Photo: By Leon Wilson from Sydney, Australia (Flea) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
There was simply nothing like them at the time. Kiedis’ punchy delivery in the way he brought sexually charged machismo to their funk metal insanity was just one of the many facets of their cool factor. There was also the main attraction of the band’s groove: Flea. His incomparable bass slapping, which laid the groundwork for technicality, is a cut above the rest; he’s to bass what Keith Richards is to rhythm guitar. And who can forget about the other key components, Slovak and Irons, who faded into the background with their rhythmic boogie that mirrored the band’s main influences, Sly & the Family Stone, Parliament, Jimi Hendrix, and James Brown.
But of course, things took a turn for the worst for the band: Slovak died of a heroin overdose and Kiedis was desperately trying to kick his habit. This ultimately led to the departure of Jack Irons. They would subsequently hire Will Ferrell look-alike Chad Smith, who would be the focal point in their new sound.
Soon the missing puzzle piece in their upshot of musical maturity was fulfilled once guitarist John Frusciante came along; this was about the time where they shot into the mainstream galaxy with their albums, Mother’s Milk and Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Of course, drug habits caught up to him as well; he departed from the band hereafter. That’s when Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction stepped in and played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers on their follow-up album, One Hot Minute.
Eventually, Navarro quit, so that’s when the band contacted John Frusciante once he kicked his habit; this would be a major turn of events, where they would soon put out some of the best music of their career. Unfortunately, though, John Frusciante once again left the band; this time indefinitely, to focus on other projects.
None of this takes away from the fact that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are still putting out consistent music and selling out live shows. That’s why we’ll be focusing on their album cuts that aren’t singles, because of the endless pool of great tunes to choose from.
# 10 – Nobody Weird Like Me
Opening up the Top 10 Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs (Deep Cuts) List is this scorching cut from their 1989 record, Mother’s Milk. The song features a bouncing bass riff from Flea that perfectly dresses up Anthony’s wacky lyrics about sexing a porpoise and riding on giraffes. Of course, Chad Smith’s fiery percussion needs no further comment. But that guitar savagery, people. The way John Frusciante makes it sound like bagpipes towards the end is nirvana; this is truly the side of him that’s underrated…..his heavy side.
# 9 – Blood Sugar Sex Magik
This funkadelic palette of sexualized surrealism from their eponymous classic can not be explained in simple terminology; look the song up or go out and buy the album and experience it yourself. Immerse thyself in its rhythmic communication. Don’t sleep on its sticky riff covered in Jimi Hendrix style mechanics with that complimentary solo to tailor fit the bass and drums. This was essential Red Hot Chili Peppers on this album; their funk rock ferocity peaked here.
# 8 – Easily
Their mellow comeback album, Californication, exercised an essence about the band that would soon become associated with them. Yes, they’re premier funk rock, but the overall sound and motif of this record define laid-back beach vibes. This is exactly what they would morph themselves into; poignant music befitting for the gold sand and ocean currents. And this song is no exception. It’s quite a persuasive number that’ll surely get you moving in the midst of its lovely imagery of Shao Lin and being thrown into unwanted situations such as war.
# 7 – Especially In Michigan:
Coming in at number seven on our Top 10 Red Hot Chili Peppers deep tracks list is an awesome guitar song that features stellar guest playing from Omar Rodríguez-López of The Mars Volta. Everybody plays off of each other really well here, and just listening to those lyrics, with its potpourri of references to Michigan, just makes you want to take a trip there. The song, “Especially in Michigan,” was released on the 2006 Stadium Arcadium Album.
# 6 – I Could Have Lied:
This quiet little ballad from Blood Sugar Sex Magik feels like it could be out of place on the album, but that’s the beauty of the Chili Peppers; they can make something so irreconcilable fit right in with the bigger picture. Kiedis’ soft vocal restraint throughout the verses until raising his frustration a notch in the chorus is immaculate; he brings these lovesick lyrics alive. Of course, John Frusciante’s reserved guitar work here is a standout as well.
# 5 – Porcelain
This is such a gorgeous composition because even in its depressive quality, there’s something very embracing about this piece of music. The song “Porcelain,” speaks on a poetic level. Within its musing of a girl feeling unwanted and missing those she cares about the most, there’s also the cosmic symbolism, especially in lines like this: “Do you carry the moon in your womb.” Hands down, one of their best and most melancholy songs.
# 4 – Venice Queen
Time for another sad song, which is ironically a very uplifting one. It’s the closing song off of their 2002 album, By the Way; this is the record where their melodic side really started coming alive, thanks to John Frusciante. The song was written for Anthony Kiedis’ drug rehab therapist, Gloria Scott, who passed away as soon as he purchased her home in Venice Beach. This is a wonderful ode to someone he held close to him. I highly recommend listening to the Live at Slane Castle version; that’s the definitive version. That right there is an emotional journey of epic proportions; hearing those guys at their most vulnerable on stage.
# 3 – Don’t Forget Me
This song, another By the Way cut and fan favorite, is simply on the list because of the version they performed at La Cigale, France where they were at in 2006. Now, that’s not taking away from the fact that the album version isn’t great, but this live rendition they emitted from their souls on that stage is something of otherworldly quality. That guitar intro where Frusciante incorporates volume swells, giving the guitar a violin sound, is sublime. And the way Anthony’s body gets taken over by the music as he manically shambles on stage is fantastic. But the real highlight is John Frusciante’s second guitar solo; that’s the image of a man becoming one with his guitar.
# 2 – Animal Bar
What an illustrious song right here, folks; one of many on their double album, Stadium Arcadium. It’s one of their most thorough compositions, with such a swimming vibration on the senses that puts the listener in an aquarium of free thought and wonder; it’s quite a magical tune. The way every harmony moves around you like a congregation of dolphins and sharks, and the way those lyrics put the imagination at work; they paint a Winslow Homer-like picture with their sweet ode to the water’s transcendental purpose. This is an undeniable work of lovely euphony.
# 1 – Wet Sand
Yet another Stadium Arcadium deep cut; this one is nothing short of a masterpiece. It starts out as a mellifluous piece, with Anthony putting forth so much carefree emotion into his sunshine-cluttered anecdotes drizzled in allusions that could hint towards getting over addiction. It also could simply be about a special kind of woman; who knows for certain. It’s just an incredible song that can put anybody in a great mood with its uplifting qualities. And the way it builds up like two separate songs further demonstrates the structural unpredictability of it all; those last two minutes are pure heaven. That’s what spiritual inspiration is, and that’s why Wet Sand is their best deep cut.
Feature Photo By Warner Bros. [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Top 10 Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs: Deep Cuts article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
