extra 6 tracks.

According to some other sources, this might be a mixup with the news from 2003, so it’s not 100% sure.