Before we start: A lot of changes have been occurring for me both personally and professionally as of late, which are taking up a good chunk of my time. This is necessitating I pull my focus away from things I'd rather be doing, such as this blog. While I hope to keep up with daily Retro Spins, the reality is that this may not be a feasible goal. If you see a sudden drop off in posts, it's not because I wanted to stop, but rather that other matters simply took over my time.
Today, I'm circling back to Tony Flow & The Miraculously Majestic Masters Of Mayhem. You probably know them as their later adopted name, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist Hillel Slovak, bassist Flea, and drummer Jack Irons would form the band in 1982 only intending on playing one show. However, crowd reception not only changed their minds, but brought with it the change of their name.
A six-track demo would garner the attention of EMI Records, who signed them in 1983, but not before Irons would step away to focus on his other band, What Is This? with Hillel Slovak. Irons would be replaced by Chris Martinez, and Slovak by Jack Sherman. Their 1984 debut would garner little attentions, and tensions in 1985 would cause Sherman to exit, leaving room for Slovak to return.
This new lineup of Kiedis, Flea, Slovak and Martinez would return to the studio to record their sophomore album, 1985's Freaky Styley. Once again, they would fail to garner any mainstream attention. However, critically, it would be well received.
.jpg)
Funk, with a hint of jazz horns make this one a very unique listening experience. But what else would you expect from a producer like George Clinton?
It's fun, it makes you feel good, and it leaves you wanting more. That's something I would have never expected to say about a Red Hot Chili Peppers album, but I'm also not surprised. I pretty much felt the same way about their debut, which I reviewed previously.
Standout tracks for me were Jungle Man, and If You Want Me To Stay. But as a whole, it's a fairly solid album. Admittedly, I'm beginning to wonder if my ignoring the band has resulted in me missing out on some good music throughout the 80's. Well, hold that thought a moment. I suppose in my defense, I didn't exactly know they even existed until MYV put Under The Bridge into steady rotation in the 90's. Maybe this one's not my fault.
The tour for the album would be the beginning of heroin (and other drugs) addiction for Kiedis and Slovak, a journey that would end tragically, eventually taking the life of Slovak. Further, following the tours, Martinez would decide to leave the band, having more interest in electronic music than what the Peppers were performing. This, however, would make room for Iron to return to the band. With the original founding members back together, they released 1987's The Uplift Mofo Party Plan. That's where we pick up tomorrow.
Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.
Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.