A band that fused punk energy with funk rhythms, survived tragedy, and wrote some of rock's most recognizable songs.
For their sound, 'What Is Soul?' from the early days shows the raw funk-punk blend. 'Scar Tissue' from later captures the weathered, melodic side they settled into.
They turned personal loss and Los Angeles chaos into songs that stuck. 'Under The Bridge' became an unlikely radio anthem about isolation in the middle of a city. Their sound, that mix of slap bass and melodic guitar lines, gave funk a place on rock radio for a good stretch of the '90s and 2000s.
They started as a high-energy live act in L.A. clubs. After guitarist Hillel Slovak's death in 1988, the lineup with John Frusciante and Chad Smith led to 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' and their commercial peak. Frusciante's departures and returns became part of their story, but they kept making records.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.