Flea explains how Keith Morris fronted the Red Hot Chili Peppers for one hot minute

Unfortunately for Pepper Heads in attendance, Mr. Morris didn’t know a single lyric

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  October 26, 2023 | 7:25pm
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Flea explains how Keith Morris fronted the Red Hot Chili Peppers for one hot minute
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Flea and Keith Morris Photo: Rich Polk (Getty Images for Yaamava’ Resort & Casino)

When it comes to lore, few bands are a richer text than the Chi Peps. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have existed at the nexus of the original ‘80s Los Angeles hardcore scene and their mainstream radio-friendly rock for over forty years, regaling youngsters with stories from punk days of yore. These are the guys who, while recording their debut album with Gang Of Four co-founder Andy Gill, caught a glimpse of Gill’s notes on the band’s biggest favorite at the time, “Police Helicopter.” Next to the song title, Gill critiqued the song, scribbing, “Shit.”

The Peps were constantly rubbing elbows with punk royalty back in the day, and in his long-awaited Hot Ones interview, Flea finally confirmed an old legend regarding the band. At one show in 1984, Circle Jerks’ frontman Keith Morris took over for Anthony Kiedis, who was running late. Unfortunately for the Pepper Heads in attendance, he didn’t know any lyrics.

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Though Flea doesn’t remember if Morris did the whole set, he improvised a Chili Peppers set with the boys.

“I remember he came out, and we played some funk grooves,” Flea said. “Because we were going to get paid, and it was like 50 bucks a piece, I was like, ‘No way, are we not going to play this show.”

Flea’s description of the gig is a bit hazy, with Morris improvising lyrics. Flea, doing his best Morris impression, recalled him singing, “You put your left hand in your underwear and your right hand in the air and scream.” For his part, Flea praised Morris for doing the whole set with “great enthusiasm.” However, after the show ended, Keidis appeared in the dressing room ready to rock. However, the rocking, he learned, had commenced without him.

Flea has certainly lived a life. In the rest of his Hot Ones, he discusses how he learned to stop worrying and love math and how Coco, the sign-language gorilla, learned to stop worrying and love Flea’s nipples.

 
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