Anthony Kiedis Interview - Red Hot Chilli Pepers

Sweeten Your Words catches up for a quick chat with ANTHONY KIEDIS. 

Q: Is it hard to keep things fresh after all these years?

AK: Well, it could be if we didn’t have Josh Klinghoffer in the band! Yeah, that was one of the bits of karmic joy was that at a point in time where maybe it would be difficult to keep it fresh along comes a shift in our lives, whereby John (Frusciante) decided that he wanted to do something else, and creating an opportunity for us to be fresh again.

Q: So it was not an acrimonious split?.

AK: It was a very pleasant split.

Q: Like a happy divorce?

AK: Yeah. It wasn’t even a divorce, it was like, ‘mission accomplished, go rock out, we’ll see you somewhere along the way!’

Q: How does Josh Klinghoffer change the dynamic or the chemistry? AK: Well, thank God it changes it. We needed some changes, I mean, Josh is a very distinct musician, and he comes with distinct colour and sound and vibration and it’s something that we already related to, even before we played, I think we all looked at Josh as someone we admired and respected. I’m not sure what it is, but it feels very nice and it feels fun and like a good fit, and I think more will be revealed when we start playing live. Musically, I think we’ve reinvented ourselves in the best way possible where it’s still The Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it’s the Josh Klinghoffer era of Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

Q: Well you’ve obviously gone through a lot of personal changes since you began.

Q: Are you guys crazy these days?

AK: I guess it would depend on who you ask. Some people say the nicest things to me about my evolution, and some people don’t. Some people are just wow.

Q: Maybe because they are not as evolved? 

Q: Is there anything you miss about the old days when you were hungry and not successful yet?

AK: Well, if we weren’t able to write good music, I would miss that, but because we still can write really fun music I feel grateful for that, because a lot of times I try to figure out why people wrote such amazing music in their 20s and 30s and then they get into their 40s and 50s and it’s…… okay, but it’s just not as happening as what they wrote before they had what they were looking for.

Q: Okay, you were famously self-destructive in the 80s… 

AK: Whooo!!!!! (laughs) 

Q: Why do you think a lot of creative people end up going down that road to self-destruction with drugs etc?

AK: Well, let’s just say simply put, creation and destruction live next door to each other. So, for better or worse, destruction really does inspire creation. And I guess this band is a great example of that. We somewhat consider John leaving a destructive thing for this band and it really turned out to be the very thing that allowed it to recreate. And so I think in general, people look to pain, and loss and personal destruction to find their inspiration for art and it is some of the most inspiring stuff, but it’s not the only path to creation. But if you take a good look at where some of the best art comes from, it comes from people’s self-destructive behavior, so, more will be revealed. 

Q; But do you miss anything about those days?

AK: Not really because what it’s been replaced with I wouldn’t trade what I have now for what I had then. It certainly led me to where I am, so I have no regrets for that having survived it. It’s a little bit easier for me to say, but I love my life today, more than ever… and I’m still hungry.