Start date January 1984 | End date December 31, 1984 | |
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Associated album The Red Hot Chili Peppers | ||
Red Hot Chili Peppers 1984 Tour was a concert tour by Red Hot Chili Peppers to support their 1984 debut album, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Following the band's brief first tour the previous year, original members, Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons left the band to tour and record with their own band, What Is This? who had also obtained a record contract shortly before the Chili Peppers did. Slovak and Irons considered the Chili Peppers a side project and What Is This? to have the brighter future. In late 1983, auditions were held and Irons was quickly replaced by Cliff Martinez, best known for his work with The Weirdos, The Dickies and Captain Beefheart. Dix Denney, Martinez's Weirdo's bandmate was close to becoming the band's new guitarist however after a few rehearsals they felt Denney's style didn't match what the band wanted. Through further auditions it came down to a guy named Mark Nine and Jack Sherman. The band had no clue as to who Sherman was or how he got to the audition but knew he was the best fit because he instantly clicked musically with bassist Flea and Martinez.
Contents
With a new lineup in place and their debut album finally released, the tour in support of their debut album saw the band spend the entire year on their first United States tour after their previous tour was spent touring their homestate of California. At one point in the tour the band played 60 shows in 64 days. During the tour, singer Anthony Kiedis and Sherman had many personal problems and even some on stage arguments which left Sherman swearing he was going to quit many times. By the end of the tour, Sherman was fired and Slovak, who decided things were not working out with What Is This?, returned to the band.
Tour overview
All eleven songs from the album have been performed live. This tour also marked the debut of songs like "Battleship", "Blackeyed Blonde", "Sex Rap" and "Yertle the Turtle" which would all be included on the band's next album, 1985's Freaky Styley. The band made their first major television appearance on March 16, 1984 for actor Alan Thicke's short-lived late night talk show, Thicke of the Night. During the band's May 12, 1984 show, Kiedis was nowhere to be found prior to the show (turned out he was out scoring drugs) so Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks took over lead vocals.
This tour marked the last time "What It Is" has been performed live.
Touring bands
These are the bands the Chili Peppers opened for, were supported by or performed with.