In appreciation of Red Hot Chili Peppers' enduring ability to sound like themselves across genres and time

In  #TheMusicThatMadeUs, senior journalist Lakshmi Govindrajan Javeri chronicles the impact that musicians and their art have on our lives, how they mould the industry by rewriting its rules and how they shape us into the people we become: their greatest legacies. * From the overcrowded spaces of mainstream rock (and its sub-genres) as well as alternative rock, the Red Hot Chili Peppers sound can be recognised instantly. Even though the almost 40-year-old band has dabbled with so many genres since their self-titled debut in 1984, there is something “magikal” about their sonic identity that cuts through the rest of the lot. For a band that has been riddled with drug problems and many entries, exits, re-entries and exits of bands members, it is nothing short of a miracle that Anthony Kiedis and Flea have kept the outfit intact. Several genre influences and inspirations notwithstanding, the band has managed to carve such a distinct sonic persona that no change in lineup or heightened intoxication or even sobering up has managed to alter that. For in their every change is also present an inexplicable constant, something we can only attempt to decode. What then is that constant that sets the band apart from their contemporaries? To start with, every band member has over time brought something indispensable to the table. Unlike a lot of rock bands that have turned into battlefields of egos, RHCP has had the sound vocals of Kiedis, rock solid drumming of Chad Smith, unmistakable basslines of Flea and guitarists like John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer who have understood their job description without attempting to overshine the rest.

Their mix of genres spanning, rap rock, nu metal, hard rock and hip hop paved the way for bands like Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit to be comfortable in their own musical journeys.  

In band parlance, RHCP are incredibly tight; meaning they function with precision as a quartet, playing every note and beat with perfect synchrony as Kiedis maintains a firm grip over his rap-rock-melodic singing, thus collectively exuding the vibe or attitude the band wishes to showcase.   Let’s be honest, in terms of vocal prowess Kiedis isn’t the strongest of the lost. But he nails his part with the rapping or the energy or the staccato, knowing when to unleash his inner range and when to show restraint and let the other instruments take the lead. This balance, coupled with the sheer vastness of their range and the self-assurance with which he sings, makes Kiedis the best man for the job. He can go from high octane rapping in Give it a Way to pensive and soothing in Scar Tissue, or attitude-driven in Suck My Kiss, making him the next generation Mick Jagger whose primary responsibility has always been to embody the feel of the band, of the song and of the moment.