Festivals like Coachella are all about seeing the stars in action — whether they’re rocking out onstage or wandering below among the hoi polloi. Last night EW.com bumped into Anthony Kiedis, frontman for Red Hot Chili Peppers (Saturday night’s Coachella headliners), just as the newly reunited Jesus and Mary Chain’s set was beginning to wind down, and grabbed him for a quick chat.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What bands are you most excited about seeing this weekend?
ANTHONY KIEDIS: I want to see the Roots. I really want to see Willie Nelson. I heard him singing a song called “You Are My Flower,” by Maybelle Carter. I want to see Ratatat. I can’t pass up the opportunity to see Sonic Youth tonight — they’re just always good. And then I’m gonna peep Bjork.
What’s been the highlight of the first day so far for you?
I wanted to see the Arctic Monkeys, ’cause I never have and I heard their drummer was good. I showed up as they were ending, which is like a sinking feeling. And then, despite my lifelong bias against Jesus and Mary Chain — because I was on tour with them in Lollapalooza in 1992 or something, and I just didn’t get along with those guys back then. But I decided this morning, “I’m gonna open my mind, I’m gonna go see the Jesus and Mary Chain.” And they’re good!
As a true festival vet, what’s your take on the scene here tonight?
Well, I get excited about music. So my hope is that I come down here and somebody rocks my world.
Has that happened yet?
I’m still waiting. But I think Ratatat’s gonna get some in. They manage to bring a real emotional quality into electronic music that I feel in my heart.
Are the Chili Peppers working on any new music?
In our astral cells, we’re working on new music. But until our tour is finished, there’s not gonna be any real official [work] — because otherwise there would be pressure to write songs, but we couldn’t record them because we’re still touring. [Right now] it’s very raw and unofficial. We start all of our shows with these improvisational jams, and sometimes I’ll hear it and I’ll go, “There’s a song in there,” and I’ll take it with me and I know I’m gonna go work on that music. We always jam [in the studio], but this is different because this is live jamming, for an audience. Sometimes I hear some magical stuff.
Is there anyone you’d like to collaborate with who you haven’t yet?
I wouldn’t turn down some opportunities. Right now I’m very excited about M.I.A. I’ve heard a song [from her upcoming second album] — just perfect and beautiful. It’s the real deal. And the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are another one of my favorite bands. If Karen O called me up and said, “Let’s write a song,” I would be inclined to say yes.
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Did you ask the junkie why he used his superstar power to get Mike Patton’s band Mr Bungle kicked off of these festivals that he likes to go to so much?
Looks like Kiedis has a thang for the fiesty ladies–MIA and Karen O. Great choices.
Anyone else tired of RHCP? Or is it just me?
It’s just you. RHCP are one of the greatest rock bands ever and will continue to be for many more years…
No, Ron – not just you!! RHCP as overhyped as DMB (coming from someone who likes DMB).
dont compare them…
wow you people have no idea what your talking about.RHCP is one of the greatest rock bands in the world.The fact that you can’t see that and think the peppers are “overhyped” just shows how shallow you really are. The depth of rhcp’ music is just beyond your level of understanding.To collaborate punk with funk! You just don’t know what real music is.
Chloe, you probably weren’t even born when I first started listening to RHCP. I don’t know if they are overhyped or not. I simply said that I am tired of them. Stating that I don’t know what real music is when you know nothing about me or my musical tastes is about as arrogant and pretentious as one can get. Go back to your bong, will you?
I think that Anthony Kiedis is an amazing individual and regardless of the fact that he was a junkie, your arguments against him are weak. So he was a junkie, wrote amazing lyrics and is an unbelieve musician. His use of hard drugs is irrelevent.
respect to the man not to the critic
In this world there is a great demand for people to recognize a good thing. Rather than placing a limit upon how much attention something gets in comparison with other things, we should look at how much that something deserves commendment. RHCP have created innumerous songs, none of which I could ever come to criticize. Lyrically and musically they have developed, from their hearts a true reflection of something so deep. They may be more focussed on than many bands, but the attention they recieve is not over-hype, its a suitable recognition of the great music they create.
In this world there is a great demand for people to recognize a good thing. Rather than placing a limit upon how much attention something gets in comparison with other things, we should look at how much that something deserves commendment. RHCP have created innumerous songs, none of which I could ever come to criticize. Lyrically and musically they have developed, from their hearts a true reflection of something so deep. They may be more focussed on than many bands, but the attention they recieve is not over-hype, its a suitable recognition of the great music they create.
Hey, Anthony kiedis has been a junkie, but who hasn’t at that time? i really do believe there is a deeper side to most of his songs that most can’t understand. Even though that i have never talked to him i have a pretty good picture of how he really is and most people wouldn’t be able to see how much of a true person he has became to be.
Following the demise of the String Cheese Incident in July 2007, I needed to find a band for my personal top spot. Thankfully for me, the Red Hot Chili Peppers had been making amazing, imaginative, and technically inspiring music for the past couple of decades, had in 2006 issued their incredible 2 CD album, Stadium Arcadium, and appear to be geared to head into a future where changes are both inevitable and welcomed. While I can understand how others are tired of RHCP, I am a totally jazzed newby, fully-infatuated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
I love ANTHONY KIEDIS!