Every Red Hot Chili Peppers song is full of unparalleled funk energy, and the band’s videos often match the intensity and idiosyncrasy of their personalities and live shows. From painting their bodies silver and dancing in the desert to being kidnapped by taxi drivers, the band have never been afraid to push boundaries and to dare to do something completely new visually.
“Can’t Stop”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are at their best when their silliness is emphasized, and the abstract, contemporary art clip for “Can’t Stop” proved to be the perfect vehicle for the band to express that.
Directed by Mark Romanek, the clip was inspired by Erwin Wurm’s One-Minute Sculptures. Each band member is seen using various objects to pose or create random, disjointed scenarios as they perform the 2003 single from the album “By the Way.”
“Give It Away”
“Give It Away” not only gave the band their first number one single, but also highlighted their psychedelic, unconventional perspective in the video. Shot in black and white by French fashion photographer Stéphane Sednaoui, the band wore silver body paint and edgy glam outfits as they danced and performed to the funky rap-rock hit in the desert.
“Californication”
Released in 2000, the video for “Californication” takes the quartet on a surreal, video game-like adventure through the landscapes and stereotypes of California.
Released in 2000, the video for “Californication” takes the quartet on a surreal, video game-like adventure through the landscapes and stereotypes of California. Each band member can be seen separately running through their respective scenario as a 3D video game character. The real, live band can be seen in a picture-in-picture frame until the two worlds collide.
“Dani California”
In their 2006 video, the Chili Peppers traverse the history of rock. The band dressed up as Elvis Presley, Glenn Danzig and Kurt Cobain in the clip. At the end, they return to themselves as the video shows their memorable outfits once again.
“Soul to Squeeze”
“Soul to Squeeze” started out as the B-side of “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” but eventually made it onto the Coneheads soundtrack.
“Soul to Squeeze” started out as the B-side of “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” but eventually made it onto the Coneheads soundtrack. The clip is set in a traveling circus where the band members portray various “freaks” and contains several references to the film, including a cameo from Chris Farley.
“Scar Tissue”
Working again with Stéphane Sednaoui, who had previously directed “Give It Away”, RHCP reflected on the return of guitarist John Frusciante to the band. The guitarist drives a car with the band, all of whom are badly marked and covered in blood. They drive through the desert with a few stops, including one where Frusciante plays his guitar solo on a damaged instrument.
“Under the Bridge”
Gus Van Sant collaborated with RHCP to direct a dreamy, dazzling vision of their ballad “Under the Bridge.” After working with Flea on his film “My Own Private Idaho,” Gus Van Sant teamed up with RHCP to direct a dreamy, shimmering vision of their ballad “Under the Bridge.”
The band is seen on the streets of Los Angeles, performing under purple, blue and green lights and seas of light, perfectly conveying the emotional weight of a song about loneliness and addiction.
“Otherside”
Inspired by German expressionist art, “Otherside” highlights a Gothic, cubist world. A young man moves through a dark, nightmarish dream sequence that reflects the struggles of people who once suffered from addiction as the song explores this theme.
“By the way”
In the video, singer Anthony Kiedis is kidnapped by a taxi driver who is a big fan of the band and plays “By the Way” on his car radio to impress the frontman.
In one of the band’s more action-oriented videos, singer Anthony Kiedis is kidnapped by a taxi driver who is a big fan of the band and plays “By the Way” on his car radio to impress the frontman. As the song progresses, he drives more and more daringly and performs several stunts to continue to get Kiedis’ attention, while the singer frantically texts Flea and John Frusciante to save him.
Once his bandmates realize Kiedis is telling the truth, they race off in Flea’s car to rescue him and succeed before drummer Chad Smith flags down the same taxi shortly afterwards.
“Fight Like a Brave”
“Fight Like a Brave” is a triumphant, motivational song about Anthony Kiedis overcoming his addiction, but it is also the last music video to feature founding member Hillel Slovak, as Slovak died of a heroin overdose a year later. In the clip, the band looks like the Lost Boys in their youthful, happy manner while being transported into various absurd scenarios.
