Red Hot Chilli Peppers - what am I missing?
Discussion
Just watched the Chilli Peppers on the Jonathan Ross show and yet again I am wondering what all the fuss is about. There must be something I'm missing for them to held in such esteem by so many people. It's not simply a case of not liking them but every time I try listening to them I'm just left cold - a feeling of 'so what' about them. I can listen to other stuff that does't float my boat but at least I can usually see what other people get out of it.
I'm not saying all this to be arsey or confrontational - I'm genuinely baffled!
Having said that, I'm happy to be educated with recommendations that might open my eyes (or ears) 
I'm not saying all this to be arsey or confrontational - I'm genuinely baffled!
Having said that, I'm happy to be educated with recommendations that might open my eyes (or ears) 
Yes but, to answer the OP, what you are missing is Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which is one of the best albums of the last 20 years. I was around 13 when I first got the tape, and as a sheltered surburban Essex boy I will never forget Anthony Kiedis being 'stuck with a big black stick' by a sexy policewoman. Of course I think this was before they were cleaned of drugs and made a big comeback. Sad really. I can't think of anything to compare it with since. Which is why they are still w
ked over. I'm sure I wrote on here the other day.
ked over. I'm sure I wrote on here the other day. its all horses for courses at the end of the day, you either like it, or you don't.
so, surprise, surprise, my username is abit of a giveaway, or "give it away" if you like.
i've been a big fan of the chilis for a few years now, and for me personally, i think, "blood.sugar.sex.magic" is still their best album, but there are plenty of great songs off of the albums since then.
with regards the current single, "the adventures of raindance maggie", i have to be honest, i was very underwhelmed at my first listen, but as is often the case, its a real grower, and i now love it, and not just because i'm biased. pretty much goes the same for the new album, a real grower, with some different, stand out tracks.
i personally have never got the whole u2/radiohead thing, but they are huge, thats not to say i'm right, or wrong, but they certainly can shift some records, and as u2 have just proved, know how to make mega money out of touring.
now i'm quite fortunate, as i get payed to drive trucks for bands on tour, for a living, and my next job, goes out in a couple of weeks, doing the red hot chili peppers, till christmas, all around europe, so a dream job for me, but i've done them before, and the 1 thing i will give them, and this is totally unbiased, is they are very, very good live, and play a good mix of old and new, and will normally be on for 2 hours solid, giving it 110% for the whole show, and entirely LIVE, abit of a rarity these days. and the real beauty is, they are just 4 blokes, that go out on a stage, and do their thing, they don't rely on big sets, or special effects to sell a show, its just about being in a band and playing live. they've shifted over 60 million records, so they ain't doing to bad.
love or loathe any band, the real proof of the pudding, is actually going to see them live, and then making an honest opinion, on what you just saw.
so, surprise, surprise, my username is abit of a giveaway, or "give it away" if you like.
i've been a big fan of the chilis for a few years now, and for me personally, i think, "blood.sugar.sex.magic" is still their best album, but there are plenty of great songs off of the albums since then.
with regards the current single, "the adventures of raindance maggie", i have to be honest, i was very underwhelmed at my first listen, but as is often the case, its a real grower, and i now love it, and not just because i'm biased. pretty much goes the same for the new album, a real grower, with some different, stand out tracks.
i personally have never got the whole u2/radiohead thing, but they are huge, thats not to say i'm right, or wrong, but they certainly can shift some records, and as u2 have just proved, know how to make mega money out of touring.
now i'm quite fortunate, as i get payed to drive trucks for bands on tour, for a living, and my next job, goes out in a couple of weeks, doing the red hot chili peppers, till christmas, all around europe, so a dream job for me, but i've done them before, and the 1 thing i will give them, and this is totally unbiased, is they are very, very good live, and play a good mix of old and new, and will normally be on for 2 hours solid, giving it 110% for the whole show, and entirely LIVE, abit of a rarity these days. and the real beauty is, they are just 4 blokes, that go out on a stage, and do their thing, they don't rely on big sets, or special effects to sell a show, its just about being in a band and playing live. they've shifted over 60 million records, so they ain't doing to bad.
love or loathe any band, the real proof of the pudding, is actually going to see them live, and then making an honest opinion, on what you just saw.
BSSM was a blast of new thinking, gifted rock and has impacted many peoples lives. I first heard it driving across Michigan in a V8 muscle car with a new American girlfriend. Happy times. But I agree, later stuff seems to be becoming more anodyne, maybe they are suffering from the loss of the angst of youth.
I for one completely disagree. I personally love them and think that they keep on getting better, stadium arcadium has some truly epic song on (for example; hard to concentrate, slow cheetah, wet sand, strip my mind...etc), and their new album 'I'm with you' is really really good, 'brendans death song' and 'police station' are especially good.
As for saying that their live material is'nt great, I literally could not disagree more. I've seen seen loads of 'the big ones' like R.A.T.M, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead etc etc and I honestly don't think any of them compare to the chili peppers live.
Go on youtube and checkout some of their live stuff; especially 'Live at Slane Castle'. It's an absolutely amazing album with some incredible improvs and solo's. Here's 'Californication' live for example, really good imo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AXjUy1_gY
I think the chili's main issue with a lot of their older fans, i.e. Blood Sugar Sex Magic era is that a lot of their latest singles have been crap, such as 'hump de bump' (wtf was that about) and 'the adventures of raindance maggie'.
Give 'Stadium Arcadium' and 'I'm with you' a proper listening to and I'm sure you'll agree they're brilliant. If not, than I guess it's just down to personal taste and they don't float your boat, but for me, I love their material and will 100% be seeing them on their tour.
As for saying that their live material is'nt great, I literally could not disagree more. I've seen seen loads of 'the big ones' like R.A.T.M, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, NIN, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead etc etc and I honestly don't think any of them compare to the chili peppers live.
Go on youtube and checkout some of their live stuff; especially 'Live at Slane Castle'. It's an absolutely amazing album with some incredible improvs and solo's. Here's 'Californication' live for example, really good imo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0AXjUy1_gY
I think the chili's main issue with a lot of their older fans, i.e. Blood Sugar Sex Magic era is that a lot of their latest singles have been crap, such as 'hump de bump' (wtf was that about) and 'the adventures of raindance maggie'.
Give 'Stadium Arcadium' and 'I'm with you' a proper listening to and I'm sure you'll agree they're brilliant. If not, than I guess it's just down to personal taste and they don't float your boat, but for me, I love their material and will 100% be seeing them on their tour.
Stadium Arcadium is the only album I've ever taken back for a refund. It was dreadful.
And I finally got tickets to see them live for their post-By The Way tour, having missed out on the One Hot Minute tour in the 90s.
To this day they are the most disappointing act I've ever seen live. They couldn't have made it feel like they were less interested. I was gutted as I had always been a huge fan right from Freaky Styley through to Californication.
Sadly I think that whilst sobriety has no doubt saved them, it has also been their downfall creatively.
And I finally got tickets to see them live for their post-By The Way tour, having missed out on the One Hot Minute tour in the 90s.
To this day they are the most disappointing act I've ever seen live. They couldn't have made it feel like they were less interested. I was gutted as I had always been a huge fan right from Freaky Styley through to Californication.
Sadly I think that whilst sobriety has no doubt saved them, it has also been their downfall creatively.
still think they are very, very good live, and it is all live.
i did the euro leg of the stadium arcadium tour in 2006, and in 4 weeks, watched every show, and you'd prob class only 1 of them as being a little bit off, it was the 2nd show in zurich.
think anyone bothering to go and see them on the upcoming, "i'm with you" tour, is in for a treat, i just did the promo tour for this, germany, france and the u.k, and they were on top form, the best i've seen them for a fair while
i did the euro leg of the stadium arcadium tour in 2006, and in 4 weeks, watched every show, and you'd prob class only 1 of them as being a little bit off, it was the 2nd show in zurich.
think anyone bothering to go and see them on the upcoming, "i'm with you" tour, is in for a treat, i just did the promo tour for this, germany, france and the u.k, and they were on top form, the best i've seen them for a fair while
chilistrucker said:
still think they are very, very good live, and it is all live.
i did the euro leg of the stadium arcadium tour in 2006, and in 4 weeks, watched every show, and you'd prob class only 1 of them as being a little bit off, it was the 2nd show in zurich.
think anyone bothering to go and see them on the upcoming, "i'm with you" tour, is in for a treat, i just did the promo tour for this, germany, france and the u.k, and they were on top form, the best i've seen them for a fair while
You have a seriously awesome job! Have you ever got to meet them or anything like that? i did the euro leg of the stadium arcadium tour in 2006, and in 4 weeks, watched every show, and you'd prob class only 1 of them as being a little bit off, it was the 2nd show in zurich.
think anyone bothering to go and see them on the upcoming, "i'm with you" tour, is in for a treat, i just did the promo tour for this, germany, france and the u.k, and they were on top form, the best i've seen them for a fair while
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