Throwback Thursday: RHCP’s Anthony Kiedis

For this week’s Throwback Thursday we’re celebrating Anthony Kiedis’ 50th birthday with a set of Red Hot Chili Peppers songs.

A brief survey of any number of my high school friends would quickly make it apparent that, at a time, my favorite band was far and away Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Though that may no longer be the case (especially not in their current incarnation – no offense to guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, but you, sir, are no John Frusciante), there will always be a part of my musical taste that is indebted to the band.  Their music has served as something of a jumping off point for my own and many other like minded “kids’” musical explorations over the course of their four decades of recording.  With idols and influences from George Clinton to Talking Heads to KISS, RHCP has always something of a cross section of popular music.

Oh, and they rock like crazy.  This is due largely to the fact that you could make a case that each of the core four members of the band in the height of its popularity – Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Frusciante, and Chad Smith – were the best at what they were doing.  Kiedis especially has always been an electrifying performer.  Even today, he throws everything he has into every note that he sings and every spastic shimmy that he makes onstage.  Although his singing has gotten more technically sound, his ability to convey an almost primal intensity and swagger in one song and then go into a soul-crushing ballad the next has always been part of his arsenal.  Tune in at 5pm today to celebrate his 50th birthday!

By Bentley J. Holt

Photo Courtesy of Rolling Stone

If you liked this, check out:
Throwback Thursday: R.E.M.’s Document
This Week in Music History