Red Hot Chili Peppers, LA band playing the blend of punk, funk, trash and rock struggled for years to find commercial success, finally gaining it in early 1990s, despite frequent lineup changes, batteries, injuries, almost-death and death. Michael Balzary known as Flea, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons were three pals who had musical ambitions and together formed band called ‘Anthym’. They managed to score themselves few gigs in local clubs. Their schoolmate from Hollywood Fairfax High School, Anthony Kiedis joined the band as a vocalist. Later Flea left Anthym to join LA punk band ‘Fear’. Slovak and Irons stayed and renamed the band to ‘What Is This?’
Anthony, Hillel, Flea and Jack were reunited again when they were asked to play for a friend at ‘Rhythm Lounge Club’. News about their performance spread rapidly and in six months they get EMI record deal for eight albums. Just before entering the studio Hillel and Jack decided to quit and work on their project ‘What Is This?’ Guys were replaced by Jack Sherman on guitar and Cliff Martinez on drums. Their eponymous debut was produced by Andy Gill, ‘Gang of Four’ guitarist. After the release of the album they weren’t satisfied with result. They wanted no more to work with Gill. They started to play more live shows than ever. Their performances were raucous and outrageous. Life on road was one big party. In January 1984, Sherman was fired for their old pal Hillel, who’s project ‘What Is This?’ didn’t succeed in stormy musical seas. These were the times when group started to experiment with drugs. Anthony and Hillel became addicted to heroin. Hillel denied that he had a problem, Anthony didn’t. The Master of Funk, George Clinton had been asked to produce their second album ‘Freaky Styley’. They recorded 13 tracks in Clinton’s studios near Detroit. The album brought more recognition. Only Hollywood received merge airplay even though band stopped at musical festival in Germany and England. After they returned from overseas Cliff Martinez was dumped for their original drummer Jack Irons. The original lineup was once more. During a grueling tour in support of ‘Freaky Styley’ the drug habits of Anthony and Hillel escalated. With the next release ‘Uplift Mofo Party Plan’ their commercial fortunes took turn for better. Album produced by Michael Beinhorn in 1987 had outsold the previous two albums. They met criticism from various parent groups for their often colorful lyrics.