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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = Anthony Kiedis| image = Anthony Kiedis 2006 Oxegen.jpg| caption = Anthony Kiedis performing on July 29, 2006.| background = solo_singer| birth_name =| birth_date = Birth date and age|1962|11|1| birth_place = Grand Rapids, Michigan , United States|U.S. | occupation = Singer-songwriter , musician , actor | instrument = Singing|Vocals , guitar | genre = Funk rock , Alternative rock , rap rock , punk rock | years_active = 1983–present| label = Warner Bros. Records , EMI | associated_acts = Red Hot Chili Peppers | website =| notable_instruments = Anthony Kiedis (IPAc-en|'|k|i?|d|?|srespell|KEE|diss; born November 1, 1962) is an American vocalist / lyricist , and occasional actor best known as the lead vocalist of the Grammy -winning and 2012 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, Red Hot Chili Peppers . Kiedis spent his youth in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his mother before moving, shortly before his 12th birthday, to Hollywood, California to live with his father. After high school, Kiedis began taking classes at UCLA , but dropped out after losing interest because he was unable to make any close friends during his time there.cite book|last=Kiedis, Anthony|coauthors=Sloman, Larry |title=Scar Tissue|publisher=Hyperion|year=2004|page=96|isbn=1-4013-0101-0 After dropping out, Kiedis received an offer to be the opening act for a local band, and enlisted friends Flea (musician)|Flea , Hillel Slovak , and Jack Irons to assist. After a show under the name "Tony Flow and the Miraculous Masters of Mayhem" the band progressed and the line-up eventually became the Red Hot Chili Peppers .
Biography
1962-1980: Early life
Kiedis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to a Lithuanian John Kiedis , also known professionally as Blackie Dammett , an actor, and Margaret "Peggy" Nobel.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 39 In 1966, when he was three years old, his parents divorced. Along with his two half-sisters, Julie and Jenny, he was raised by his mother and stepfather in Grand Rapids.Kiedis, Sloman, p. 14 Each summer, he would visit his father in Hollywood for two weeks, in which the two would bond. He idolized his father, and recalled "Those trips to California were the happiest, most carefree, the-world-is-a-beautiful-oyster times I'd ever experienced."Kiedis, Sloman, p. 21 In 1973, when Kiedis was eleven years old, he moved to Hollywood to live with his father full-time.cite web|last=Sutton |first=Michael |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p93719|pure_url=yes |title=((( Anthony Kiedis > Biography ))) |publisher=allmusic |date= |accessdate=2010-10-09 His father was a struggling actor who sold drugs, which had a significant impact on Kiedis, as the two would often use marijuana and cocaine together.Kiedis, Sloman, p. 30 Kiedis accidentally tried heroin for the first time at age fourteen, mistaking the substance for cocaine.(2002) " Behind the Music : Red Hot Chili Peppers episode". VH1 .
Kiedis attended Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)|Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, where he struggled to find friends as he had recently transferred to a new school district. However, he soon met Flea (musician)|Flea , and after a brief confrontation, the two became best friends and bonded while sitting next to each other in driver's ed class.Apter, 2004. p. 34 Kiedis recalled: "We were drawn to each other by the forces of mischief and love and we became virtually inseparable. We were both social outcasts. We found each other and it turned out to be the longest-lasting friendship of my life."Apter, 2004. p. 35 Kiedis became a significant influence on Flea, exposing him to rock music, particularly punk rock. Kiedis and Flea began jumping into swimming pools from buildings as a hobby. At age fifteen, Kiedis broke his back attempting to jump into a swimming pool from a five-story building, missing the pool by a few inches.Kiedis, Sloman. (2004). Scar Tissue. Hyperion. p. 96. ISBN 1-4013-0101-0 His back has since improved, although he still has occasional problems.
Kiedis also met future bandmate Hillel Slovak after seeing him perform with his band Anthym . After the show, Slovak invited Kiedis to his house for a snack. Kiedis later described the experience in his autobiography Scar Tissue (book)|Scar Tissue : "Within a few minutes of hanging out with Hillel, I sensed that he was absolutely different from most of the people I'd spent time with...He understood a lot about music, he was a great visual artist, and he had a sense of self and a calm about him that were just riveting."Kiedis, Sloman, p. 64. Slovak, Kiedis, and Flea became best friends and often used LSD , heroin , cocaine , and Amphetamine|speed recreationally.Apter, 2004. p. 40 Despite his frequent drug use, he excelled in school, often receiving straight A grades. In June 1980, Kiedis graduated with honors from high school. That August, he enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles to study writing .cite news|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1986-02-05/entertainment/ca-4652_1_chili-peppers|title=Chili Peppers dish up bare bravado|last=Cromelin|first=Richard|work= Los Angeles Times |publisher= Tribune Company |date=February 5, 1986|accessdate=December 9, 2011 However, he dropped out during the beginning of his sophomore year due to his worsening addiction to cocaine and heroin .
1980-84: Formation and first album
Kiedis, Slovak, and Flea began to create their own music after finding inspiration in a punk-funk fusion band called Defunkt .Page, Scarlet (July 2004). "Red Hot Chili Peppers: The LA Punks Who Defied Death, Grunge And A Burning Crack Den". Mojo . Kiedis rejected the violence and misogyny associated with the Los Angeles punk rock scene at the time, and wished to create a more peaceful environment that would encourage women to come to concerts.Mullen, 2010. p. 80 The three formed a band with former Anthym-drummer Jack Irons , called Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. The band had only one song, entitled "Out in L.A.", and was formed for the purpose of playing the song once.Apter, 2004. p. 60 The song was based on a guitar riff that Slovak wrote while "jamming" with Irons, and was not meant to become a real song until Kiedis decided to rap over the music.Mullen, 2010. p. 16
Gary Allen, a friend of Kiedis', invited the band to open for his act Gary and Neighbor's Voices at The Rhythm Lounge, as he felt that Kiedis had potential as a frontman.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 104 Slovak and Flea were initially skeptical, and felt that Kiedis did not have enough vocal experience, but the two eventually agreed to perform. Kiedis later described the performance: "All the anticipation of the moment hit me, and I instinctively knew that the miracle of manipulating energy and tapping into an infinite source of power and harnessing it in a small space with your friends was what I had been put on this earth to do."Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 106 Following the group's first show at The Rhythm Lounge, the owner of the bar asked them to return, but with two songs instead of one. After several more shows, and the addition of several songs to their repertoire, the band's name was changed to Red Hot Chili Peppers.Apter, 2004. p. 61
The band's concert repertoire grew to ten songs as a result of months of playing at local nightclubs and bars.Apter, 2004. p. 62 At a performance at a strip club in Hollywood, the band members performed wearing only socks on their penis es, and idea created by Kiedis.Kiedis, Sloman, p. 120 This gained the band notoriety, and club owners even began booking the group on the condition that it would perform in this manner. The Red Hot Chili Peppers entered Bijou Studios to record a demo tape and subsequently secured a record deal with EMI .cite episode | title = http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/behind_the_music/51363/episode_about.jhtml Red Hot Chili Peppers | series = Behind the Music | network = VH1 | airdate = 1999-05-30 | accessdate=2007-08-27 Irons and Slovak however, decided to leave the Red Hot Chili Peppers in order to pursue a "more serious" future with rock band What Is This? Apter, 2004. pp. 70–74 Kiedis ultimately respected the decision, but felt the band would be lost without them. Kiedis and Flea hired drummer Cliff Martinez and guitarist Jack Sherman (guitarist)|Jack Sherman to fill Iron's and Slovak's places, respectively. Andy Gill , formerly of Gang of Four (band)|Gang of Four , agreed to produce their first album. Gill and Sherman clashed with Kiedis and Flea; they continuously argued over music style, sound, and the album's production.Apter, 2004. pp. 78–88
1985-88: Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan
Funk musician George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton was hired to produce the band's second album, Freaky Styley . The strong chemistry between Clinton and the Chili Peppers was felt instantly. Freaky Styley was released in August 1985. It received only a bit more attention than The Red Hot Chili Peppers with roughly 75,000 copies sold by year's end. The band hired Michael Beinhorn , their last resort among potential producers, to work on their next album.Apter, 2004. pp 130–141 What Is This? had finally disbanded, and Irons returned to the Chili Peppers in mid 1986 after Martinez was fired. Flea, Slovak and Kiedis especially were involved in heavy drug use and their relationships became strained. Flea recalled that "it began to seem ugly to me and not fun; our communication was not healthy". Kiedis became dependent on heroin, leaving Flea and Slovak to work on much of the album's material by themselves.
Both Kiedis and Slovak struggled with debilitating heroin addictions, which grew worse as the band was preparing to record The Uplift Mofo Party Plan . Due to his addiction, Kiedis lacked the motivation to contribute to the band musically, and appeared at rehearsal "literally asleep".Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 191 He was asked to leave the band in order to undergo drug rehabilitation . During that time, the band won the LA Weekly Band of the Year award which prompted Kiedis to quit using heroin cold turkey. He visited his mother in Michigan for guidance, who drove him to drug rehabilitation immediately after picking him up from the airport upon seeing his unhealthy appearance.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 193 Kiedis checked into a Salvation Army rehabilitation clinic in Grand Rapids , an experience which he initially detested until he noted that the other people in the clinic were understanding of his struggles and were trying to help him. He moved in with his mother after twenty days at the clinic, a time which marked the first time he was completely abstinent from drugs since he was eleven years old.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004, p. 198 After Kiedis completed his stint in rehabilitation, he felt a "whole new wave of enthusiasm" due to his sobriety and wrote the lyrics to a new song entitled " Fight Like a Brave " on the flight home.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 200
He rejoined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in Los Angeles to record the album.Apter, p. 133 Upon returning home, he began dating actress Ione Skye , whom Flea had met while appearing with her in the 1987 science fiction film Stranded .Kiedis, Sloman, p. 202 Although Kiedis had recently become clean, his withdrawal symptoms increased and affected his musical contributions to the group. After fifty days of sobriety, Kiedis decided to take drugs again as a one-time attempt to celebrate his new music, which led to his resumed addiction. The recording process for the album became difficult as Kiedis would often disappear to seek drugs.Apter, 2004. p. 184. Producer Michael Beinhorn recalled that "There were points in pre-production where I really thought the record wasn't gonna get made."Mullen, 2010. p. 164 Kiedis felt "excruciating pain and guilt and shame" when he would miss a recording session so he would try to write lyrics while searching for drugs; although the band members were upset by his drug use and frequent disappearances, they were impressed with his musical output at the time.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 205
After the international tour in support of Uplift , Slovak died of a heroin overdose. Following Slovak's death, Kiedis fled to a small fishing village in Mexico and did not attend his funeral, considering the situation to be surreal and dreamlike.Kiedis, p. 222 Although he found the death to be a shock, he initially was not "scared straight" and continued to use heroin.Kiedis, Sloman, p. 223 However, a few weeks later, his friend convinced him to check into rehab and visit Slovak's grave, which inspired him to get clean.Kiedis, Sloman, p. 226 Irons was unable to cope with Slovak's death and subsequently quit the band, saying that he did not want to be part of something that resulted in the death of his friend. Kiedis and Flea decided to continue making music, hoping to continue what Slovak "helped build".Kiedis, Sloman, p. 224
1989-93: Mainstream success
Following Slovak's death, Kiedis and Flea took some time to collect themselves, but decided to keep the band together. Guitarist DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight and drummer D.H. Peligro were added, and the band entered the studio to record a new album. McKnight soon began to create tension within the group, as his style did not mesh with the rest of the band.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 234 Peligro, the former drummer of the punk rock band Dead Kennedys , was a friend of John Frusciante , an eighteen year old guitarist and avid Red Hot Chili Peppers fan. Peligro introduced Frusciante to Flea, and the three jammed together on several occasions.Apter, 2004. pp. 178–190 Kiedis was impressed with Frusciante's skill, and astonished by his knowledge of the Chili Peppers' repertoire.''Mother's Milk 2003 reissue liner notes McKnight was fired, and Frusciante accepted an invitation to join the band. Peligro was fired shortly thereafter; the Chili Peppers brought in drummer Chad Smith as his replacement.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 242
The Chili Peppers entered the studio, and completed recording of their fourth album, '' Mother's Milk , in early 1989. Upon release, the album was met with mixed reactions from critics, but received far more commercial attention, peaking at number fifty-two on the Billboard''& nbsp;200.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/#/album/red-hot-chili-peppers/mother-s-milk/14133|title=Mother's Milk - Chart History|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|accessdate=November 15, 2011 Although his band was experiencing greater success, Kiedis' withdrawal symptoms took a toll on his personal life. This led to the end of his two-year relationship with Skye in December 1989: "I had managed to stay sober by not ingesting drugs, so my body had healed from all that torturous activity, but my mind still wasn't healthy enough to work out all the problems that come up in a relationship."Kiedis, Sloman, p. 245
The band sought to record Blood Sugar Sex Magik in an unconventional setting, believing it would enhance their creative output. Rubin suggested The Mansion (recording studio)|the mansion magician Harry Houdini once lived in, to which they agreed. A crew was hired to set up a recording studio and other equipment required for production in the house. The band decided that they would remain inside the mansion for the duration of recording, though Smith, convinced the location was haunted, refused to stay.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 274–275 During this stage, Kiedis began to write about anguish, and the self-mutilating thoughts he would experience as a result of his heroin and cocaine addiction.cite web|url= http://www.rhcpfrance.com/images/articles/16.pdf|title=The Naked Truth|author=David Fricke|accessdate=10 August 2007|publisher=Rolling StoneKiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 265–266 Chili Peppers producer Rick Rubin stumbled upon a poem that would become the lyrics to " Under the Bridge ", and suggested Kiedis show it to the rest of the band. Kiedis was, however, apprehensive because he believed the lyrics to be "too soft" and unlike the band's style. After singing the verse to Frusciante, they began structuring the song the next day.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 267 The two worked for several hours arranging chords and melodies until they both agreed it was complete. The song later became a major hit, peaking at number two on the Billboard 100.
When Blood Sugar Sex Magik was released on September 24, 1991, it received an overwhelmingly positive critical response. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 200, and went on to sell over seven million copies in the U.S. alone. The album's ensuing tour was critically acclaimed—the Chili Peppers commonly performed shows with over twenty thousand in attendance.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 282 Seattle, Washington|Seattle -based grunge band Nirvana (band)|Nirvana also toured with them during the West Coast leg of their United States tour. The massive attention the Chili Peppers started receiving, however, caused Frusciante to feel extremely uncomfortable, and he abruptly quit the band during the Japanese leg of the album's tour. The band hired guitarist Arik Marshall to complete the remaining tour dates.
1994-98: One Hot Minute and resumed addiction
Upon returning to Hollywood, California|Hollywood , the band placed an ad in the L.A. Weekly for open guitar auditions, which Kiedis considered to be a waste of time.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 311 After several months of unsuccessfully looking for a suitable guitarist, drummer Chad Smith suggested Dave Navarro .Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 312 He had always been the band's first choice, but had been too busy following the 1991 breakup of Jane's Addiction . Navarro eventually accepted the position after productive jam session s. Kiedis knew that the band's sound would inevitably change when Navarro joined.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 313 In July 1994, the band entered The Sound Factory , a recording studio in Los Angeles, to record the album. The band completed a few basic tracks, when Kiedis began having difficulty singing. He had been through a dental procedure in which an addictive sedative, Diazepam|Valium , was used; this caused him to relapse, and he once again became dependent on drugs after five years of sobriety.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 315–323
The band took a short hiatus from recording to perform at Woodstock '94 , which was the first show Navarro played with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. After resuming production, Navarro questioned the methods of the Chili Peppers' recording procedures. He wondered why such a considerable amount of jamming was involved with the album's conception. Various qualms followed, and the process soon became uncomfortable for the band.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 328 Months went by, and only small amounts of material were written. Kiedis made a trip to Grand Rapids , Michigan in December, where his family realized he'd resumed an active addiction once again. He returned to Hollywood in late January 1995, when he finally finished recording his vocals. The rest of the recording was completed within the next month.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 336–342
While piecing together the final components for their sixth album, One Hot Minute (1995), the band recorded a video for "Warped". They asked Flea's brother-in-law, Gavin Bowden, to direct it. The video involved Kiedis and Navarro kissing towards the end as a way of breaking the monotony of cumbersome video recording. Thinking nothing of it, they continued to shoot and finished several days later.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. pp. 347–349 Warner Bros., however, saw the video and instantly wanted it thrown away, considering it to be unmarketable and that the kiss would alienate a large portion of the band's fan base. The band came to a consensus to let the kiss remain on the final cut, prompting a backlash from the college segment of their audience, who took offense at the action. Kiedis said of the situation: "If they couldn't accept what we were doing, we didn't need them anymore."
1998-2003: Californication and By the Way
In the years following Frusciante's departure from the Chili Peppers, he had developed a vicious addiction to both heroin and cocaine that left him in poverty and near death.cite web| author=Skanse, Richard| url= http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/redhotchilipeppers/articles/story/5923940/red_hot_redux | title = Red Hot Redux | publisher = RollingStone.com | date = April 30, 1998| accessdate = March 31, 2007 He was talked into admitting himself to drug rehabilitation in January 1998.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p78092|pure_url=yes|title=Biography of John Frusciante|accessdate=June 25, 2007|publisher=Allmusic In April 1998, following Frusciante's three month completion, Flea visited his former band-mate and openly invited him to re-join the band, an invitation Frusciante readily accepted. Within the week, and for the first time in six years, the foursome gathered to play and jump-started the newly reunited Red Hot Chili Peppers.Kiedis and Sloman (2004), pp. 389–400 The band released Californication (album)|Californication on June 8, 1999.
Immediately following the release of Californication , the band embarked on a Californication Tour|world tour to support the record, beginning in the United States. To culminate the US leg of their tour, the Chili Peppers were asked to close Woodstock '99 , which became infamous for the violence it resulted in.Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 423.cite web|url= http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/red_hot_chili_peppers/bio.jhtml|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers bio| accessdate=2007-06-23|publisher=VH1 The band was informed minutes before arriving that the crowds and bonfires in the fields had gone out of control. When the Chili Peppers performed a tribute to Jimi Hendrix's song "Fire" to finish their set as a favor to Hendrix's sister, the disruption escalated into violence when several women who had been crowd surfing and moshing were raped and nearby property was looted and destroyed.cite news|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/daily/july99/woodstock27.htm|title=Woodstock '99 Goes Up in Smoke|first=Alona|last=Wartofsky|date=1999-07-27|accessdate= 2008-06-14|work=Washington Postcite news|title=Police investigate alleged rapes at Woodstock '99|url= http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9907/29/woodstock.rape/|accessdate=2007-06-28|work=CNNcite web|title=Repeated Violence: Large Block Parties Need Supervision|work=The Lantern|url= http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2001/05/02/Opinion/Repeated.Violence-74898.shtml|date=2001-05-02|accessdate=2008-06-14 Kiedis felt that "It was clear that this situation had nothing to do with Woodstock anymore. It wasn't symbolic of peace and love, but of greed and cashing in... We woke up to papers and radio stations vilifying us for playing 'Fire'."Kiedis and Sloman (2004), p. 424.
The writing and formation of By the Way began immediately following the culmination of ''Californication's world tour, in the Spring of 2001. As with Californication'', much of the creation took place in the band members' homes, and other locations of practice, such as a recording studio stage.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 456 Kiedis recalled of the situation: "We started finding some magic and some music and some riffs and some rhythms and some jams and some grooves, and we added to it and subtracted from it and pushed it around and put melodies to it." Frusciante and Kiedis would collaborate for days straight, discussing guitar progressions and sharing lyrics.Kiedis, Sloman, 2004. p. 458 For Kiedis, "writing By the Way ...was a whole different experience from Californication . John was back to himself and brimming with confidence." The album marked a change in the band's sound, and Kiedis began writing songs reflective of his romantic relationships and drug addictions.
2004-present: Recent albums and fatherhood
On October 6, 2004, Kiedis published a memoir titled Scar Tissue (book)|Scar Tissue , which he co-wrote with author Larry Sloman . The book was originally intended to be a collection of stories of his childhood drug use, but evolved into a complete autobiography.cite web|url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1492057/anthony-kiedis-scary-past-revealed-book.jhtml|last=Vineyard|first=Jennifer|title=For Anthony Kiedis, What Doesn't Kill You Only Makes Your Book Longer|date=October 7, 2004|accessdate=December 7, 2011|work=MTV News|publisher=Viacom He further explained: "One would just kind of assume that with all the drug consumption that my memory would be a bit shoddy. But it's actually pretty lucid, and better than both of my parents', or any of my friends'. My friends tried to recount these same stories, and they were like, 'Wow, I don't ... were we there? '"
The formation and recording of Stadium Arcadium took place at " The Mansion (recording studio)|The Mansion ", the former home of Harry Houdini where the Chili Peppers had recorded their 1991 breakthrough Blood Sugar Sex Magik .cite web|url= http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/music/spin.aspx? iIDDisque=3645 |title=Stadium Arcadium |accessdate=2007-08-07 |last=Tousignant |first=Isa |date=2006-05-18 |work=Ottawa XPress Kiedis noted that during the recording process of the album "everybody was in a good mood. There was very little tension, very little anxiety, very little weirdness going on and every day we showed up to this funky room in the Valley, and everyone felt more comfortable than ever bringing in their ideas."Cite news| first=Chris | last=Harris | coauthors= | title=Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium Has Some 'Retardedly Painful Funk' | date=2006-01-18 | publisher=VH1 | url = http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1520634/20060112/red_hot_chili_peppers.jhtml | work =MTV News | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-07 | language = The album was released on May 9, 2006.
In August 2007, the band decided to take a break from music. According to Kiedis, there was a collective decision "not to do anything Red Hot Chili Peppers-related for a minimum of one year. ... We started in 1999, with the writing and the recording of Californication (album)|Californication , and we didn't really stop until the tour ended last year. We were all emotionally and mentally zapped at the end of that run."cite web|author=By& nbsp;Kyle Anderson |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/q-a-anthony-kiedis-20080519 |title=QA: Anthony Kiedis & #124; Rolling Stone Music |publisher=Rollingstone.com |date=2008-05-19 |accessdate=2011-06-06 Frusciante departed amicably from the group in order to pursue separate musical interests. However, Kiedis and Flea decided to keep the band together, citing an "intuitive feeling" that compelled them to continue making music.cite web|url= http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/exclusive-inside-the-red-hot-chili-peppers-comeback-album-20110608|title=Exclusive: Inside the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Comeback Album|publisher=Rolling Stone|accessdate=2011-08-05
Kiedis's now ex-girlfriend, model Heather Christie, gave birth to the couple's first child, a son named Everly Bear, on October 2, 2007.cite web|last=Triggs |first=Charlotte |url= http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20152302,00.html |title=Anthony Kiedis Opens Up About Being a Dad - Birth, Anthony Kiedis |publisher=People.com |date=1997-10-14 |accessdate=2010-10-09 According to Kiedis, Everly is named after one of Anthony's favorite bands, The Everly Brothers and the name Bear was something Heather came up with. Kiedis said that the name Bear made sense to him "because he's from me and I feel like I'm part of the bear clan, and I think it's nice to have a little bit of earth in your name."cite web|url= http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/10/15/anthony_kiedis_names_his_child_everly_be |title=Anthony Kiedis Names His Child Everly Bear |publisher=Starpulse.com |date=2007-10-15 |accessdate=2010-10-09 Kiedis split with Christie in June 2008.cite web|last=Laudadio |first=Marisa |url= http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20212116,00.html |title=Anthony Kiedis & Girlfriend Split |publisher=People.com |date=2008-07-11 |accessdate=2010-10-09
On August 26, 2011, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released a tenth album, '' I'm with You (album)|I'm with You .
On December 7, 2011, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were named 2012 inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame . Kiedis said it was very emotional and the first person he told was his father Blackie, who cried when hearing the news. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/anthony-kiedis-on-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-my-dad-cried-when-i-told-him-20111207#ixzz1fvU77Nlh
On January 11, 2012, the Chili Peppers announced that they are being forced to postpone the U.S. leg of their I'm with You tour due to multiple foot injuries suffered by Kiedis. Kiedis has been battling through foot injuries since 2006 when he injured his foot onstage and finally was able to have surgery during a break in the band's tour in January 2012. During the surgery, Kiedis had a crushed sesamoid bone removed and a detached flexor tendon repaired. With his injuries and surgery, the tour, which was already expected to last well into 2013, is now expected to last much longer than originally planned. http://redhotchilipeppers.com/news/288-rhcp-reschedule-dates-on-upcoming-u-s-tour
Drug addictions
Kiedis often battled with drug addiction , including lengthy addictions to heroin and cocaine , from a very young age. Since his father was an addict, Kiedis was constantly around his drug-using and dealing father, as well as his father's friends, who engaged in the same activities. Some of Kiedis' early drug use came from substances he got from his father, including marijuana, which he first smoked when he was 11 years old. He used drugs for years, even into the formation of the band, where other members were also using. He tried to get clean after Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Hillel Slovak died of a heroin overdose (specifically using the method of speedball (drug)|speedballing ) on June 25, 1988, saying he would never shoot up again.cite web|url= http://www.stadium-arcadium.com/main/biography-anthony-kiedis.php |title=Anthony Kiedis Biography |publisher=Stadium-Arcadium.com |date= |accessdate=2010-10-09 He entered rehab and ended up staying clean for five years but relapsed in 1994 and kept using on and off over the next six years. The last major relapse was instigated by a New Zealand doctor prescribing him Ultram despite Kiedis specifically asking for drugs that are not in the opiate family. To a recovering heroin addict, the synthetic opiate only gave rise to strong cravings. This last relapse, as many previous ones, was to a degree also a byproduct of a tumultuous relationship with a woman. He has reportedly avoided another relapse since December 24, 2000. "It’s easy to be a junkie, but it's not easy to be one of the best guitarists or songwriters of all time," Kiedis said in the March 2007 issue of Blender (magazine)|Blender .cite news | first=Chris | last=Norris | coauthors= | title= Anthony Kiedis: The Pursuit of Happiness | date= March 2007 | publisher= Blender Magazine | url= http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx? ID=2486& src=GM7070:MD | work= | pages= | accessdate= 2007-02-13 Kiedis, Anthony; with Larry Sloman (2004). Scar Tissue. London: Time Warner Books. ISBN 0-316-72672-9. Spider and Son
refimprove section|date=January 2011While creating lyrics and melodies for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kiedis has drawn from various sources for inspiration. His first musical memory was hearing Neil Young 's " Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)|Heart of Gold " at age five: "It moved me so much that I insisted my mother buy me the 45."Mullen, 2010. p. 116 In high school, he was highly influenced by the rap-style vocals of The Sugarhill Gang 's " Rapper's Delight " and the "in-your-face sexual lyrics" of Prince (musician)|Prince 's " Dirty Mind (song)|Dirty Mind ".Mullen, 2010. p. 78
Kiedis writes most of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' lyrics. Starting with 1989's '' Mother's Milk '' album, John Frusciante and Flea have written nearly all of the music (excluding melodies) for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, while Kiedis adds lyrics and melodies he hears during instrumental jams by his band mates. Kiedis said in 2006, "Somehow I find songs... in the bigness of what they're doing." His lyrical style has varied over the years. During the band's early years, Kiedis wrote many lyrics detailing his enjoyment of sex , drugs , and life in Los Angeles. As his musical tastes expanded and his outlook on life changed, he began writing songs about a wider spectrum of subjects. His lyrics include many of the same themes as the writings of Charles Bukowski , Kiedis' main literary influence.cite book | last = Kiedis | first = Anthony | coauthors = with Larry Sloman | title = | publisher = Time Warner Books | location = London | year = 2004 | isbn = 0-316-72672-9
His early vocal style with the band primarily consisted of rapping . On ''Mother's Milk (1989), Kiedis wrote more melody-driven songs, rather than the basic rhythm and beat style of funk . The first song where Kiedis employed his new melodic style was " Knock Me Down ". The melody was actually shaped and performed by guitarist John Frusciante. Upon joining the band, Frusciante sang lead vocals on the song along with Kiedis. Blood Sugar Sex Magik '' in 1991 still saw Kiedis rapping, but he also started singing in songs such as " Under the Bridge ", " Breaking the Girl ", and "I Could Have Lied". Over the years, Kiedis grew to favor singing over rapping. Kiedis has had many vocal coaches , but none of them had helped him sing "well." In fact, it was not until 1999's Californication (album)|Californication that he felt he could take full control of his voice while singing.
Despite the band's varied lineup, Kiedis remained and tried to keep the group together whenever it was about to fall apart. However, Kiedis himself was fired for around a month somewhere in 1986 because of his drug addiction; he was brought back into the band and stayed clean for, as he recalls, 53 days, after which he began abusing cocaine and heroin again.
Other projects
Using the stage name Cole Dammett (adapted from his father's stage name, Blackie Dammett ), Kiedis landed a number of small roles in television and film as a teenager in the late 1970s. His early credits include F.I.S.T. and the 1978 ABC Afterschool Special ''It's a Mile from Here to Glory . Resuming his acting work in the 1990s, Kiedis appeared in the 1991 Keanu Reeves / Patrick Swayze vehicle Point Break playing Tone, a surfer. The Chase (1994 film)|The Chase '', a 1994 movie starring Charlie Sheen as an estranged man trying to escape the cops with a young woman he kidnapped, had Flea and Kiedis playing metalheads who chase Sheen's character in a 4x4 truck and end up crashing.
In 2004, Kiedis published a memoir titled Scar Tissue (book)|Scar Tissue , which peaked at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List . He also organized the New American Music Union , a two-day summer music festival set for August 2008 in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . He has assembled a lineup of musicians including Bob Dylan , The Raconteurs , Gnarls Barkley , The Roots , and a second stage featuring college bands. (The lineup did not include Kiedis or the Red Hot Chili Peppers.)cite web|url= http://www.ae.com/web/77e/music/festival-info/index.html |title=American Eagle Outfitters Announces Summer Music Festival Hosted by Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers |publisher=Ae.com |date=2008-05-15 |accessdate=2010-07-04
In 2011, Kiedis, along with his son Everly, appears in the documentary, Bob and the Monster . The documentary details the life and career of musician and drug counselor, Bob Forrest . http://screencrave.com/2011-02-18/trailer-for-sxsws-bob-and-the-monster/
On May 11, 2011, Anthony donated a MTV European Music Award that the band had previously won to help raise funds for ongoing relief in devastated areas of Japan, which was hit with an earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. http://www.waaytv.com/entertainment/story/Kiedis-selling-off-MTV-Europe-Award-to-benefit/iDmb4ChWRkuHzJe1gy3a0g.cspx
Upcoming television series
Kiedis is developing a series for HBO based on his unconventional upbringing in Los Angeles. The show is expected to be loosely based on much of Kiedis' autobiography. He has partnered with Catapult 360 partners Marc Abrams and Mike Benson (screenwriter)|Michael Benson to create the series, titled Spider and Son .cite web|last=Laudadio |first=Marisa |url= http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20274341,00.html |title=Anthony Kiedis's Red-Hot Roommate? His Son |publisher=People.com |date=2009-04-23 |accessdate=2010-10-09 Abrams and Benson are scouting for a writer to pen the script, which will center on Kiedis's relationship with his father, Blackie Dammett , who sold many drugs and mingled with rock stars on the Sunset Strip, all while aspiring to get into show business. The show was scheduled to premiere in late 2010 at the very earliest.cite web|author=By |url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117995684.html? categoryid=14& cs=1 |title=Kiedis' rock story heading to HBO - Entertainment News, TV News, Media |publisher=Variety |date=2008-11-11 |accessdate=2010-07-04 According to a post by Blackie on his Facebook page, the John Sayles script for the pilot episode was turned over to HBO on May 10, 2010.
On October 14, 2011 it was announced that HBO was no longer interested in the series and that FX (TV channel)|FX has picked up the rights to air the series. John Sayles, who wrote a script for the HBO pilot is no longer involved in the project. Entourage (TV series)|Entourage producers, Esther Dawson and Mike Chester will still produce the series and Kiedis will also co-produce the series along with Bram Sheldon. It is unknown if the series will still follow the releationship between Kiedis and his father Blackie or if the entire autobiography will be the focus of the series. http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Anthony-Kiedis-Scar-Tissue-Moves-From-HBO-FX-36054.html
Personal life
He had been a vegetarian since the 1980s.cite web|url= http://www.ivu.org/people/music/index.html |title=International Vegetarian Union - Famous Vegetarians - Musicians - Rock, Pop and Classics |publisher=Ivu.org |date= |accessdate=2010-10-09cite web|url= http://www.hollywood.com/news/Anthony_Kiedis_and_Leona_Lewis_Voted_Sexiest_Vegetarians/5258475 |title=Anthony Kiedis and Leona Lewis Voted Sexiest Vegetarians |publisher=Hollywood.com |date=2008-06-19 |accessdate=2010-10-09 He is now vegan since 2008, telling PETA "Soon after I went vegan, I saw some Earthlings (documentary)|documentary footage of what happens in the factory farming of cows... It sealed the deal."cite web|url= http://www.happycow.net/famous/anthony_kiedis/ |title=Anthony Kiedis is a vegan - Famous Vegetarians - Vegan Celebrities - by HappyCow |publisher=Happycow.net |date= |accessdate=2010-07-04 Kiedis regularly practices Vipassana meditation and is a follower of Kabbalah , but says "I don't go for sects and denominations."cite web|url= http://altern-rock.com/bands/rhcp-anthony-kiedis-2 |title=Alternative rock music - RHCP - Anthony Kiedis |publisher=Altern-rock.com |date=2007-06-04 |accessdate=2010-10-09
Kiedis is a longtime Los Angeles Lakers fan; along with friend and bassist Flea, and former Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante. He has had courtside seats for years.cite web|url= http://www.blender.com/guide/68261/33-things-you-should-know-about-133-red-hot-chili-peppers.html |title=33 Things You Should Know About The Red Hot Chili Peppers |publisher=Blender |date=2006-05-22 |accessdate=2010-07-04cite web|url= http://www.hoopsworld.com/Blogs/CourtsideBlog.asp? GAME_ID=28182 |title=NBA Courtside Blog |publisher=Hoopsworld.com |date= |accessdate=2010-07-04
He is also a fan and collector of Robert Williams (artist)|Robert Williams . He bought Mirror Image with Varicose Eyeballs , which also appeared in the art show Helter Skelter at the Los Angeles MOCA in 1992 and referred to him in the song "Mellowship Slinky in B-Major".cite web|author=& ldquo;& rdquo; |url= http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=QqmwXbxZ2-k& feature=channel_page |title=Robt. Williams Lecture Oakland Museum of CA 2008 Pt.06 |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2010-07-04
Selected discography
Main|Red Hot Chili Peppers discography ;Red Hot Chili Peppers
Official website| http://www.redhotchilipeppers.com
IMDb name|0452347
Red Hot Chili Peppers Persondata | NAME =Kiedis, Anthony | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =1962-11-01 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Grand Rapids, Michigan , United States|U.S. | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Kiedis, Anthony Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:People from Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:American people of Lithuanian descent Category:American male singers Category:American rock singers Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American punk rock singers Category:American vegans Category:Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) alumni Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Musicians from Michigan Category:People self-identifying as substance abusers Category:People from Hollywood Category:Red Hot Chili Peppers members Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni
