When I was a high school kid in the 1980s, a legend sprang up about a West coast rock band that got busted while playing one of the house parties on UF’s fraternity row. The band had gotten naked on-stage and been arrested for public indecency. And—oh, yeah—they were apparently a really kick-ass band.
They were, of course, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, back before they had broken through. I bet that many college towns across the country have a similar legend about the Chili Peppers (not to mention countless bars, bandshells, small venues, breweries, etc.).
The Chili Peppers and I have aged a lot since then, and so has their music, which has become more layered and thoughtful. This particular song has become one of my favorites. It’s proof that your art can mature without losing any of its edge.
Rock out, and rock on…
Ash Clifton, Writer 