Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith joins Hanuman Welch on ALT CTRL Radio on Apple Music 1 to discuss the band’s new song "Tippa My Tongue” — the first single from their forthcoming double album 'Return of the Dream Canteen’. He tells Apple Music about the origin of the song, the decision to release a second double album this year, reuniting with longtime producer Rick Rubin, doing their first stadium tour, the band’s unique chemistry, and more.
Chad Smith Tells Apple Music About New Song "Tippa My Tongue” and Releasing a Second Double Album This Year...
We're just so happy to be making music again. Like most people, and creative people, and artists, to be able to have that opportunity to go out and play concerts and play new music. We wrote a lot of songs during the pandemic time and we recorded them all. We just wanted this next record to be an extension of 'Unlimited Love'. It stands on its own. We felt like we had so many songs that we love that we just need to have them all come out, and we don't want to put them all out at once. Here's the second batch and it's just as important. And just as effervescent to use your word, and joyful and happy. The cool thing about our band is one of the things I think is kind of whatever we do, it sounds like the Chili Peppers. You got Anthony's voice, is so identifiable. And then you got the band, which has a unique sound. Of course, having John Frusciante back in our band again, we've got that chemistry going and we just want to share it with everybody. I told Anthony, I said, often you try to figure out which song is the first one to come out off the record. I just said this one's got more hooks than a fishing tackle box. It's got some Hendrixy riffs, and it's got some P-Funk and it's got Chili Peppers. I love it. I just think it's a great song.
Chad Smith Tells Apple Music About The Band’s Unique Chemistry…
…we're comfortable with each other. We do have a special chemistry, the four of us. Even the five of us with Rick, like you mentioned, and it just comes really easy. We just know instinctively because we played together so much what to play and how to play. Everyone's such a good listener. And all that experience of playing together. It came together really pretty effortlessly.
Chad Smith Tells Apple Music About Reuniting With Rick Rubin…
…having Rick come back, he came to hear us rehearse. We hadn't played any of our new songs for anybody. We played him probably 20 or so of our songs. He came back in the studio, and where we were rehearsing, and he was just walking around amongst us.He was so overwhelmed with the fact that here, four guys that only make this music, the sound and the way they play, and the interaction, the chemistry. He was like, "These four people that I love are back together doing it." He got really emotional. He told me later that when he was on his way home he was crying. It was just such an emotional thing for him. I get it, man. We don't take it for granted. We do have a thing that we do, for whatever reason, we're put on this universe.
Chad Smith Tells Apple Music About RHCP Doing Their First Stadium Tour...
Right now we're just in it. We're cranking it out. We've been touring since June. We did all of Europe. We're doing the states now. We did the west coast, we played my hometown. My 95 year old mother came out on stage. It's just been really a special thing for a lot of people that maybe were too young to see us when John was in the band 11, 12 years ago. Our longer time fans thought, "Oh, we'll never see him again in the band." All this energy, the pandemic, the new record, the stadiums, it's a pretty exciting time for our group. We're loving it. We've played lots of big places, and big festivals, and all the Coachellas and all that stuff. But never just strictly on our own. We've done it in Europe, but in the states and we just said, "F**k it, let's go for it, man. Let's let it all hang out and get a good bill." We got strong bands and artists playing with us, The Strokes and Thundercat's been opening and Beck, and lots of great people. It's a great night of music. We just are so grateful to see all the people come out and fill up these stadiums. It's amazing. We just kind of pinch ourselves sometimes. It's really great.
Chad Smith Tells Apple Music About RHCP Inviting Thundercat on Tour...
Oh man, it was a no brainer. We were so happy when he said yes, because like you said, he's such a great musician. He can play in any setting. He's so musical, he's an amazing performer. His band is incredibly, he's got great songs, but a lot of people don't know him as his own thing. I think it's great to give him some exposure that he more than deserves. Obviously Flea loves him, we all do. But as a bass player, he's like, "He's my favorite bass player." Modern bass player right now. He's just incredible. He gets the crowd going. He'll play the most soulful funky Stevie Wonder kind of thing. He can do it all. The only complaint from me is he's playing too short, but he's awesome. Get there early if you can people, you will not be disappointed. Thundercat is the real deal.
