Red Hot Chili Peppers 1983 Tour

The Red Hot Chili Peppers 1983 Tour was the first-ever concert tour by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Originally formed as a joke band called "Tony Flow And The Miraculously Majestic Masters Of Mayhem" by bassist Flea, guitarist, Hillel Slovak and drummer, Jack Irons, all friends from high school. They asked fellow high school friend, Anthony Kiedis to join them onstage for their first-ever show at the Hollywood, California venue known as The Rhythm Lounge. Kiedis had previously been a MC to introduce his friend's former bands. However, this time Kiedis was asked to sing. With one song, a made-up rap Kiedis created called "Out In L.A.", the band took to the stage as an opening act for Neighbor's Voices. The club owner was so impressed by their performance he told them to return the following week with another song. The band quickly wrote "Get Up and Jump" and played it at that second show. In early March 1983 the band made the name change to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band first made a name for themselves on their local club scene when they played the famous Kit Kat Club by doing their now famous socks on cocks routine (this would become a trademark for the band and something they would do on occasion for many years). After this performance, Lindy Goetz decided to be their manager, a role he would hold until 1999. The 1983 tour consisted of shows mostly in the band's homestate of California except for one show in Nevada. A 10-song demo tape was recorded with Spit Stix, drummer for the punk band Fear, which Flea was briefly with.

Following the brief tour, the band was signed to record label EMI in late 1983 although two weeks earlier Slovak and Irons other band, What Is This? was also signed to a record deal with MCA Records. Slovak and Irons decided to split from the Chili Peppers, a band the duo still considered only a side project. Slovak was replaced by Jack Sherman while Irons was replaced by Cliff Martinez.

Tour dates

Songs performed

Originals

Cover songs

Tour overview

"Nevermind" and "Sex Rap" both made their live debuts on this tour, having been recorded for the band's 1983 demo tape. They would not be recorded for the band's first album, however, and instead be released the band's second album, 1985's Freaky Styley. The cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic, "Fire" would go on to be a live staple in the band's setlists on almost every tour and would eventually be recorded in 1985 and first released on the 1987 "Fight Like A Brave" single along with a remixed version that appeared on The Abbey Road E.P. and Mother's Milk. "Dum Chuck A Willie" was released on a CD which Hillel Slovak's brother James Slovak gave away with purchases from his now defunct website CrushGroove. This version was a demo from his own copy of the band's demo tape.

This tour marked the last time "Dum Chuck A Willie" and "Flea Fly" were performed live, although the band would spontaneously sing them (as well as the unreleased song "Bone" and "Stranded") in interviews well until the early 90s.

Tour bands

Bands that the Chili Peppers opened for, were supported by or performed with.

• Bad Brains
• The BEAT-EE-O's
• Blood on the Saddle
• Carmaig DeForrest
• Circle Jerks
• Citizen Smith
• D.J. Craig Lee
• Fear
• Fishbone
• Green On Red
• Jes Grew
• Minutemen
• Necropolis Of Love
• Neighbor's Voices
• Oingo Boingo
• Psychobud
• Roid Rogers and the Whirling Butt Cherries
• Screaming Sirens
• Social Distortion
• Tex and the Horseheads
• Tupelo Chain Sex
• Psychobud
• Necropolis Of Love
• Neighbor's Voices
• Roid Rogers and the Whirling Butt Cherries
• Screaming Sirens
• Social Distortion
• Tex and the Horseheads
• Tupelo Chain Sex

Personnel

• Flea - bass, backing vocals
• Jack Irons - drums
• Anthony Kiedis - lead vocals
• Hillel Slovak - guitar, backing vocals

External links

• Red Hot Chili Peppers website
• The Side: Red Hot Chili Peppers Touring History

References