Red Hot Chili Peppers disband

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Anthony Kiedis and co. step away from music

May 22, 2008
65 Comments
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Red Hot Chili Peppers have disbanded for at least a year.

Singer Anthony Kiedis has revealed that the band members will step away from music to concentrate on their individual lives.

The singer told Rolling Stone that the band have decided to pause for 12 months after becoming exhausted with their hectic schedule.

The star went on to explain that he will spend more time with his family, while bassist Flea and guitarist John Frusciante are set to work on individual musical projects.

"We're disbanded for the moment," he said. "We took a very long time to make the 'Stadium Arcadium' record (released in 2006). It was a grueling, long haul and it followed two other very long hauls, 'Californication' (1999) and 'By the Way' (2002).

"So we didn't really stop until the tour ended last year. We were all emotionally and mentally zapped at the end of that run. The discussion was, 'Let's not do anything Red Hot Chili Peppers-related for a minimum of one year, and just live and breathe and eat and learn new things.'"

He added: "I'm just home, hanging out with this really cool little kid, learning how to surf. But I'm starting to get just a little bit of a tingle that it would be nice to start thinking about songs and pieces of music. But just pieces."

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Comments (65)

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ILoveYourDad

May 22, 2008

Why God why Did The Glorious Team Of Brilliance and optimism , Have To leave ? Quite Tedious Really .

craigsbrotherbill

May 22, 2008

Hallelujah!

sanj220782

May 22, 2008

Thank fuck. Worst headliner I've ever seen at Leeds. Slap bass solo's are work of the devil. Fuck you flea, fuck you

sanj220782

May 22, 2008

And what with all the caps? You've missed a few cock

andyg1983

May 22, 2008

Hopefully they will come back with something different, its been needed the last album was shocking!

johnmostyn

May 22, 2008

YES!!!! about bloody time! now all we need now is the wombats to disband and music will be saved!

stoogeboy

May 22, 2008

really, why make it just 12 months? Don't limit yourselves Chilis! Go on "indefinite hiatus" and never bother us again please!

supertrin

May 22, 2008

What a shame it's only for a year, can't they just finish on a permanent basis? surely everyone has heard enough of the same California crap that they've been churning out for the last 20 years.

bluez maverick

May 22, 2008

What a let down - saw the headline and thought disbanded!!!A year off is more accurate as they will no doubt be back and playing more overblown, overated self-indugent pap. Ah well at least I don't have to buy it......

yiddo

May 22, 2008

Where is this band from? They never seem to mention it in any of their songs.

Keiri

May 22, 2008

good!they destroyed my faith in them with their shit headline at leeds...id waited so long to see them...if 20minute funk jams are what they are about these days then good riddance...

mooreydotuk

May 22, 2008

shame. why all the slagging off of rhcp? theyre better than most of the s**t thats come out so far this year

guiltypleasure

May 22, 2008

i think its a good thing they've decided to have a break. stadium arcadium was not the best they've produced. they've been running off californication for a while now. and they were awful at reading. they need a bit of breathing space and they might come back with beter material and smaller egos...well fingers crossed for the first one at least

sunil00

May 22, 2008

they suck big time stay incalifornia and don't came back to europe again

underclasshero

May 22, 2008

whilst there performance at reading festival was crap they are still an amazing band, most likely better than all the over hyped ball shit you people all listen to. Stadium Aracdium was still a pretty amazing followup to By The Way.

n4089693

May 22, 2008

Typical synics..... I had the pleasure of catching rhcp at a couple of gigs last year and to be honest is has to be said, if the crowd doesn't do it for you then do it for yourself. was at reading last year and the crowd was one of the most unreceptive & boring audiences i have ever seen. muscially rchp enjoyed just jamming because the crowd was such a drag..... enjoy the hiatus.

wellduhobviously

May 22, 2008

They've definitely jumped the shark. A shame, they have some quality songs nestled amongst the chaff.

jgillies94

May 22, 2008

That's a bugger, a quality band, shame to see them disband.

callaby

May 22, 2008

shame about all the negativity. the band havent produced their best work in the past few years, but you have to look beyond that. alot of people that comment on this site have a really immature and narrow-minded way of looking at music.

tom00

May 23, 2008

don't know what you're all complaining about... they were a great band always did their own thing unlike the genreic shit that seems to be circulation the NME atm e.g the enemy pigeon detectives

fatty08

May 23, 2008

I love how people jump on the RCHP past it waggon. Even if this is the end, they have been an incredible band, and John Frusciante is one of the best guitarists of my lifetime thus far. So if like me, your not a massive fan of them, you still have to take note they have a couple of very talented musicians. End of.

bluez maverick

May 23, 2008

Callaby - to be fair the Chillis have brought a lot of this on themselves with the live performances over the past few years.They have produced some top stuff - personally I still love Mothers Milk.But the funk jams and chocie of support was very self indulgent and alienated a lot of fans. Me included - last time I saw them Chicks on Speed supported as the band wanted them. The crowd didn't like them and boo'd and the odd bottle was thrown when the band got rude (don't condone this). When the Peppers came on they gave the crowd a lecture about why we should like Chicks on Speed, open our norrow minds blah blah finished off with Flea call the whole of the stadium fashist's!!!!(sp) which is really offensive.What goes around comes around, as they say.

toon_army9

May 23, 2008

I quite like this band but am unsure of where they are from. I have a sneaky suspicion that they are Californian but am not 100% sure as they never mention it in any of their songs.

Smoocher

May 23, 2008

YYYYYYYYeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!Why not make it two years, chaps?

ryanbizzle84

May 23, 2008

i went to the manchester city stadium gig and i couldnt believe how good they are live. Reading Crowds full of jumped up little twts anyway been there and wont go back. blood sugar sex magic is a full on masterpeice.

jkap123

May 23, 2008

they're probably just bored and want to move on. plus, the prospect of getting back together in 10 years and making millions from a reunion album and tour is probably appealing.

austrian_zeppelin

May 23, 2008

thanks god for that. should have done so straight after BSSM cause since then they have been dreadful, especially live.

Zeppelin91

May 23, 2008

Great. Now we can only hope that they will stay disbanded forever. It would be nice that one of the crappy bands of today finally stopped making music.

semi_mental

May 23, 2008

Red Hot Chilli Peppers never lost it..... they never fucking had it! Bunch of sagging OAPs living off the same interminable slap bass solos and shit live performances for years. A year's not long enough!

fenton1990

May 23, 2008

they were well past they're best before stadium arcadium - lets hop for no more from the chillis as it may damage their reputation even further

gaz_blanchard99

May 23, 2008

I think people seem to forget that RHCP have arguably the most talented guitarist and bassist in the world, the band may not be everyones cup of tea but the musicianship involved is second to none. John Frusciante is one of the most technically gifted musicians of our generation. Its safe to say that anything he has been involved in, whether it be solo, The Mars Volta or Ataxia, is better then anything produced by the likes of the enemy, oasis, the wombats or any other generic lad rock/Indie shit that NME is promoting these days.

CinemaDan

May 23, 2008

gaz_blanchard99 - I think the term "musicianship" should be irradiated for the lazy way people use it to justify unimaginative cock rock. Perhaps if RHCP fuck off for a while they may actually decide to return to the form they had when they first burst onto the music. They again, maybe not.

bella_fru

May 23, 2008

CinemaDan..your pickin at what someone else said when you cant even form coherant sentences..nice one. I think what someone said earlier was spot on, the crowds at Reading/Leeds looked so unresponsive to Chilis i have no idea why they turned up and it seems to be the same thing at every chilis gig ive been to over the years, the majority of people there only turn up for the "hits" then lose all interest, so i think its great they're takin a hiatus; the real fans will stick by them and it gives all us john frusciante fans a chance to see him play solo. All you others so excited about chilis splitting up, good luck to ya, enjoy your little fad bands and when your 50 and lookin back on the music you grew up with try and jusitfy listening to it to your kids

The_albion_sails

May 23, 2008

I'm sorry to any chili fans that this upsets but up until Reading 08 you would not have found a bigger RHCP fan that me, all the was from the awesome mothers milk to the weak stadium arcadiumâ€¦..I don't think the crowd were unresponsive or not up for it they were simply reacting to a terrible performance by what should have been one of the worlds biggest bands. The had clearly had some sort of Barney prior to entering the stage kedis and flea where heard on mic bickering (hardly professional) the resulting set was short, weak and filled with too many pointless jamsâ€¦. If they want to do that that can do it on there own time when people haven't paid a mint to see them performâ€¦.I never thought that a single performance to could you off a band but since then I was so disappointed I still find them hard to listen tooâ€¦.They should have their ego's and there heads smashed in with their bank statementsâ€¦..

gaz_blanchard99

May 23, 2008

unimaginative cock rock....... i don't think we listen to the same music! As i was said John Frusciante is one of the most talented guitarists alive, give me him over todays music (which is so unimagintive i can't describe how bad it is) any day of the week, as 'bella_fru' said...please explain to your grandkids why you were listening to the likes of Babyshambles and Pete Doherty's rambling wank and not be embaressed!!

justboy81680

May 23, 2008

It's probably for the best. Stadium Arcadium was dross, and yes Keidis isn't the greatest singer live; but musically they are way ahead of bands like Arctic Monkeys and Razorlight that seem to be adored in the UK for some very odd reason.

interpolluter28

May 24, 2008

All I can say is that at least it is for a year. Focus on life and family, then come back in formation, you know? I'm with it.

jelboy74

May 24, 2008

gotta say, im glad theyve done this. just hope they make it permanent!! ive never heard a band more up their own ass in my entire life. go home you californian shmucks, no-one is interested in hearing about california anymore! let some fresh bands take over, youre tired and so is your music

britsrlame

May 25, 2008

You brits r such babies. Chilis Funkin Rock. I'm audi 5g babies!!!!

therover99

May 25, 2008

their live shows from their stadium arcadium tours were some of the best. The best thing about the chilis is the live jams - aka new music to hear, obviously alot of the people here enjoy listening to bands/musicians who a) lack any skill/talent of playing their instrument b) enjoy going to see a band live to see them play identical versions of studio versions of their songs c) bands (aka the enemy/pigeon detectives/artic monkeys/razor light etc) who dont know the first thing about music. The reason the reading/leeds crowds were unreceptive towards them is because most of that crowd (in that year) were the casual radio 1 listeners who dig razorlight. You lot complain about the jams (&improvisations) thank god you people werent around to see Jimi Hendrix/Led Zeppelin even Miles Davis and a host of others etc - they did alot of improv and solo extentions. What it comes down to is that alot of you enemy/pigeon detectives/razorlight listeners lack the mental capacity to appreciate what John & Flea can do. And thank god they do the jams - at least when you see them you see advanced musicians doing things beyond alot of people - instead of these tossers who come with the most premium equipment to strum some open chords, even worse they cant barre chords so they use a cappo *cough razorlight cough*

pevans13

May 25, 2008

The chili's are so much better than a lot of the bands at the moment, especially English 'musicians' which mostly suck big time, i'm talking razorlight, kate nash etc. Now if they could take a bit of a leave it would be so much more beneficial to the music community than the chili's.

smelly_boris

May 25, 2008

therover99 is the only one who knows what he's talking about. all this new bollocks music is nothin on th chilis. theyre 4 of th most musically gifted people in the world. and by the way, no1s mentioned chad. its always john and flea!!! cant wait till they get back

forkee

May 26, 2008

These comments are so full off ignorant drivel."surely everyone has heard enough of the same California crap that they've been churning out for the last 20 years."20 years? The Chilis' music has changed so drastically over the past 20 years.People should just stop hating a band and just get on with their lives.And I'll be fine in this hiatus (which actually started after they played Leeds festival, so it has already been 8 months) because Chad has started his side project with the Bombastic Meatbats. Which is brilliant.

lucasdylan

May 27, 2008

thereover99 and smelly boris are right! the chilis are true musicians. all people these days are scared of real music. it's disappointing.

ellaway10

May 27, 2008

sanj220782 you are the biggest piece of shit ive encountered, slap bass is one of the most brilliant sounds you can get, especially from flea, who is a master of it, and im sure you could never even play it you untalented prick.and shame on all of you for condemning them for one gig, i saw them in 2004 and they were fantastic. stadium arcadium was, in my opinion theyre finest record so far and miles better than any shit indie bands that put 4 chords together and make an album. and shit support bands? when i went ok they had chicks on speed, but they had the late, great james brown, who gaved an incredible performance. all 4 of the band members are incredibly gifted musicians and fuck you all who came on here just to tell them to disband for good, as if they would fucking read this piece of shit, i dont blame them.

mrs a kiedis

May 27, 2008

totally agree ellaway, rhcp are awesome & amazing and the slanderous comments are from obviously idiots who dont know jack shit about talented musicians!!! They were outstanding in Paris last July and the year break is well deserved!! Anthony, flea,john & chad love you to bits and hurry back soon and do what you do best, shut these losers up!!!!!!!

ginger-bassist

May 29, 2008

i honestly dont see why so many people are actually replying to this, just to say how much they dont like the music. im pretty sure they were voted the biggest band in britain, beating U2 who was second, so the people complaining are quite frankly, a minoritypeople complaining about the slap bass solo's.. wtf ? i'd like to see some of you people out there do better than what flea can do, and if people out there think every one he does live sounds the same, then you have some hearing problems, because each one is different, it might not be much, or it might be a lot, but every single one is differentsince stadium arcadium, their standards have slipped a lot, ill give that, but what band is there that is actually good just now ? only thing i can stand listening to right now is classic rock, because the whole music industry is being ravaged by this "rock" called indie.i went to their glasgow gig last year, the band werent even talking to each other onstage, and it was still a spectacular show, once the support bands where off, because after all, support bands are new bands trying to make it big, but because their new, they suck, hence its all horrable until the chili's come on.we know stadium arcadium wasnt the best album, but i think its because they left it as a double album, instead of stripping it right down to a regular album, i only listen to about 10 songs on their whole album, and im a fanatic, so they should have fixed that album.but then again, they've been going non stop since californication, which was 1999, and its now 2008, so they've done 9 years of constant work, and putting up with people like have psoted this, criticising every little thing about them to the extent it is just too much for them.im not saying them disbanding is bad, i just hate the people here that hate them because their the only people doing different music to the rest of the industry, while the rest of the industry is practically dead.its a dammed sight better than what anyone replied to this has done if im right

JoeRHCP

May 29, 2008

What the fuck is everyone slagging them off for. Californication is one of the best albums of all time, imo better than bssm. By The Way is incredible, beautiful songs and Stadium Arcadium is an amazin double album, yes it may have been received better if it was a single album but who cares, the songs are brilliant. Anthony Kiedis is an amazing frontman, Chad is a solid drummer, Flea is immense and John Frusciante is thee fucking man, he is incredible. Yes they had 2 bad gigs at Reading and Leeds but to all of you who are slating them for being live listen to Live in Hyde Park or watch Live at Slane. Fucking idiots

Froosh

May 30, 2008

All those Indie-poor-excuses-for-rock bands out there can only wish they were half as good as the Chilis. Hell, they wish they were one-tenth as good. With all the crap being being unloaded by those snooze-inducing groups, we all should be glad that there are at least a few awesome bands out there who have survived everything. Like RHCP. Musicianship doesn't get any better than Flea, John and Chad... and Anthony is just one of the most charismatic frontmen out there. Whoever trashes their music is plain jealous. I'd like to see all you trashers up there get on stage and rock your asses off like the four of them do. You could spend your entire lives doing nothing but playing music and you still wouldn't get one-hundredth of the way through to John, Chad and Flea's skills. Shame on all of you who feel that RHCP should quit. Have any of you ever listened to their stuff *from the beginning*? I don't know many bands who have evolved like that. Most of the current ones who have been around for a decade have hardly changed their sound and get more and more boring and pretentious with every new album. I agree with "JoeRHCP" up there, go listen to Live in Hyde Park and watch Live at Slane... I can't name one band alive today who can create as electrifying an atmosphere as the Chilis did at those shows. Those improvisational jams are the best sounds you'll ever hear.

dylanjuza

May 30, 2008

I know I cannot WAIT until they come out with a new album and go on tour but I think it's great that they're taking time off. They will have more experiences in new things, time to think, and even refreshen up; start new sort of. And the other band members trying stuff on they're own will deffinitley bring something to the table on their next album. I'm actually very appreciative that they're doing this because I bet with their lifestyle as it is probably feels rushed and maybe even a bit of cycle or routine, having a break will help them realize they really liek what they do(anthony already said he's got some thoughts about new peices) and that they're passionate about it, not to mention self-discovery is included. So even if it means waiting, I agree with their decision.

dylanjuza

May 30, 2008

w-w-w-w-wait jelboy74 w/e, the red hot chili peppers, correct me if I'm wrong somebody, but I don't believe they are all about California, at least on a positive note, I think they use it a lot as a symbol of what this country looks at for its trendsetters and how so many people becoem corrupt there looking for fame and what fame means to the people. California, im pretty sure, was where Anthony first started drugs, I could be off; I'm not the guy or even know know him, but that's what I've read. Back to what I said about CA being a symbol, living there only makes it more personal. ANd you have no idea what drugs and addiction does to you, I'm not addicted, but it's only liek that search for happiness, only times 10. If you don't understand what i mean by the search for happiness, jsut think about how you yourself are always searching fro the next thing and once you have that thing you start on a new project, people are never satisfied and also people wanna escape the literal realm of reality. I feel liek that's what people want on heaven, soemthing unreal but no imprisonment of your own desires. Nothign to abuse and nothing to worry about. Don't you get it, if you could understand it they're be no end to writing it, and plus, they love it

dylanjuza

May 30, 2008

just lookin at the ppl who hate the red hot chili peppers...one dont get why they coem here, i mean it's a webpage, not a newspaper article sittin on the counter and you stumble upon it.that's goddamn right you don't have to buy it blues maverickdude, toon army9, love em too, they're actually from Michigan (albmu stadium arcadium has the song 'especially in michigan'), but live in CA or soemthinzeppelin91...are you serious???????i wanna know what kinda of music YOU listen to, how come you didnt mention that, say i end up agreeing with you, how will i know what toons are big poppin??how will i know what to listen to thats actually cool???????help me out man, or is it that this really is a fuckin sweet band, this guy's voice is liek pearly platinum, and the lyrics? equal:money in the bankUNLESS it's liek guster and dave matthews band(see these guys are good) n shit that you like, i'd say your taste in music kinda SUCKSi can't blame any fan of them for not liking stadium arcadium, i personally loved it, but most they're albmus have such a different sound that each is like a different band, although this one is kinda like By The Way, some songs just seem added in even if good.

hateindie

May 30, 2008

Most of the today's band don't even reach to John Frusciante's (RHCP guitarist) ankles when it comes to playing guitar and songwriting...not even nearly. These silly embarrasing capo 3 chord new english bands, who can't even put a decent solo together can go and blow themselves. (yes, Babyshambles, Razorlight, Kooks, The Kills a more kiddie's bands thinking "I'm cool 'cause I wear skinny jeans, have a fucked up hair cut, sniff a bit of cocaine and get drunk at the hawley arms (luckily it burned) with Peaches Geldof".....RHCP are legends whether you kids like it or not and have one of the best guitarist, bassist and drummer out there and are respected by the likes of proper musicians, Jimmy Page, Brian May, Steve Vai .... and they will be back...Just listen to Frusciante's Niandra LaDes and usually just a t-shirt CD, and hear what does Genius sounds like.

devSaturnine

May 31, 2008

I dont get why people are complaining about the jamming? The number one reason I want to see these guys live in concert is for those jams, "20 minute jams" you say? Hell i'll pay triple for that. Count yourselves lucky they even come to Europe, you pants-on-head retards.

TheMoss

Jun 20, 2008

Totally agree with devSaturnine(what a name) the Chili Peppers are geniuses, and if Stadium Arcadium whas cut down to about 10 of the best songs off it, it would have been hailed as a masterpiece( readymade? Charlie? Wet Sand?). I went to see them a few years ago at the M E N arena manchester, and they played an amazing set with classic songs from their earlier albums, Soul to Squeeze was the highlight and personally I am gutted we wont be hearing from them for a while. All you people slaggin them off, you obviously have no musical sense and little taste, RHCP best band in the world

kingdick

Jun 27, 2008

Good Show! I`m glad they have decided to take some time off for themselves. They deserve it. They have worked hard for years, probably unlike those who criticised them on this forum, who are no doubt claiming disability allowance, falsely and have the temerity to criticise others! The Chilis have barely stopped since the early eighties and I doubt if they claimed anything from government in that time. Unlike the Gallagers!

Im_a_realist

Jun 28, 2008

wow theres a lotta anti-chili peppers people here, they should be trown into a pit and burnt!!!I bet you anti-chili peppers people are all into your dodgy emo crap or boring razorlight shit!For shame

jocasta007

Jun 29, 2008

Well I hope that WHEN (not if) they make a comeback the music is so fucking unbelievable that all u sacreligious assholes eat your words. The peppers are genious, from poetic lyrics to the most creative ad lib instrumentals I have ever heard - come on lads, hurry back and show everyone what you're made of!

Chumbalu-lu-lu

Jul 5, 2008

Â¡ESOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WOOOO! TOMA LUIS VILLAR! TOOOOMA! WOOO! FLEA CULERO! CHANGOS3EVER!!! WOOO!111

MakingUpNumbers-x

Aug 11, 2008

Have all you asreholes who seem to worship shit music got nothing better to do than criticize a band who are just taking time out. They deserve it after everthing they have produced in the past 20-odd years! The Chilis are the best thing thats come out of California. Give them a break!

Oldun

Sep 12, 2008

Never been on NME site before - just googled RHCP to see if they had disbanded and found this. There are a lot of intolerant people here. Just because something is not your cup of tea doesn't make it shit - that's just playground stuff. Saw RHCP in Derby on SA tour. Sound was rubbish, hardly any light show - but they rocked with an energy and enthusiasm that I have not seen for years. I don't understand most of the lyrics and AK is not the best singer live but they were still awesome. Gonna listen to my itunes now - possibly sone RHCP or maybe some Sugar Hill Gang or The Kinks or even some Hawkwind. Might even try that classical CD I bought. The point is that there is not really any shit music - it's just stuff that you may not like.

MRMANZZ

Sep 23, 2008

I agree with "Making up numbers" The RHCP are One if not THE

Papa P

Oct 29, 2008

People from Reading are like Canadians - either weird or boring, or weird and boring, hence not liking the show the Chili's put on there.

steview514

Nov 10, 2008

if stadium arcadium was there first album you'd have all ejeculated in your panties they're gods utter gods all masters of there profesions have some respect, try listening to music not something thats catchy like fuckwit burell stop criticising something u have no right to criticise.

manbearpig

Nov 13, 2008

hey stop dissing them i bet most of you coulnt even do wat they do. yea maybe they do need a diffrent sound but its all been good. tbh i miss them nd hope they come back soon.