"The Red Hot Chili Peppers" is the debut studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on August 10, 1984, on EMI Records. The album was produced by Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill and was not commercially successful upon its release but has since received retrospective acclaim.
The original line-up, consisting of Anthony Kiedis, Flea, Hillel Slovak, and Jack Irons, was only together for the band's initial demo tape. When it came time to record the album, Slovak and Irons chose to leave the band to work on their side project, What Is This? due to its signing with MCA Records. Instead, the band recruited drummer Cliff Martinez and guitarist Jack Sherman to complete the record.
"The Red Hot Chili Peppers" marked the start of a love-hate relationship between Kiedis and Sherman: the latter's time in the band would be short due to creative and personal disagreements. Sherman co-wrote much of the material, including the band's second album, "Freaky Styley."
The album is known for its hybrid mix of funk and punk rock, along with doses of reggae and heavy metal. The lyrics are an insight into the experiences and feelings of frontman Kiedis. Musically, the rhythm section of Flea and Martinez greatly contributed to the band's sound, heavily influenced by funk and rock.
While the album did not set the charts alight, it laid the foundation for the band's future success. It established their distinctive style, fusing funk and punk with a raw energy, which would become the band's signature sound in later years.
