The Red Hot Chili Peppers guest-starred on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show on Tuesday (April 5). At first they only wanted to talk about their new album and play a few songs. But the moderator also confronted her with the events of the unfortunate Oscar night. No wonder Chris Rock inducted the band into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2012.
Accordingly, the musicians reacted cautiously. “Too much has already been said,” said singer Anthony Kiedis when Stern asked her about a scathing joke Chris Rock made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith onstage after Will Smith was slapped in the face.
“We love Chris Rock and I’ll venture out and say he shouldn’t have been beaten,” Flea took the floor.
“I love comedy. I love comedians and I love being insulted,” Kiedis finally intervened again. “Even if he wasn’t exactly insulting at that moment (Kiedis refers to the induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, ed.) … I hope that in another moment he will hit me hard. Because I think it’s healthy to be offended and to think about something as a result. Comedy has a right to exist without too much violence.”
Chad Smith bows to Taylor Hawkins
Of course, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were also asked about the death of Taylor Hawlins, as the group had played many concerts with the Foo Fighters in the ’90s and 2000s. “I love Taylor. He was one of my best friends,” said Chad Smith, who most recently recalled Hawkins on stage. “We are still shocked and so saddened by his passing,” he added, going as far as to remind Stern how much Hawkins loved the radio host and appreciated his not always easy questions
Smith continued, “He loved life and was a real lighthouse and full of positive energy. I will miss him so much.”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are currently promoting their 12th studio album UNLIMITED LOVE. It is the band’s first LP since 2006 to feature guitarist John Frusciante.
The band plans to embark on an extensive stadium tour this summer. Supporting acts are expected to include The Strokes, Beck, St. Vincent, HAIM, A$AP Rocky, Anderson .Paak, Thundercat, and King Princess. The tour will also take her to Germany for two concerts in Hamburg and Cologne.