Guilty Pleasure: Red Hot Chili Peppers - One Hot Minute
Most bands can only dream of the success Blood Sugar Sex Magic brought the Red Hot Chili Peppers; however, sometimes massive popularity can tear bands apart. Case in point, The Red Hot Chili Peppers losing lead guitarist John Frusciante mid-tour while supporting Blood Sugar Sex Magic. Too much attention and frequent drug use led the disgruntled Frusciante to quit the band, leaving Flea, Anthony Kiedis, and Chad Smith worried about the future of RHCP. Years of touring, drug abuse, and four previous albums had finally brought Kiedis and Flea, the only original members of RHCP, to the musical glory they worked so hard to achieve.
However, Frusciante’s departure in 1992 left RHCP in limbo. They scrambled to complete their tour obligations with Arik Marshall, but when the tour ended, the remaining Peppers returned to California to search for yet another new guitarist. Heroin had broken the band up before when guitarist Hillel Slovak died in 1988, now yet another band mate was leaving due to the drug, albeit on his own terms. Saddened by Frusciante’s departure, RHCP began holding open auditions for a replacement, yet no worthy guitarists were found. With the recent breakup of Jane’s Addiction, Chad Smith suggested that Dave Navarro be called in for a jam session. Immediately the four musicians clicked and a decision was made to announce Navarro as Frusciante’s replacement.
One Hot Minute was recorded between June 1994 and June 1995. Immediately the album received mixed reviews and fans were separated. While BSSM sold nearly 7 million copies in the States alone, One Hot Minute failed to meet expectations peaking at #4 on the Billboard Chart. Many fans hated the follow up because it lacked the funk and sexual energy that made BSSM one of the greatest albums ever, which is true. Navarro’s guitar parts changed RHCP from a sexy funk band to an angry, depressed, metal-funk band. However, Navarro should not be the only one to blame for this transformation. Kiedis had slipped back into his heroin addiction during the One Hot Minute sessions; therefore, his lyrics on One Hot Minute dealt mostly with drug influenced aggression.
Tracks such as “Warped,” “Deep Kick,” and “One Big Mob” were not well received by fans for their depressing themes. While the musical compositions were found to be too aggressive, it was the music video to “Warped” which pushed RHCP’s fan base even further away. A kiss from Kiedis to Navarro disgusted most of RHCP’s male college fan base, One Hot Minute was doomed after that famous lip lock. Kiedis and Navarro were labelled as homosexuals by much of their male audience, yet their problems were deeper than their sexuality. Both addicted to heroin, the two began giving lackluster live performances; RHCP were being torn into pieces.
Fast forward to present day. Nowadays One Hot Minute is usually found in record stores amongst other $9.99 unwanted albums. For those RHCP fans who never bothered to listen to One Hot Minute because of ‘the kiss’ or Navarro’s presence, do yourself a favour and listen to this magnificent album front to back. By the Way was never judged for being too soft, so why should One Hot Minute be judged for being too heavy? Sure Navarro’s guitar is strikingly different than Frusciante’s, but Flea’s rip roaring bass funk is still there alongside Smith’s furious rhythm. For too long, One Hot Minute has been labeled by its popular singles: “Aeroplane” and “My Friends.”
People, the time has come to temporarily brush BSSM, Californication and Mother’s Milk aside , take up your One Hot Minute and listen to “Tearjerker,” “One Big Mob, ” “Coffee Shop,” and “Walkabout.” Contrary to popular belief this is a complete and amazing album, from the Kurt Cobain memoriam “Tearjerker” to the stellar bass, guitar, and drums on all of the aforementioned tracks. Not to mention the sickening funk screams of “Falling Into Grace,” a personal favourite. Although heroin took hold of Kiedis during this era, many of these tracks are still ripe with his signature lyrical content. Contrary to the critics and fans of the 90s, traditional RHCP themes of groovy funk, hypnotizing lyrics, and foot stomping drums are still evident.
Do not doubt the musical content of One Hot Minute, for it truly is one of the greatest albums produced in the 90s. Most RHCP fans have forgotten about it. Since the return of Frusciante RHCP have vaulted to the world’s musical elite with Californication, By the Way, and Stadium Arcadium. While those albums are all fantastic in their own right, One Hot Minute provides listeners with different themes and structures which are not found in any of those post-Navarro albums. Fear not RHCP fans, it is okay to listen to One Hot Minute now, you won’t be labeled a traitor (or a homosexual, for that matter). So search the deep dark corners of your iPod (or your CD collection), most of us still own One Hot Minute and don’t even know it.
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I own every single rhcp album including one hot minute which I only recentlyu listened too. My friends all told me whata horrendous album it was but My guess was they never heard anything off of it other the n Aeroplane and My Friends.
As stated before Cofee Shop is amazing both solos shine real well.
Tearjerker is probably my favorite soft song at all by the peppers outside of minor thing or i could have lied.
Anyways with songs like Cofee Shop, Deep Kick, and Warped rocking your socks off and songs like Aeroplane, Transcending, My Friends, Walkabout and Tearjerker who couldnt love this album?
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that those of you praising One Hot Minute are a tad younger than me
so speaking from a 33 year old man who grew up with a brother who grew up in the 70’s we had a lot of music floating around the ole house…the first band that connected the 2 of us was the Red Hots so I grew up on them from album one. I wonder if you started listening to the Peppers from the self-titles on if OHM would STILL be your favorite. Maybe..maybe not but thats what makes music fun…we get to disagree! I just thank God that the Navarro era came to an end and John came back better than ever…progression is necessary and if they wouldve gone straight back to BSSM I dont think Californication wouldve made such as impact.
And Nick…Im not so sure about that..what people dont seem to realize is that Anthony said they were to step away from everything Chili Peppers for one year..the last Peppers show was August 26th, 2007 so that year is almost up!
I read Scar Tissue last summer and was surprised how much of the band’s drama revolved around One Hot Minute. The stories behind Freaky Styley were intriguing, too. The idea of George Clinton being this mentor/father-esque figure to Kiedis was fascinating, and really gives character. I used to hate that album, Freaky Styley, but I love it now. (I read the book on the beach every day last summer, listening to each song or album as they talked about it… it was a great, surreal experience. Something I did with No One Here Gets Out Alive, too.)
As for One Hot Minute, I still think it registers as a Peppers album. “My Friends” and “Aeroplane” both feel like they could have been on BSSM, or even Californication actually. I never had a problem with it and actually, it was my favorite album of theirs growing up until Californication came around and changed things, mainly with songs “Parallel Universe” and the title track.
As for their weakest album, I’d go out on a limb and say Stadium Arcadium, too. It is a handful to get through and most of the steps back to funk (”Hump de Bump”) come off as forced or passive aggressive as to immediate and voracious previously. Though the album has some stellar songwriting, mainly in “Snow (Hey Oh)”, “Charlie”, “Hey”, and “Desecration Smile.”
Yeah, you can tell this is my top five favorite band. Haha.
too bad there isnt going to be a new RHCP album for a while. my guess is september or october of next year
Meet me at the coffee shop…we can dance like Iggy Pop…
My first Peppers album…then I worked backward. My parents always asked me why I kept saying stuff like “The stingrays must be bad this year.”
mm
Someone’s read “Scar Tissue.”
I couldn’t agree more man, this album is always overlooked. I like to think of the Chili Peppers’ albums as individual tracks in their ongoing universal collection of music. Each album is distinctive as if they were its own track…
Think about it:
1.Freaky Styley-raw
2.Uplift Mofo Party Plan-raw but becoming more musically sound
3.Mother’s Milk-experimenting with their sound and vocal range
4. Blood Sugar-funky, sexy rock and ballads
5. One Hot Minute-metal influenced depressed lyrics
6. Californication-mainstream sound, resurgence of the band
7.By the Way-Frusciante’s album, melodic and calmer
8. Stadium Arcadium(s)-mix of everything, ushering a new era
I think that this is an ongoing progression…can’t wait for the next album
Mike, Good comment. More level headed than your first. I like the idea of one hot minute being a Janes album. That would be sweet. Never thought of it that way. Have thought that way about 2 other albums both funny enough are HOLE albums. What if Live through this was a Nirvana Album. And what if Celebrity Skin was the Smashing Pumpkins Follow up to Adore?
I was just about to say that Bobby when I got booted from my network. I think that might be one of the reasons I hate that album. Navarro era almost was the end and that might be my bias. As far as Im concerned the Chili Peppers were never as musically synced as when Frusciante was the guitarist. For whatever reason he seems to bring out the best in every one of them. Hilel was great but that era was stuck in a rut until Mothers Milk…just listen to Good Time Boys..the guitar..I mean wow! I knew the Peppers were destines for greatness on those opening notes. Also, I agree with Michael. Californication was the album that changed everything. I am always torn when people ask me which album I prefer BSSM or Cali..I chose BSSM for the simple fact that it was THE album that defines my teenage years along with Pearl Jam Ten and the the Stone Roses.
One Hot Minute was the album I looked forward to most cause I was curious to see what would happen post-Frusciante and I felt that it was sub-par…even today…I took it out here at work and listened to it to give it another listen and still nothing…no fire…Frusciante has always been the fire. If you took One Hot Minute and had Perry singing would it be a Janes album?…thats what makes it NOT a Peppers album. Can you replace Anthony on any other Peppers album? the answer is NO. I would love for them to revisit some of that album with John and see if they could make something out of it…now THERE is an idea!
I can’t do a Album best of but I can do a top five song
5. Green Heaven
4. Minor Thing
3. Fight Like A Brave
2. Wet Sand
1. Suck My Kiss
Everyone has their own opinion about the Peppers, I believe Uplift Mofo Party Plan and Mother’s Milk to be their best work. I’m probably going to get lynched for saying this but I believe Stadium Arcadium is their worst album. Not saying that it is a bad album, its great but compared to Uplift Mofo Party Plan there is no comparison. This makes for great discussion, perhaps a top five?
1.Uplift Mofo Party Plan
2.Blood Sugar
3.Mother’s Milk
4.Californication
5.Tie-One Hot Minute/By the Way
I wouldn’t go as far as to say its terrible. But has anyone read the Keidis Biography? You get way more insite into this album. Keidis’ all was definitly not in it. And I remeber feeling that this album was very pushed. Meaning that when album sales were sluggish they just shoved it down throats through video and radio. The production I admit is phenominal but it is Rick Rubin. He actually wanted his name taken off this album BTW.
“One Hot Minute” had some awesome tunes aside from “Aeroplane.” Come on…”Coffee Shop?” That’s a ballsy tune!
And who can’t forget “Pea”? They still perform it live!
BSSM is great, but I like how “One Hot Minute” took the band in a new direction, even if all the trades didn’t work out.
Good article Blaine!
See, I disagree. I feel BSSM is a dated album in comparison to their later work. I would go so far as to say the Pepper’s best album is Californication, lyrically and musically. BSSM is just too tongue in cheek to be considered their finest album, at least for me.
I still love it. I also think One Hot Minute is a great album, too. “Coffee Shop”, “Warped”, and “Aeroplane” alone are some of the band’s wildest songs.
Why yes I do. EVERYTHING John Frusciante played on
Compare the Navarro era with even a NOTE of Frusciantes and you can see it is so inferior. BSSM is the absolute benchmark
Terrible album? Mike, just out of curiousity do you have a favourite RHCP album?
I’m glad our readers actually read the articles. ;p
terrible album…EVERY chili peppers fan should boycott the Dave Navarro era
Aeroplane! what a great song.
Thanks for writing this article. Whenever I’m discussing the Chili Peppers with my friends I always get shot down when I bring up One Hot Minute. It’s truly one of the most under-appriciated albums from the 90’s in my view.