Since 1983, the American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers has released 13 studio albums, two live albums, 12 compilation albums, 11 video albums (including promotional releases), five extended plays, 66 singles (including promotional releases), and 53 music videos. To date, the band has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. According to the RIAA the Chili Peppers have 6× Multi-Platinum, 2× Platinum and 3× Gold albums in the US, totalling 27.5m. They also have 9x Multi-Platinum, 3× Platinum and 4× Gold singles too, totalling 40m.[1] They have been nominated for 19 Grammy Awards, of which they have won 6.[2] They have the most no.1 singles (15), the most cumulative weeks at no.1 (91) and most top-10 songs (28) on the BillboardAlternative Songs chart.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their first three studio albums—1984's The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1985's Freaky Styley, and 1987's The Uplift Mofo Party Plan—to virtually no commercial success during the mid to late 1980s.[3] It was not until their fourth studio album, 1989's Mother's Milk, that the band received critical attention when the album peaked at number 52 on the Billboard 200.[4] After releasing their fifth studio album Blood Sugar Sex Magik in September 1991, the Red Hot Chili Peppers broke into the mainstream. "Under the Bridge", the album's second single, peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.[5] The album went on to sell over seven million copies in the United States (13 million worldwide) and became a foundation for alternative rock in the 1990s.[6][7][8] Guitarist John Frusciante quit the band shortly thereafter in 1992 and was replaced by Arik Marshall who was fired in 1993 being briefly replaced by Jesse Tobias before Dave Navarro was hired that same year. The band would release their sixth studio album, One Hot Minute, in September 1995. While the album was a sizable hit, peaking at number four on the US Billboard 200, it failed to match the success of its predecessor Blood Sugar Sex Magik.[3][4] Navarro was fired in 1998 as the band was starting to work on their follow-up to One Hot Minute.
Frusciante rejoined the Chili Peppers in 1998, and they released their seventh studio album, Californication, in June 1999. It was a commercial success, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200 and being certified six times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4][9] The album spawned six singles, including the Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit "Scar Tissue".[5]Californication was followed by By the Way in July 2002. By the Way peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and spawned commercially successful singles such as "By the Way" and "Can't Stop".[4][5]Stadium Arcadium, the band's ninth studio album, was released in May 2006. It became the band's first album to top the Billboard 200.[4]Stadium Arcadium spawned three straight number-one hits on the BillboardAlternative Songs chart; "Dani California" spent 14 consecutive weeks atop the chart and also peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.[5][10] The band entered the studio in September 2010 to record their 10th studio album, and their first with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Recording was completed in March 2011, and the album, I'm with You, was released in August 2011. It peaked at number two on the Billboard 200; "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie", the album's lead single, peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band's 12th number one single on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, a record they currently hold.[4][5]
The band released their 11th studio album, their first with producer Danger Mouse and last with Klinghoffer, titled The Getaway in June 2016. Danger Mouse replaced Rick Rubin after 25 years and the previous six albums. "Dark Necessities", the first single from the album, became the band's 13th number-one single on the Alternative Songs chart. The song was also the band's 25th top ten single on the Alternative Songs chart, extending their record over runner-up U2 (23).[11] It also became only the fourth song ever to top the Mainstream Rock, Alternative Songs and Adult Alternative charts at the same time.[12] The song became the Chili Peppers' 30th to chart inside the chart's top 20, which places them one entry below U2, with 3 The Chili Peppers moved into a tie for the third-most Alternative Songs visits, matching Foo Fighters' 31; the leader, again, is U2 at 41, while Pearl Jam has charted 38.[11]The Getaway made its debut at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and it was the band's seventh straight album to chart within the top four dating back to 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik. In December 2019, the band announced in a released statement that they were parting ways with Klinghoffer and that John Frusciante was again returning to the band. The band's 12th studio album, Unlimited Love, their first album to be released with Frusciante in 16 years, was released on April 1, 2022.[13]Unlimited Love made its debut at number one on the albums chart in 10 different countries including the United States giving the band their first number one album in their home country since 2006's Stadium Arcadium.[14] The album was preceded by the first single, "Black Summer", which became the band's highest debuting single at number-three and eventually becoming their 14th number-one single and 26th top ten single. It also gave the band a number-one single in four different decades, tying them with Green Day for the most ever on the Alternative Songs chart. The band announced that their 13th album, Return of the Dream Canteen would be released on October 14, 2022. The album was preceded by the first single, "Tippa My Tongue",[15] which became the band's fourth number-one single on the Rock & Alternative Airplay chart and made them the only band with two number-one singles on that chart in 2022. The single also reached number one on the Alternative Airplay chart and became the band's 15th No.1. "The Drummer" was the 2nd single released and it reached no.10. It became their 28th top ten single on that chart which is a current joint record also held by the Foo Fighters.[16]
Albums
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
^Red Hot Chili Peppers did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number one on Bubbling Under the Top 200 Albums, which acted as a 10-extension of the Billboard 200.[27]
^"Behind the Sun" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as a 25-song extension to the Hot 100.[74]
^"Behind the Sun" was not released as a single until 1992 when it was used to promote the What Hits!? compilation album.
^"Warped" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 41 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.[77]
^"My Friends" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 27 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.[78]
^"Aeroplane" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 49 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.[79]
^"Love Rollercoaster" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 40 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.[81]
^"Around the World" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number eight on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as a 25-song extension to the Hot 100.[74]
^"Fortune Faded" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 12 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as a 25-song extension to the Hot 100.[74]
^"Monarchy of Roses" did not enter the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, but peaked at number 46 on the Canadian All-format Airplay chart.[87]
^"Monarchy of Roses" did not enter the Netherlands Single Top 100 but peaked on the Dutch Tipparade Chart at number three.[88]
^"Monarchy of Roses" did not enter the Swiss Singles chart, but charted at number 98 on the Swiss Airplay chart.[89]
^"Look Around" did not enter the Swiss Singles chart, but charted at number 66 on the Swiss Airplay chart.[90]
^"Go Robot" did not enter the Swiss Singles chart, but charted at number 95 on the Swiss Airplay chart.[91]
Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. pp. 230–231.
"Black Summer": "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 14 February 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1667. Australian Recording Industry Association. February 14, 2022. p. 4.
^Fight Like a Brave (track listing). Red Hot Chili Peppers. EMI America. 1987. 1C 006 20 2171 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"The ARIA Chart – Best of 1992". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019. N.B. A triangle indicates platinum certification. The 1992 annual charts listed on the ARIA website are missing numerous certifications.
