Red Hot Chili Peppers

We like to imagine an alternate genealogy of contemporary pop music, where it was Faith No More, not the Red Hot Chili Peppers, that emerged out of the West Coast punk/funk/psych fusion scene, and ended up somehow mellowing into adult-contempo standbys. Alas, we’re left with post-Frusciante Chili Peppers, cock socks retired, touring stadiums, collecting Grammy and People’s Choice awards, and generally just kind of coasting. Still, there was a time when you knew all the words to “Under The Bridge,” and when the musical synthesis of Zeppelin, P-Funk, Black Flag, and Santana meant something. Right? 

Updated 04/18/2012