Chad Smith, drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, told how the band’s classic almost didn’t come out: ‘we didn’t find the right vibe’
It’s hard to imagine the discography of Red Hot Chili Peppers without the track “Californication,” which bears the same name as the album released in 1999. However, Chad Smiththe band’s drummer, revealed that the song was almost not released.
In participation in Drumeo (via Rock Celebrities), Smith played snippets of the hit on drums and stated: “Usually, we create the music first, and then, Anthony, our lovely vocalist, is inspired by the base to create the lyrics and melody. That’s the way normally.”
“We were getting ready to make this record, Californication, and we travel a lot. We had the lyrics and the melody. He would sing for us and then we would try to create a song for the melody,” he continued. “We had a hard time finding the right feeling, vibe, and musical foundation for what he was talking about and singing.”
The band arrived at a reggae version before the official recording, which would feature the production of Rick Rubin. “He [Rick] said, ‘I know there’s a song inside this somewhere. We need to find. There’s a song on it, but it’s not done yet.'”
John Fruscianteguitarist of Red Hot Chili Pepperswas crucial to finding the perfect track shape. chad remembered: “John there came a day, when we were about to cut the song from the record, and he played the simple chords that you hear in the version that went on the album. We recorded quickly. It’s a lesson in perseverance. Do not give up. If there’s something there, you just have to keep going.”
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
