The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. For most of its career, the band has consisted of vocalist Anthony Kiedis, guitarist John Frusciante, bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary, and drummer Chad Smith. The band's varied musical style has fused traditional rock and funk with various elements of heavy metal, punk rock, and psychedelic rock.

In addition to Kiedis and Flea, the group originally featured guitarist Hillel Slovak and drummer Jack Irons. However, Slovak died of a heroin overdose in 1988, resulting in Irons resigning. Irons was replaced briefly by D. H. Peligro, former Dead Kennedys drummer, before the band found a permanent replacement in Chad Smith, while Slovak was replaced by up-and-coming guitarist Frusciante. This lineup recorded the band's fourth and fifth albums, 1989's Mother's Milk and 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik was a critical success and sold over twelve million copies. However, Frusciante grew increasingly uncomfortable with the band's success and left the band abruptly in 1992. Kiedis, Flea, and Smith employed Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction for their subsequent album, 1995's One Hot Minute. It failed, however, to match the critical acclaim of Blood Sugar Sex Magik and sold fewer than half the copies of its predecessor. Shortly afterwards, Navarro was fired from the band due to creative differences.

Frusciante, while absent from the band, developed a severe drug addiction and nearly died. In 1998, he completed rehabilitation and, at Flea's request, rejoined the band. The reunited foursome returned to the studio to record 1999's Californication, which went on to sell fifteen million units worldwide, becoming their most successful album to date. It was followed three years later with By the Way, which continued their success. In 2006, the group released the double album Stadium Arcadium. It was voted the second best album of 2006 by Rolling Stone magazine. It also won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album and was also nominated for the "Album of the Year" at the 2007 ceremony.