Red Hot Chili Peppers

by The Red Hot Chili Peppers

  Kate Calway, 17 Australia (Right)

  IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS TO PUSH THROUGH THE SWEAT AND DEHYDRATION TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CROWD. STANDING AGAINST THE BARRIER, FRONT AND CENTER, LISTENING TO YOUR FAVORITE BAND HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EUPHORIC EXPERIENCES ANYONE CAN ENDURE AND IN THIS CASE THERE WERE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO SHARE IT WITH.

  From Josh to Luna in Berlin

  “Luna.

  No one writes letters anymore! I’m gonna get back into doing it. So you are my first! I’m in a hotel in Madrid, Spain. Last show of this leg tonight. It seems like ages ago we met in Dublin. Time is a tricky little thing! I want to thank you for making the journey to Ireland to see us play. I used to do that a lot. It’s wonderful to see someone so moved by music that they packed a bag, got on a plane, and covered many miles to enjoy it somewhere far from home. Thank you also for the lovely note. It’s an honor to play in this band and I’m happy to be able to make people smile just by doing what I love to do…

  Lots of love…

  J”

  Ben Kaley, 26 Indianapolis

  I HEARD “SCAR TISSUE” AT 11 YEARS OLD ON THE RADIO. IT WAS THE SUMMER OF ‘99. I HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF RHCP AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT SONG AND THAT ALBUM. IT WAS THE RIGHT SONG ON THE RIGHT DAY THAT AFFECTED THE REST OF MY LIFE.

  ONE CRAZY STORY IS HOW THE SONG “OTHERSIDE” SAVED MY LIFE. I WAS LISTENING TO THE ALBUM CALIFORNICATION AND “OTHERSIDE” WAS PLAYING. I HAD HEARD THE SONG A THOUSAND TIMES BEFORE BUT I STAYED AND LISTENED TO THE SONG END BEFORE I LEFT TO GO TO THE GAS STATION. ON MY WALK THERE A CAR ACCIDENT TOOK PLACE RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE I WAS STANDING. LESS THAN TWO FEET IN FRONT OF ME A CAR SMASHED THROUGH THE BRICK WALL NEXT TO THE SIDEWALK. I GOT SPRAYED WITH BROKEN BRICK AND GLASS. IF I HAD LEFT WHEN I WAS READY INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE END OF THE SONG I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BETWEEN THE CAR AND THE BRICK WALL. LITTLE DECISIONS HAVE BIG CONSEQUENCES.

  Hala Tufail, 24 New Orleans

  I HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS AT THE VOODOO FESTIVAL IN 2006. IT WAS MY FIRST TIME EVER SEEING THE BAND LIVE. IT WAS THE MOST ELECTRIC AND SURREAL EXPERIENCE. THE BROTHERHOOD AND ENERGY BETWEEN THE MEN OF THIS BAND IS AMAZING. WHEN THEY PLAYED “APACHE ROSE PEACOCK” I GOT CHILLS. FROM THE CROWD-SURFING TO SINGING ALONG WITH THE BAND, IT WAS MORE AMAZING THAN I COULD HAVE EVER EXPECTED.

  IN 2005 MY FAMILY HAD TO MOVE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO TEXAS DUE TO HURRICANE KATRINA COMPLETELY RUINING OUR HOME AND THE WHOLE CITY. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DEVASTATING THINGS I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED, BUT I’M ACTUALLY THANKFUL FOR IT. THESE EXPERIENCES LED ME TO WHERE AND WHO I AM TODAY. I LEARNED TO NEVER TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED AND I’M ENJOYING LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND FOCUS ALL MY ENERGY ON MAKING POSITIVE THINGS HAPPEN.

  I WILL ALWAYS BE THANKFUL TO THIS BAND. THEY HAVE MADE SUCH A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE. THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ARE ONE OF A KIND, AND NO OTHER PERSON OR BAND COULD EVER COME CLOSE TO THEM.

  Amanda Rose Halkias, 22 New Jersey

  GROWING UP LISTENING TO ROCK FROM AN EARLY AGE I WAS ALWAYS ATTRACTED TO THE RHCP SOUND IN A MAGNETIC WAY. IT MADE ME FEEL EVERYTHING; SADNESS, TRIUMPH, HEARTBREAK, RELIEF, EXCITEMENT, AND MOSTLY EXTREME HAPPINESS. THERE WERE MOMENTS WHEN I THOUGHT NOTHING IN MY LIFE MADE SENSE WITHOUT THEIR MUSIC AND I STILL BELIEVE IT TO BE TRUE. (IT DOESN’T HURT THAT ANTHONY IS THE SEXIEST MAN EVER.) BUT BEST OF ALL, THE CHILI PEPPERS CONNECTED ME TO ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS OF ALL TIME.

  IN HIGH SCHOOL I MET ALYSON CERBORNE, THE CRAZIEST CHILI PEPPERS FAN I’VE EVER KNOWN AND WE INSTANTLY CONNECTED, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF OUR LOVE FOR MUSIC AND ALL THINGS RHCP. WE’VE BEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SEE THEM LIGHT UP THE STAGE AT THE BONAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL AND EVEN DROVE TO CLEVELAND FROM NORTH JERSEY LAST YEAR WHEN THEY WERE INDUCTED IN TO THE HALL OF FAME. THAT NIGHT WE SPENT THE DURATION OF THE INSANELY UNFORGETTABLE CONCERT INSIDE THE SOUND BOX ON THE BANDS EQUIPMENT TRUNKS JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND SINGING ALONG TO EVERY FUNKY, AMAZING SONG AFTER ANOTHER. ALONG WITH THE SIGNS I HAVE PAINTED OF ANTHONY AND FLEA, I HAVE EVERY ONE OF THE PEPPERS ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE COVERS ON MY BEDROOM WALL BESIDE A FRAMED COPY OF MY FAVORITE VINYL, “BY THE WAY.” MY FAVORITE LYRICS ARE FROM “CAN’T STOP”: “LIVE NOT A LIFE OF IMITATION.” AND FROM “CALIFORNICATION”: “DESTRUCTION LEADS TO A VERY ROUGH ROAD BUT IT ALSO BREEDS CREATION.” I HOPE ONE DAY I CAN MEET ANTHONY AND FLEA AND TELL THEM HOW MUCH THEIR MUSIC AND INSPIRATION HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE.

  Croatian Fan Club

  Andrea Franco, 23 Italy (Right)

  I LOVE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR EXISTING, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND FOR THE MUSIC YOU GAVE US. THANKS ANTHONY, THE PROPHET, AND THE WHOLE BAND!

  Ukrainian Fan Club

  Wladimir Klitschko, 38 Kazakhstan and Ukraine

  THE MUSIC OF THE RHCP—THE SONG “CAN’T STOP”—HELPED SHAPE MY BOXING CAREER AND MY LIFE. FOR THAT I SAY “THANK YOU” TO THE BAND. YOUR MUSIC CONTINUES TO INSPIRE. GREATEST BAND EVER. CHEERS FROM A TRAINING CAMP IN AUSTRIA.

  Daniel Shields, 22 South Africa

  WHENEVER I GET INTO SOMETHING I DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE BEST. I BELIEVE THAT’S WHY I CARE SO MUCH FOR THE RHCP. THEY EXEMPLIFY TRUE MUSICIANSHIP, MUSIC FOR THE SAKE OF MUSIC AND NOT FOR FAME AND MONEY—MAKING MUSIC BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT.

  BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK IS MY FAVORITE RECORD. IT WILL NEVER GET OLD. IT’S EASILY THE BEST FUNK ROCK ALBUM EVER MADE.

  Julia De La Cruz, 29 Spain (148 RHCP Shows)

  I HAVE FOLLOWED THE BAND AROUND THE WORLD AND I HAVE MANY MEMORIES OF EACH OF THE SHOWS. THE LAST TOUR WAS VERY SPECIAL FOR ME. I MET THE BAND BACKSTAGE IN MADRID. IT WILL ALWAYS BE THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE. I REMEMBER WHEN I WENT TO SEATTLE AND I BROUGHT A SIGN THAT SAID “PLEASE PLAY THE SONG ‘HEY.’” ANTHONY TOLD ME THEY WOULD SING IT IN VANCOUVER. TO LISTEN TO THAT SONG IN CONCERT WAS GREAT, ALTHOUGH I SPENT THE WHOLE SONG CRYING BECAUSE OF THE EMOTIONS I FELT.

  I ALSO REMEMBER IN VANCOUVER, I WAS WALKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE TOUR BUS CAME BY. IT PULLED OVER AND I WAS INVITED TO BOARD THE BUS. I DIDN’T REALLY BELIEVE IT WAS HAPPENING. BUT ANTHONY AND JOSH HAD SEEN ME AND TOLD THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER AND PICK ME UP.

  I LOVE GOING TO CONCERTS. I’M THE HAPPIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD WHEN I SEE THEM ON STAGE. IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT TO MAKE AS MANY TRIPS AS I DO. IN MY DAILY LIFE I DEPRIVE MYSELF OF MANY THINGS TO ATTEND THEIR SHOWS, BUT FOR ME, TO SEE THEM PERFORM AND LISTEN TO MY FAVORITE SONGS—IT’S THE BEST THING EVER.

  Mexican Fan Club

  Andres “Ranafonk” Medina, 37 Argentina (Left) Ra Diaz, 30 Chile (Right)

  ANDRES— I SAW A RHCP MUSIC VIDEO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1990. IT WAS “TASTE THE PAIN.” I HAD NEVER BEFORE SEEN A BAND WITH THAT STYLE AND VIBE, AND THAT MADE ME CONNECT WITH THEM IN A VERY STRONG AND PARTICULAR WAY. SINCE THEN I STARTED LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THEM. IN ARGENTINA NO ONE KNEW MUCH ABOUT THE RHCP. I SAW THE BAND PERFORM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN BUENOS AIRES IN JANUARY 1993, WHEN I WAS SIXTEEN. THEY WERE PRESENTING THE ALBUM BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK. IT WAS THEIR FIRST VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA AND THAT EVENT LEFT AN IMPACT ON ME FOREVER.

  ALMOST TWENTY YEARS LATER, I READ THAT THE RHCP WERE ABOUT TO PLAY IN BELGIUM. I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT, “I DON’T KNOW EUROPE, BUT THIS IS A GREAT EXCUSE TO GO THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME!” I PLANNED MY SCHEDULE AROUND THEIRS AND VISITED AS MANY COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE, WATCHING THE SHOWS. I FOLLOWED THE BAND THROUGH ENGLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, FRANCE, SPAIN, BELGIUM, AND RUSSIA. BY CHANCE, I EVEN CROSSED ROADS WITH CHAD SMITH TWICE—ONCE IN PARIS AND THEN IN ST. PETERSBURG. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

  MY FAVORITE ALBUM IS BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK. I CARRY THAT NAME TATTOOED ON MY ARM. IT’S THE RECORD THAT CHANGED THE WAY I LISTEN TO AND UNDERSTAND MUSIC. I’M ABOUT TO BECOME A FATHER FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ONE OF MY DREAMS IS TO PASS ALONG THAT PASSION FOR THE MUSIC TO MY SON.

  Rich Plenge, 50 New York

  MY FATHER WAS A MARINE. I WAS RAISED STRICT. AS I GOT OLDER AND HAD MY OWN SON, I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY MY FATHER WAS SO STRICT WITH ME. HE WOULD SAY �
�RICH, I LIVED MY LIFE AND I WANT YOU TO LIVE YOURS.” HE PASSED AWAY ON NOVEMBER 23RD, 2001. BY THE WAY DROPPED THE NEXT SUMMER; I WAS REALLY CONNECTED TO THE SONG “DOSED”. “ALL I EVER WANTED WAS YOUR LIFE.”

  MY FATHER’S NAME WAS CHARLES AND HIS FAMILY CALLED HIM CHARLIE BOY. SO AGAIN WHEN STADIUM ARCADIUM DROPPED AND THERE WAS THE SONG NAMED CHARLIE. IT BLEW MY MIND.

  Dani Gaitan. 24 Francisco Fernandez, 24 Argentina

  Erin Gibson, 24 Pittsburgh

  I BEGAN READING SCAR TISSUE IN 2008, FRESH OUT OF REHAB. I HAD NO IDEA HOW INTENSELY IT WOULD DESCRIBE DRUG ADDICTION AND THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRULY SEEING ONE’S PAST WHILE IN RECOVERY. IT WAS, OF COURSE, EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED AT THE TIME. IT TOOK ME ALMOST A YEAR TO FINISH IT. I REALLY DIDN’T WANT IT TO END. I COULDN’T BELIEVE THAT SO MANY OF THE SONGS THAT I HAD COME TO LOVE AND ARE INGRAINED IN MY HEAD FOREVER ARE ABOUT ADDICTION AND RECOVERY. THERE WAS AN INSTANT CONNECTION AND RHCP ABSOLUTELY BECAME MY “HIGHER POWER.” IT REALLY HELPED ME TO KNOW, THAT IF THERE ARE ROCK STARS OUT THERE THAT COULD DO ANYTHING THEY WANT, YET ARE ABSTAINING FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL THERE IS NO REASON WHY I CAN’T. IT REALLY KICK-STARTED MY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

  Wil Vrijhof, Over 50 Holland

  I’VE LOVED THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS SINCE THEIR BEGINNING IN THE EIGHTIES. THE FIRST TIME I SAW THEM LIVE WAS IN 1989 ON DAM SQUARE IN AMSTERDAM AND THEY WERE AMAZING. THE MUSIC, THE LYRICS, THE FUN…THEY WERE AND STILL ARE UNBELIEVABLE. THEIR TALENT, CRAFTMANSHIP, ENERGY, AND MADNESS HAVE BEEN CONTAGIOUS ALL THOSE YEARS. BECAUSE THEY LOVE WHAT THEY’RE DOING SO MUCH, THEY FILL ME WITH JOY, ENERGY, LOVE, AND ADMIRATION. THEY DID SO IN THE EIGHTIES AND THEY DO SO NOW. THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE BEEN TO SO MANY SHOWS. EVERY TIME I HEAR THE BAND PLAY, I CAN FEEL HOW MUCH THEY LOVE IT, AND I JUST CAN’T HELP BUT LOVE THAT TOO. THANKS TO THESE AMAZING GUYS I’VE TRAVELED THE WORLD AND MADE MANY, MANY FRIENDS. I’M PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS RHCP FAMILY.

  Aude aka Moustache Girl, 37 Zozan, 22 Calbrese Nunziata, 40 France

  MOUSTACHE GIRL— I’M A MARRIED HOUSEWIFE AND MOTHER OF TWO KIDS. MY DAUGHTER LILI IS 10 AND MY SON TITOUAN IS 4. TITOUAN SHARES MY LOVE FOR THE CHILI PEPPERS. HIS FAVORITE SONG IS “IF YOU HAVE TO ASK.” WHEN HE SINGS IT HE SAYS “POKEMON POCAWAWAWAWA” INSTEAD OF “MOTHERFUCKERS” AND ACTUALLY I HAVE TO SAY THAT SUITS ME BETTER!

  ZOZAN— I WAS BORN IN PARIS. I AM OF KURDISH AND SYRIAN ORIGIN. I WORK IN A NURSERY WITH BABIES. I LOVE WORKING WITH CHILDREN, IT’S ANOTHER WORLD.

  CALABRESE— I WAS 7 MONTHS PREGNANT BUT I COULDN’T MISS THE CONCERT!! AT STADE DE FRANCE IN JUNE 2012, WE WAITED AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE SINCE 7 IN THE MORNING. HOPING TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE WITH ALL MY FRIENDS. WE ARE A GROUP OF TWENTY FANS, FROM EVERY AGE, COMING FROM EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY, ALL LINKED BY THE PEPPERS. WHEN THE DOORS OPENED I RAN AS FAST AS I COULD AND I MADE IT TO THE BARRIER. PRACTICALLY THE WHOLE GROUP WAS GATHERED IN THE FRONT LINE. WE SHARED AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT TOGETHER, BREAKING OUR VOICES ON OUR FAVORITE SONGS. THE MOON LIT THE WHOLE STADIUM. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT. THE DAY AFTER WE DROVE TO WERCHTER, BELIGUM. WE BARELY SLEPT BUT WE GOT TO THE BARRIER ONCE AGAIN!

  Miia Tuominen, 20 Nora Kosunen, 20 Finland

  MIIA— IT WAS PROBABLY AROUND 2003. I WAS WATCHING MTV AND SAW AN OLD PEPPERS GIG. I STILL CLEARLY REMEMBER ANTHONY’S APPEARANCE. HE HAD THIS CRAZY LONG HAIR AND WEIRD FLAMED LEATHER PANTS. INSTANTLY I THOUGHT THAT RHCP WAS A HEAVY METAL BAND. I HATED METAL MUSIC SO I HATED THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. I CHANGED THE CHANNEL AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON WHENEVER I SAW THE NAME I REMEMBERED THE FLAME PANTS AND TOLD PEOPLE I DIDN’T LIKE THE BAND. ONE DAY I EVEN FOUND A RHCP PIN FROM OUR CLOSET AND THOUGHT ABOUT THROWING IT AWAY. I DIDN’T DO IT, I DON’T KNOW WHY BUT I’M GLAD I SAW IT BECAUSE IN 2006 I FOUND MY FAVORITE BAND. I SAW THE VIDEO OF “DANI CALIFORNIA” AND FELL IN LOVE. I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT WAS THE SAME BAND I HATED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. THE MUSIC, THE VIDEO, IT WAS LIKE NOTHING I’VE EVER EXPERIENCED. THEN PROBABLY A WEEK LATER I BOUGHT STADIUM ARCADIUM AND BECAME A SUPER CRAZY FAN GIRL.

  NORA— MY FAVORITE LYRICS ARE “SAY IT LOUD I’M FREAKY STYLEY AND I’M PROUD.” THAT’S PRETTY MUCH MY LIFE’S PHILOSOPHY, BE YOURSELF AND BE PROUD.”

  Ivan Rerat, 21 Switzerland (Right)

  I REMEMBER EXACTLY THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. I WAS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD AND I WAS WATCHING TV WHEN SUDDENLY I HEARD THE FIRST NOTES OF “DANI CALIFORNIA.” I IMMEDIATELY GOT INSPIRED AND SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE BAND’S EVERY STEP.

  WHEN I KNEW THE BAND WAS GOING TO PLAY IN BERN I PROMISED MY LITTLE BROTHER—A HUGE FAN—THAT I WOULD TAKE HIM TO THE CONCERT. MY LITTLE BROTHER PLAYS DRUMS AND THE BASS GUITAR. HE WAS WONDERING IF THERE WOULD BE ANY CHANCE OF GETTING CHAD SMITH’S STICKS AFTER THE CONCERT. I TOLD HIM I WOULD TRY. I PAINTED A POSTER OF THE GROUP. AFTER THE CONCERT I OFFERED THE POSTER TO THE BAND AND MY LITTLE BROTHER ACTUALLY GOT CHAD’S STICKS! THIS WAS HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND SYMBOLIC TO HIM.

  I HAVE MANY DREAMS. THE FIRST IS TO CREATE A COVER FOR A RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ALBUM. I ALSO WISH TO SEE MY LITTLE BROTHER JAMMING WITH THE CHILI PEPPERS. THAT WOULD BE AMAZING! SOMETIMES YOU FEEL HAPPIER GIVING SOMETHING TO SOMEONE THAN IF SOMEBODY GAVE SOMETHING TO YOU.

  Katja Kilman, 19 Croatia

  I WAS FIRST CONNECTED TO THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS BY THE SONG “CALIFORNICATION.” I REMEMBER IT SO WELL. I WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD AND JUST REALIZED HOW TO USE THE VHS RECORDER. I WOULD SIT IN FRONT OF THE TV, WAITING FOR MY FAVORITE SONGS SO I COULD RUN AND HIT “REC.” THEN I COULD LISTEN TO THE SONGS I LOVED WHENEVER I WANTED TO. “CALIFORNICATION” WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS I RECORDED AND I NEVER STOPPED LISTENING TO IT! IT’S BEEN FIFTEEN YEARS AND I’M STILL IN LOVE WITH THAT SONG.

  WITHOUT THEM EVEN KNOWING IT, THE RHCP ARE FOLLOWING ME THROUGH EVERY PHASE OF MY LIFE. I EVEN QUIT A JOB ONCE SO I COULD ATTEND THEIR CONCERT IN ZAGREB. IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT! CRAZY? SOME PEOPLE CALL ME CRAZY FOR HAVING SIXTEEN PIERCINGS ON MY BODY, SOME GAG WHEN THEY HEAR I ACTUALLY PIERCED MY OWN EARS AT LEAST FIVE TIMES WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN. ACCORDING TO MOST PEOPLE, I’M ALSO CRAZY BECAUSE I TATTOOED MYSELF TWICE WITH A NEEDLE AND INK WHEN I WAS FOURTEEN. I’M NINETEEN AND NOT A PARTY PERSON AT ALL (WELL, NOT ANYMORE). I ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT MY EDUCATION (ALSO CALLED CRAZY BECAUSE OF THAT). SO YOU TELL ME, WHO IS CRAZY? PROBABLY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

  I DON’T THINK I WILL EVER STOP LISTENING TO THE CHILI PEPPERS. I CAN SEE MYSELF AS AN OLD, UGLY GRANNY SINGING, “GIVE IT AWAY, GIVE IT AWAY, GIVE IT AWAY NOW.”

  I WOULD QUIT MY JOB TO SEE THE PEPPERS ON STAGE ANYTIME.

  Alexandra Klepper, 19; Maria Veldman, 19, Maggie Wyntjes, 18 Canada

  ALEXANDRA— I AM A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM RED DEER, ALBERTA, WORKING TO SAVE UP AND LEAVE BEHIND MY HOMETOWN TO TRAVEL THE WORLD BY MYSELF. MY WHOLE LIFE I HAVE FELT LIKE AN OUTCAST IN ALBERTA AND RHCP HAS HELPED ME ACCEPT MYSELF. I AM AN OLD SOUL WHO LOVES THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF AND WHO FINDS HAPPINESS IN THE SIMPLE MOMENTS. I LOVE TRAVELING, GOING TO AS MANY CONCERTS AS I CAN, AND BEING BY THE OCEAN. I ENJOY DOING YOGA, RUNNING, AND MY FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD IS THE CALIFORNIA COAST. I AM HAPPIEST WHEN I AM AT A RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CONCERT.

  I THINK WHAT FIRST CONNECTED ME TO THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS WAS HOW UNIQUE AND SPECIAL THEIR SOUND WAS. I FELL INSTANTLY IN LOVE WITH THE FUNKY BASS AND ANTHONY’S AMAZING VOCAL SKILLS. I HAD NEVER HEARD SUCH POWERFUL MUSIC IN MY ENTIRE LIFE AND ONCE I HEARD MY FIRST SONG BY THEM I KNEW THEY WOULD FOREVER CHANGE MY LIFE.

  IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 I DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE FOR PERSONAL REASONS. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS DOING WITH MY LIFE. I STARTED TO SUFFER FROM SEVERE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. I ALSO GOT TO BE SUICIDAL. I WAS SO SCARED AND FELT LIKE THE SADNESS WOULD LAST FOREVER, BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT ME GOING AND WAKING UP EVERY DAY WAS THAT I HAD TICKETS TO THE EDMONTON AND CALGARY RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS SHOWS. EVERY DAY I WOULD CONSTANTLY BLAST THE PEPPERS AND KEEP COUNTING THE DAYS TILL THE CONCERT WAS HERE. WHEN THE DAY CAME FOR THE CONCERT I WAS IN TOTAL BLISS. I GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET DAVID MUSHEGAIN AND HE
REALLY CHANGED MY WORLD BY GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ANTHONY KIEDIS, CHAD SMITH, AND JOSH KLINGHOFFER. IT WAS SUCH A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE TO SEE MY FAVORITE BAND LIVE AND RHCP MADE ME START TO LOVE MYSELF AND EVERYTHING LIFE HAS TO OFFER AGAIN.

  MY FAVORITE RECORD OF ALL TIME IS CALIFORNICATION. I COULD LISTEN TO THAT ALBUM FOREVER AND NEVER GET SICK OF IT. EVERY SINGLE SONG ON IT HAS A DIFFERENT MEMORY ATTACHED TO IT AND WHENEVER I PLAY IT I FEEL NOTHING BUT HAPPINESS. I LOVE THE VARIETY OF SONGS ON IT: FROM THE SADNESS YOU CAN HEAR IN ANTHONY’S VOICE IN THE SONG “PORCELAIN” TO THE CRAZY FUNKY BASS IN “AROUND THE WORLD.” MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONGS ARE “SCAR TISSUE,” “SLOW CHEETAH,” AND “CAN’T STOP.” EVERY TIME I HEAR “SCAR TISSUE” I GET GOOSE BUMPS. JOHN FRUSCIANTE’S GUITAR MAKES ME CRY ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME. “SLOW CHEETAH” HAS SAVED MY LIFE SO MANY TIMES. NOW, ON A HAPPIER NOTE, WHEN I HEAR THE BEGINNING OF “CAN’T STOP” I GO CRAZY. THAT SONG JUST MAKES ME WANT TO DANCE AND IT’S JUST THE BEST FUNKY JAM EVER.

  MAGGIE— I’M TRYING TO BE A HAPPY AND POSITIVE PERSON. MY MOM HAS BEEN AN ALCOHOLIC ALL MY LIFE AND MUSIC HAS REALLY HELPED ME THROUGH THE HARD TIMES. ANTHONY TALKS ABOUT ISSUES WITH HIS DAD IN HIS BOOK AND HOW HE DEALT WITH IT. I’M A NEGATIVE PERSON BECAUSE I’VE ALWAYS HAD SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH AND NOT HAVING A MOM THERE FOR ME—ESPECIALLY BEING A GIRL—IS HARD. THE SONGS THAT THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CREATE MAKE YOU FEEL A CERTAIN ENERGY THAT THEY HAVE ALL BEEN THROUGH SOMETHING AND YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND A WAY TO GET THROUGH IT. THEY DON’T HAVE TO SAY IT BECAUSE YOU CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE ENERGY THEY CREATE WITH THEIR INSTRUMENTS.