wordplay by Samantha Donen
images by Michael Muller

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been to the Pirate’s ship and lived to tell the tale. Metaphorically speaking, that is, when you consider their combined victories in overcoming drug and alcohol abuse to produce their 9th album, Stadium Arcadium.
Very few recording artists can say they wrote a double-disc of original material 20 years into their career. Or even be compared to their early hit writing, like that of the RHCP’s 1991 Blood Sugar Sex Magik. “I think it’s [Stadium Arcadium] our best ever, but it’s just a preview,” Anthony Kiedas told Blender in a recent interview,” I’m still just a freshman in the college of music. We’ve got some other cool sh!+ in us.”

On August 18, 2006, RHCP will be performing at the Pepsi Center with special guests The Mars Volta. Show starts at 7:30 pm. Ticket prices range from $39.50 to $59.50 on Ticketmaster’s web site. According to the BBC, “The Chilis are giving people what they want: the old classics, rather than shoving the 28 songs off Stadium Arcadium down fans' throats. And while only playing four new tracks is far too few, no one's complaining.”
Guitarist John Frusciante’s return to the band in 1999’s Californication, marked a pinnacle moment for the RHCP musical direction. His new devotion is nothing short of virtuosic through out Arcadium. Colorado fans will appreciate his extended guitar riffs on songs like “Readymade” and slinky funk lines on songs like “Turn It Again.”  “Every album we do, we try to have a concept and sense of direction,” Frusciante explains. “The most important idea for this album was movement.”

Bassist Flea said that it was Frusciante’s fascination with astrology that prompted their naming the disc’s Jupiter and Mars. “We really like the concept of being connected with the cosmos,” said Flea in a Sessions interview. ”John pointed out to us that Jupiter was the planet of creative intelligence and that Mars was the planet of war. Combine the two and you get a creative revolution.”

During the recording process, Frusciante said the band and producer Rick Rubin all had mates whom they were in love with. “Everyone is frighteningly happy right now,” Kiedas told Spin,” The chemistry was in better order than in a long time.” The recordings took place at the Blood Sugar Mansion in Laurel Canyon where they recorded their hit album Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

Some things do not change for RHCP. Like their love of L.A. “Every single thing I write is about Los Angeles, either directly or indirectly,” says Kiedas,” We rehearse in the Valley, we record in Laurel Canyon, I’ve lived everywhere from Hollywood Boulevard to Malibu-it’s just in us. It’s a magical spot.” Although he says he’s again exploring “the dark and nefarious side of Los Angeles” in his lyrics, he clarifies, “but not in a judgemental sense,” venturing, “It’s all about the joy of dysfunction.”

And recovering?

Editor’s disclosure: All quotes were provided by MSO Publicity, RHCP and may be from Spin, Blender, Sessions, BBC, band bio, and or any other publication not listed but included in the RHCP press kit)

August 18th @ Pepsi Center

RedHotChiliPeppers.com