Frusciante took the wheel. He wanted melody, harmony, and Beach Boys arrangements. Flea almost quit because there was no funk. What we got was a lush, orchestral, melancholic masterpiece. Can’t Stop , The Zephyr Song , and the title track By the Way are pure pop genius.
A 28-song, double-album monster. It was excessive, indulgent, and glorious. Dani California tells the story of a girl from all their previous songs. Snow (Hey Oh) features Frusciante’s impossibly delicate picking. Wet Sand contains one of the greatest guitar solos of the 2000s. the red hot chili peppers discography
and The Getaway (2016) These albums are good—not great. With Josh Klinghoffer on guitar, the Peppers sounded lighter, more indie-rock. The Getaway , produced by Danger Mouse, is sleek and moody ( Dark Necessities is a legit banger). But you can feel the absence of Frusciante’s chaotic soul. The Return of the King (2022–Present) Infinite love. Frusciante took the wheel
Few bands in rock history have a career arc as bizarre, tragic, and triumphant as the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the span of four decades, they’ve morphed from L.A. punk-funk weirdos wearing only tube socks to global stadium rock gods. What we got was a lush, orchestral, melancholic masterpiece
But the chemistry was wrong. Kiedis relapsed during this era. The band doesn’t play these songs live anymore. It’s not a bad album—it’s just the sound of a family fighting in a burning house. The resurrection.
& Freaky Styley (1985) Before the world knew Anthony Kiedis as a frontman, he was a fledgling vocalist leaning heavily on his idol, George Clinton. Freaky Styley , produced by Clinton himself, is pure P-Funk worship. These albums are raw, juvenile, and unlistenable to casual fans—but essential for understanding the band’s DNA. This is funk without pop polish.