A Los Angeles American rock and roll band formed in 1983, the Red Hot Chili Peppers rock style leans toward funk, punk, psychedelic, and hip hop. Founding members in the band are Anthony Kiedis on vocals, Michael Balzary on bass, and Chad Smith on drums. Guitarists have come and gone and currently that instrument spot is held by Josh Klinghoffer who came on board in 2009. Original guitarist Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988, but did complete two albums while with the Peppers, "Freaky Styley" and "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan." Many of the band's lyrics were influenced by heroin use among band members.

The band has 7 Grammy Awards to their credit with album sales of over 70 million globally. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have had 9 top 40 singles charted on Billboard's Hot 100. Three of those made the top 10, and the band's had seven #1 singles on the chart Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. They hold a record for the most #1 singles on Alternative Songs chart, also, with 13 making the list.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers won Band of the Year from LA Weekly, which prompted Kiedis into a rehab stint and the writing of the lyrics for "Fight Like a Brave." Their first album ever to appear on a chart was "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan," although it only peaked at Billboard's Hot 200 #148 spot.

In 2009 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and also began writing lyrics and music for their 10th album. John Frusciante left the band to pursue a solo career and was replaced by backup guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. The band's 2010 live comeback at MusiCares paid tribute to Neil Young with "A Man Needs a Maid." The band declined having their music appear on Glee in fall 2010.

In celebration of Record Store Day in 2011, a limited edition of the Ramones "Havana Affair" was released with only 6500 copies on a red vinyl 7" record. The song was on both sides of the record; on one side was the original Ramones version and on the flip was the Chili Peppers version. Their 10th album "I'm With You" released in 2011 and has been nominated for a 2012 Grammy for Best Rock Album.