Red Hot Chili Peppers are a Californian rock band who have combined aspects of funk and hip-hop with rock and roll, pioneering funk metal. The band started in 1984.

One critic has summarized their lyrics as 'sex, good times, rock and roll and more sex' with some truth, though some of their biggest hits, such as Under The Bridge, have been considerably more introspective. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of their sound is the bass playing of Flea, whose flashy, slap-heavy playing not only provides a groove but is also the source of many musical flourishes. They are also well known for playing bare chested, in fact Flea often goes one step further and performs naked on stage.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' label were originally signed to an EMI subsidiary known as EMI Manhattan. Epic Records offered the band a contract where each member would be paid a million dollars, but through some odd fate, the deal did not fall through and the Red Hot Chili Peppers signed with Warner Brothers Records. Their breakthrough record Blood Sugar Sex Magik as well as all subsequent records were released on Warner Brothers Records and were produced by Rick Rubin.

Their earlier work was a fusion of funk and punk rock with a party attitude. After the sobering death of guitarist Hillel Slovak, the Red Hot Chili Peppers would also lose Jack Irons, which would lead to the addition of current members, John Frusciante and Chad Smith.

After blood sugar sex magik the band lost john frusciante as drugs began to take a chokehold on his life. Dave navarro from Janes addiction took his place for the album one hot minute, which met a great deal of criticism, at the same time it was embraced by many fans, which now gives it a rough diamond integrity.

In 1999 John was back and more focused than ever for Californication, one of the bands most critically acclaimed albums. In 2002 the chilis released by the way, a noticeable change in direction in terms of sound, but the album still retained their unique style with a mix up of their old attributes glazed with a melodious, and at times mellow feel.

2006 will see the release of their double disc album stadium arcadium, which has the potential to be their greatest work to date, and quite possibly one of the greatest albums of all time.