Anthony Kiedis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Kiedis
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Kiedis performing in 2022
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| Born | November 1, 1962 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
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| Years active | 1983–present |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Anthony Kiedis (/ˈkiːdɪs/ KEE-dis; born November 1, 1962) is an American musician. He is best known as the lead singer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Kiedis and his bandmates were honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
Anthony spent his early years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his mother. Just before his twelfth birthday, he moved to Hollywood to live with his father. While attending Fairfax High School, Kiedis became good friends with fellow students Flea and Hillel Slovak. They were members of a band called Anthym. After high school, Kiedis took some classes at UCLA but later left.
Kiedis was offered a chance to open for a local band. He asked Flea, Slovak, and drummer Jack Irons to join him. They performed under the name Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. The band grew and eventually became the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony has recorded thirteen studio albums with the band.
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Anthony Kiedis was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on November 1, 1962. His parents were Margaret "Peggy" Nobel and actor John Michael Kiedis, known as Blackie Dammett. His father's family came from Lithuania in the early 1900s. In 1966, when Anthony was three, his parents divorced. He was raised by his mother in Grand Rapids.
Each summer, Anthony visited his father in Hollywood, California. They spent two weeks together and became very close. Kiedis looked up to his father. He said those trips were "the happiest, most carefree" times. In 1974, at age 12, Anthony moved to Hollywood to live with his father full-time.
Through his father, Anthony got his first acting role. He used the stage name Cole Dammett. He appeared as Sylvester Stallone's character's son in the 1978 movie, F.I.S.T. He also had two other small acting jobs.
Kiedis went to Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. He found it hard to make friends at first. But he met his future bandmate Flea there. They had a small disagreement but then became best friends. They bonded while sitting next to each other in driver's education class. Kiedis remembered, "We were drawn to each other by the forces of mischief and love." He added that it became "the longest-lasting friendship of my life." Kiedis introduced Flea to rock music, especially punk rock.
At age 15, Kiedis met another future bandmate, Hillel Slovak. He saw Slovak perform with his band Anthym. Kiedis later described Slovak as "absolutely different" and someone who "understood a lot about music." Kiedis did well in school, often getting straight-A grades. He graduated with honors in June 1980. That August, he enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles to study writing.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers Journey
Starting the Band: 1983–1984
Kiedis, Slovak, and Flea started making their own music. They were inspired by a punk-funk band called Defunkt. The three formed a band with former Anthym drummer Jack Irons. They called themselves Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem. They had only one song, "Out in L.A." Kiedis decided to rap over the music.
A friend invited the band to perform at The Rhythm Lounge. Slovak and Flea were unsure at first. They thought Kiedis didn't have enough singing experience. But they agreed to play. Kiedis later said he knew then that performing was "what I had been put on this earth to do."
After their first show, the bar owner asked them to come back. They needed to play two songs instead of one. After more shows and new songs, the band changed its name to Red Hot Chili Peppers. They played at local clubs and bars, growing their song list to ten.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers recorded a demo tape. They soon got a record deal with EMI. However, Irons and Slovak decided to leave. They wanted to focus on their other band, Anthym, which was renamed What Is This? Kiedis and Flea hired drummer Cliff Martinez and guitarist Jack Sherman.
Andy Gill produced their first album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, in 1984. Gill and Sherman often disagreed with Kiedis and Flea about the music. Sherman was fired after the tour. Slovak then returned to the band.
New Sounds and Challenges: 1985–1988
Funk musician George Clinton produced their second album, Freaky Styley. Slovak was back on guitar. The band and Clinton worked well together. Freaky Styley was released in August 1985. It sold about 75,000 copies.
The band hired Michael Beinhorn for their next album. What Is This? broke up, and Irons returned to the Chili Peppers in mid-1986.
In 1988, after a tour, Slovak sadly passed away. Kiedis was very upset and went to Mexico. Irons also left the band, saying he didn't want to be part of something that caused a friend's death. Kiedis and Flea decided to keep making music. They wanted to continue what Slovak "helped build."
After Slovak's death, Kiedis and Flea took time to recover. They decided to keep the band going. Guitarist DeWayne McKnight and drummer D. H. Peligro joined. McKnight's style didn't fit the band. Peligro, a friend of John Frusciante, introduced Frusciante to Flea. Kiedis was impressed by Frusciante's guitar skills. McKnight was fired, and Frusciante joined. The band started writing new music. Peligro was fired in November. Soon after, Chad Smith joined as the new drummer.
Big Hits and Changes: 1989–1993
The Chili Peppers recorded their fourth album, Mother's Milk, in early 1989. The album received mixed reviews but gained more attention. It reached number fifty-two on the Billboard 200 chart.
For their next album, Blood Sugar ... Magik, the band wanted to record in a special place. Producer Rick Rubin suggested the mansion where magician Harry Houdini once lived. The band agreed to stay there during recording. Chad Smith, however, believed the house was haunted and did not stay.
Rubin found one of Kiedis's poems. It became the lyrics for "Under the Bridge". Kiedis was unsure about the song. He thought the lyrics were "too soft" for the band's style. But after singing it to Frusciante, they started working on the song. It later became a huge hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Blood Sugar ... Magik was released on September 24, 1991. It received great reviews. The album reached number three on the Billboard 200. It sold over seven million copies in the U.S. The tour for the album was also very popular. Bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam toured with them.
The huge attention made Frusciante uncomfortable. He suddenly left the band during the Japanese part of the tour. The band hired guitarist Arik Marshall to finish the tour. The band also performed "Give It Away" at the Grammy's.
New Guitarist and Album: 1994–1997
For months, little new music was written. Chad Smith said Kiedis was having trouble writing songs, but Kiedis disagreed. The band finished recording their sixth album, One Hot Minute, with new guitarist Dave Navarro. It was released in September 1995. The album received mixed reviews. It was different from the band's usual funk-punk sound. The tour for the album also had mixed results. Chad Smith broke his arm, delaying the U.S. tour. Kiedis later broke his arm in a motorcycle accident. The tour ended early due to a typhoon. The band called 1997 "The Year of Nothing."
Return of a Friend and More Success: 1998–2010
The band reunited in 1998 to write their seventh album. Navarro was fired. Flea told Kiedis that the band could only continue if Frusciante returned. Flea visited Frusciante and invited him back. Frusciante happily accepted. Within a week, the four reunited Red Hot Chili Peppers played together again.
The band released Californication on June 8, 1999. After the album's release, the band started a world tour. They also closed Woodstock '99.
Writing for By the Way began in Spring 2001. Kiedis said, "We started finding some magic and some music." Frusciante and Kiedis worked together for days. They discussed guitar parts and shared lyrics. Kiedis felt that writing By the Way was "a whole different experience." The album marked a change in the band's sound.
The album Stadium Arcadium was recorded at "The Mansion." This was the same place where Blood Sugar ... Magik was recorded. Kiedis noted that during recording, "everybody was in a good mood." He said there was "very little tension" and everyone felt comfortable sharing ideas. The album was released on May 9, 2006.
After a very successful world tour, the band took a year-long break in 2008. Kiedis explained they were "emotionally and mentally zapped." During this break, Frusciante left the band in July 2009. Josh Klinghoffer, who had toured with the Chili Peppers, was hired as his replacement.
Hall of Fame and New Albums: 2011–Present
On August 26, 2011, the Red Hot Chili Peppers released their tenth album, I'm with You. On December 7, 2011, the band was named 2012 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Kiedis said it was very emotional. He first told his father, who cried.
On January 11, 2012, the Chili Peppers had to delay their U.S. tour. Kiedis had foot injuries. The band resumed their tour on March 29, 2012. The tour ended in April 2013. They continued touring into mid-2014. This included a halftime performance with Bruno Mars at the Super Bowl in February 2014.
In November 2014, Kiedis promoted the Chili Peppers book, Fandemonium. He did book signings and appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Kiedis received the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement. This was presented at the UCLA Spring Sing on May 16, 2015. His mother, Peggy Noble Idema, was very proud. After his speech, Kiedis and Josh Klinghoffer performed acoustic songs.
On May 14, 2016, the band had to cancel a show. Kiedis was taken to the hospital. It was confirmed he had an intestinal illness. He was expected to recover fully. The band had to postpone another show but rescheduled it.
Kiedis and the Chili Peppers returned to the stage on May 22, 2016. Kiedis said his illness was caused by "inflammation in my guts." This was made worse by a stomach virus and old scar tissue.
During a break from filming The Late Late Show with James Corden in June 2016, Kiedis helped a baby. A woman came out of her house, saying her baby couldn't breathe. Kiedis performed emergency CPR on the baby. He said, "bubbles came out of the mouth, the eyes rolled back into place." The baby was fine when the ambulance arrived.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their eleventh studio album, The Getaway, on June 17, 2016.
In December 2019, the Red Hot Chili Peppers announced that John Frusciante would return. He replaced Josh Klinghoffer. By May 2021, the band had almost finished their twelfth album, Unlimited Love. On October 7, 2021, they announced their Global Stadium Tour. This tour included their first-ever headlining stadium shows in the U.S. Unlimited Love was released on April 1, 2022.
On December 20, 2021, Kiedis performed at a benefit concert in Los Angeles. He covered "Walk on the Wild Side" with Dave Navarro. This was their first performance together in 24 years.
On October 14, 2022, The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their thirteenth studio album, Return of the Dream Canteen.
Other Activities
Using the stage name Cole Dammett, Kiedis had small acting roles as a teenager. His early roles included F.I.S.T. and an ABC Afterschool Special. In the 1990s, Kiedis played a surfer named Tone in the 1991 movie Point Break. In The Chase (1994), Flea and Kiedis played characters who chase the main character.
Kiedis also organized the New American Music Union. This was a two-day music festival in August 2008. He brought together musicians like Bob Dylan and The Raconteurs. (Kiedis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers did not perform.)
In 2011, Kiedis and his son Everly appeared in the documentary, Bob and the Monster. This film is about musician Bob Forrest. On May 11, 2011, Anthony donated an MTV European Music Award. This helped raise money for relief efforts in Japan after an earthquake and tsunami.
Kiedis and Flea were executive producers for the 2014 film Low Down. This movie is based on the life of jazz pianist Joe Albany.
In June 2015, Kiedis and his son Everly Bear became "new faces" for Marc Jacobs' Fall 2015 ad campaign.
In February 2016, the Chili Peppers performed at a fundraiser for Bernie Sanders.
On January 11, 2019, Kiedis co-wrote an article for Rolling Stone. He discussed the costs of global climate conditions. Kiedis said that local governments must lead the way. Three days later, Kiedis and the Chili Peppers performed at a benefit concert. This was for victims of the Woolsey Fire in California. The fires destroyed many homes and forced Kiedis and his band members to leave their homes. The recording of their twelfth album was also paused due to the fires.
On April 5, 2023, it was announced that Kiedis, Bob Forrest, and Ron Burkle formed a production company. Their first project is an animated series for TBS called Hellicious. Kiedis will voice a main character and be an executive producer.
On January 17, 2024, Universal Pictures announced a movie based on Kiedis's autobiography, Scar Tissue. Kiedis will produce the film. Filming is set to begin in Atlanta in early 2025.
Musical Style and Influences
Anthony Kiedis gets ideas for his lyrics and melodies from many places. His first musical memory was hearing Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" at age eleven. He said, "It moved me so much." In high school, he was influenced by the rap-style vocals of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's "The Message" and Prince's "Dirty Mind".
Kiedis writes most of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' lyrics. Since the 1989 Mother's Milk album, John Frusciante and Flea have written almost all the music. Kiedis then adds lyrics and melodies he hears during their jams. In 2006, Kiedis said, "Somehow I find songs... in the bigness of what they're doing." His lyrical style has changed over the years. As his music tastes grew, he wrote about more topics.
His early singing style with the band was mostly rapping. This made him an influence on the rap rock movement. On Mother's Milk (1989), Kiedis wrote more melodic songs. The first song where Kiedis used his new melodic style was "Knock Me Down". John Frusciante helped shape this melody. On Blood Sugar ... Magik in 1991, Kiedis still rapped. But he also started singing in songs like "Under the Bridge" and "Breaking the Girl". Over the years, Kiedis preferred singing more than rapping. He felt he could fully control his voice while singing on the 1999 album Californication.
Scar Tissue Book
On October 6, 2004, Kiedis published his life story, Scar Tissue. He wrote it with author Larry Sloman. The book became a worldwide bestseller.
Family and Interests
Kiedis's father, Blackie Dammett, was an actor. He appeared in over 50 movies and TV shows. Dammett also ran the band's fan club for many years. Dammett's autobiography, Lords of the Sunset Strip, was released in 2013. Kiedis also has a younger half-brother through his father. Kiedis dedicated the song "Soul to Squeeze" to his father in 2017. His father passed away on May 12, 2021.
Kiedis had a relationship with Heather Christie from 2004 to 2008. They had a child born on October 2, 2007.
Kiedis is a big fan of Los Angeles sports teams. These include the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Los Angeles Rams.
Discography
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- The Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984)
- Freaky Styley (1985)
- The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (1987)
- Mother's Milk (1989)
- Blood Sugar ... Magik (1991)
- One Hot Minute (1995)
- Californication (1999)
- By the Way (2002)
- Stadium Arcadium (2006)
- I'm with You (2011)
- The Getaway (2016)
- Unlimited Love (2022)
- Return of the Dream Canteen (2022)
Filmography
- F.I.S.T. (1978) as Kevin Kovak (billed as Cole Dammett)
- ABC Afterschool Special (1978, Episode: "It's a Mile from Here to Glory") as Jimmy Plummer (billed as Cole Dammett)
- Jokes My Folks Never Told Me (1978) as Student (billed as Cole Dammett)
- Thrashin' (1986) as himself with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cliff Martinez, Hillel Slovak performing Blackeyed Blonde off their second LP, Freaky Styley
- Point Break (1991) as Tone
- The Chase (1994) as Will
- Hellicious (TBA) as Briggy Bundy (also serves as the show's executive producer)
See also
In Spanish: Anthony Kiedis para niños
