Within the week and, for the first time in six years, the reunited foursome jump-started the newly reunited Red Hot Chili Peppers.[74] Anthony Kiedis said of the situation:[75]
“ For me, that was the defining moment of what would become the next six years of our lives together. That was when I knew that this was the real deal, that the magic was about to happen again. Suddenly we could all hear, we could all listen, and instead of being caught up in our finite little balls of bullshit, we could all become players in that great universal orchestra again.[74] ”
Despite the band's elation, Frusciante was both mentally and physically torn. Frusciante had not played with the band since his departure. He had lost his guitars in a house fire from which he barely escaped,[67] he experienced a difficult time resuming his prior life. He had retained his talent, however, and new songs began to roll out. Frusciante's return restored a key component of the Chili Peppers' sound, as well as a healthy morale. He brought with him his deep devotion to music, which had an impact on the band's recording style during the album.[76] Frusciante has frequently stated that his work on Californication was his favorite.[76] On June 8, 1999, after over a year of production and meticulous practice, Californication was released as the band's seventh studio album. The album ultimately sold over 15 million copies and became the band's most successful recording to date.[77] Californication contained fewer rap-driven songs than its predecessors, instead integrating textured, consistent, and melodic guitar riffs, vocals and bass-lines.
Californication produced three more number one modern rock hits: "Scar Tissue", "Otherside" and "Californication". "Scar Tissue" won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. It was performed at the ceremony and included a brief jam with rapper Snoop Dogg. Other singles included "Around the World", "Road Trippin'", and "Parallel Universe", which broke the Top 40 modern rock charts without a separate release as a single. Californication gained positive critical acceptance in contrast to its less popular predecessor, One Hot Minute, and was a greater success worldwide.[79] While many critics credited the success of the album to Frusciante's return, they also noted that Kiedis' vocals had also greatly improved.[80]
In July 1999, as part of the band's two-year long international world tour in support of their new album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played at Woodstock 1999, which became infamous for the violence it resulted in.[81][82] Some 10 minutes before the show, they were asked by Jimi Hendrix's stepsister to play a cover of her brother's songs. After some hesitation, the band decided to play his classic "Fire", which they had covered on Mother's Milk. Coincidentally, about two thirds of the way into the band's set, the closing set of the three day concert, a small fire escalated into full-fledged vandalism and resulted in the intervention of riot control squads.[83][dead link] the disruption escalated into violence when several women who had been crowd surfing and moshing were raped and nearby property was looted and destroyed.[84][85][86][87] 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'."[85]
In September 2000, the Peppers were nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year, which they again lost; however they managed to win two awards for their Californication video and they performed the song as well. The Peppers were also honored with the MTV Video Vanguard Award which is given to musicians who have had a profound effect on MTV culture.
In 2001, the Chili Peppers released their first concert DVD, Off the Map. The DVD was directed by longtime friend Dick Rude, who had also produced music videos for "Catholic School Girls Rule" and "Universally Speaking". The footage was taken from two different concerts, but was amalgamated with transition and indistinguishable song conversions.
By the Way (2001–04)
The writing and formation of the band's next album, 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.[88] 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."[88] Frusciante and Kiedis would collaborate together for days straight, discussing and sharing guitar progressions and lyrics.[89] For Kiedis, "writing By the Way...was a whole different experience from Californication. John was back to himself and brimming with confidence."[88]
Prior to recording By the Way, the Chili Peppers decided that they would again have Rick Rubin produce the album.[90] Rubin had, in the past, granted the Chili Peppers creative freedom on their recording material; this was something they thought essential for the album to be unique, and could only occur with his return.[91] The recording process was tough for Flea who felt like an outsider in the band and that his role was being diminished due to a musical power struggle with Frusciante.[92] Flea wanted to create more funk-inspired songs, while Frusciante felt that the band had overused their funk side and wanted to create slower, more melodic songs.[92] Flea considered quitting the band after the album, but the two eventually worked out their problems.[93]
By The Way was released on July 9, 2002 and produced five hit singles; "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Can't Stop", "Dosed", and "Universally Speaking". The album was their most subdued album to date, focusing primarily on melodic ballads as opposed to their classic rap-driven funk. Frusciante also concentrated on a more layered texture on many of the songs, often adding keyboard parts that featured low in the mix, and also writing string arrangements for songs such as "Midnight" and "Minor Thing".[94] The album was followed by an eighteen month-long world tour.[95] The European leg of the By the Way tour produced the band's second full-length concert DVD, Live at Slane Castle, recorded at Slane Castle in Ireland on August 23, 2003. The band released their first full-length live album, Live in Hyde Park; recorded during their performances in Hyde Park, London. More than 258,000 fans paid over $17,100,000 for tickets over three nights, a 2004 record; the event ranked No.1 on Billboard's Top Concert Boxscores of 2004.
The Chili Peppers released two new songs, "Fortune Faded" and "Save the Population" for their Greatest Hits album released in November 2003.[96] According to Rolling Stone, the band recorded fifteen songs during the sessions that yielded "Fortune Faded" and "Save the Population", although it remains unclear what the other thirteen songs were (two may have been "Rolling Sly Stone" and "Leverage of Space", songs premiered during the European leg of their By the Way tour).[97] Frusciante mentioned in an interview with the BBC in 2004 that not all of the songs were completed or had vocals.
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