Behind the Music

Episode Synopsis

The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hillel Slovak, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Chad Smith, John Frusciante -- burst onto the early 80s L.A. scene, taking their love of outrageous and spontaneous behavior and fusing it with in-your-face hardcore punk, resulting in a totally new brand of funk. "The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Behind The Music" explores the light and dark sides of their go-for-broke attitude. Some of the band members succumbed to the lure of heroin, with guitarist Slovak losing his life to the drug.In 1991, the band released the album "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," featuring the #2 single, "Under the Bridge," based on vocalist Anthony Kiedis' experiences with both drugs and loneliness. The massive, hugely successful tour that followed almost destroyed the band. Guitarist Frusciante quit abruptly on the Japanese leg of the tour, and also descended into drugs and depression.While the band's future has often looked bleak, the Peppers are older, wiser, and funkier than ever. John Frusciante is back, the band is rejuvenated, and they have completed work on their latest album, with producer Rick Rubin at the helm."The Red Hot Chili Peppers: Behind The Music" includes interviews with all the band members, Rick Rubin, Louis Mathieu, tour manager; Patricia Urban, Flea's mother; Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Gwen Stefani and Tony Kanal of No Doubt.