In the music world, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were nearly insignificant until 1991. They were a funk band that was too stoned and too naked for anyone to really pay serious attention to. The band experienced some small success with the release of Mother’s Milk, but no one could have guessed what their next album would do for them, or for us.
The band’s fifth album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik finally introduced sounds that turned heads and later became signature to the Chili-Pepper-sound. They kept their funk vibe as a base while they evolved to write catchy, mainstream songs without selling out. They were now even singing their songs, as opposed to slurring spoken poetry into the mic- something Kiedis was a bit too comfortable with. Blood Sugar Sex Magic sounded like it came from an experienced rock band, and the album paved the way for many other rock artists of this era. “Their success allowed a fomenting alternasphere of bands who didn’t adhere to existing mainstream norms to rise up: Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden…,” said PITCHFORK.
In Anthony Kiedis’ autobiography “Scar Tissue,” he talks about the struggles he encountered through the making of this album, from being a drug addict himself to loosing the band’s ex-guitar player Hillel Slovak to drugs. Emotions were high, but utilized to create something different. New guitar player John Frusciante also had a lot to do with the band's change in sound and the success of Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Fruciante clicked with the band like no guitarist had yet, and his and Kiedis’ writing style was immediately successful.
“Under the Bridge” was a single on this album that no one saw coming. This was a totally different sound for the Chili Peppers, but ended up helping them appeal to a wider audience, who eventually learned to love their funk-rock side. Kiedis explains in his book that at this point in his life, he would often reminisce on his shooting up drugs under the bridge with Hillel. Even at his lowest points, Kiedis found he always had the company and the comfort of the city of Los Angeles. The song is mellow, emotional, and a much more personal way of writing that Kiedis wasn’t so used to. Thanks to the help of Fruciante’s friendly encouragement and catchy guitar hooks, this song took the Chili Peppers and Blood Sugar Sex Magik to a new level.
The album opens with “The Power of Equality,” which kicks off with a hushed count off into a harsh sounding lead guitar and cymbal crash, pulled together by Flee who adds in a funky base line, as he usually does. Kiedis’ lyrics attack racism and inequality in the world- a strong way to start off a big album for this, at that point, not extremely well-known group.
Songs like “Funky Monks” and “Sir Psycho Sexy,” were other funk hits the album needed to translate to their old fans and assure everyone that the Chili’s were still masters of Funk. “Give It Away” and “Suck My Kiss” had the powerful rock push that turned on the more alternative fans. These songs are still viewed to Chili Peppers’ fans as turning-point-songs, where the band seemed to take a particular interest in rock n’ roll. They hit the nail on the head, as they entered- and led- the era of 90s rock.
The band continued to show fans their experimental and expansive repertoire, from “Apache Rose Peacock,” unofficially dedicated to those who listen to the Chili Peppers interested in hearing what makes them hard, to “They’re Red Hot,” a classic Robert Johnson cover.
This album will go down in history not only as a RHCP-fan-favorite, but as a 90s staple.