During a heartfelt conversation on bassist Flea’s podcast series, This Little Light, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ vocalist, Anthony Kiedis, openly admitted that he doesn’t consider himself a musician. The revelation led to an emotional exchange between Kiedis and Flea, bringing them both to tears.
Flea described the conversation as one of his favorite interviews, as it delved into topics they had never previously discussed. Kiedis confessed to lacking any formal music education and jokingly suggested changing the band’s name to “Idiot and the Three Geniuses.”
When questioned about Kiedis’ singing ability, Flea expressed great admiration for his bandmate, acknowledging his continuous growth and improvement. Flea highlighted Kiedis’ evolution from a point where he couldn’t sing a note and merely screamed to developing melodic sensibilities and embracing improvisation. Flea emphasized that what matters most to him in a musician is authenticity, and Kiedis possesses a unique and incomparable sound.
A really good one was with Anthony. We were both kind of in tears because I’d never talked to him about stuff like that. Anthony doesn’t really consider himself a musician or that he’s had any music education whatsoever. He used to say we should change the band’s name to Idiot and the Three Geniuses,” (Source: LA Times)
Formed in Los Angeles in 1982, Red Hot Chili Peppers is a highly successful rock band comprising Kiedis, Flea, guitarist John Frusciante, and drummer Chad Smith. With over 120 million records sold worldwide, the band holds several records, including the most number-one singles and the most top-ten songs on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. They have been honored with numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The candid conversation between Kiedis and Flea sheds light on Kiedis’ perspective on his musicianship, revealing his humility and personal journey within the band. It underscores the unique qualities that have made Red Hot Chili Peppers an enduring and beloved musical act.
