Red Hot Chili Peppers – Biographies

Chad Smith

Even though Chad may look as a less important member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it is well known that appearances are often deceiving. Just because he sits in the background, hidden by the huge set of drums, unable to jump and do all the other crazy things like the rest of the band, he plays an essential role in their music development – giving a rhythm to every song and every melody.

Chad Smith grew up in bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where he attended Andover and Lahser high school, graduating in 1980. He worked a series of odd jobs back then, including Gap, while playing in several bands, such as: Tilt, Tyrant, Terence and E-Train, Toby Redd… He began playing the drums at a very young age, which is not a big surprise if we consider the fact that his elder brother and sister both played various instruments. His parents bought him the drums, sent him to private music schools, when he was a kid and although he found music very inspiring these classes were rather boring, and he described them as unhelpful, as he enjoyed improvising and listening to his favorite bands much more. Before he started playing in cited bands, he found music as a relaxing and pleasant hobby, and certainly not as something one can earn his living with, which proved to be so very wrong once he moved to Los Angeles.

After moving to LA, where his brother Brad lived, he joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers, in 1988, and his life all of a sudden drastically changed. Anthony Kiedis, in his autobigraphy Scar Tissue, recalls Smith’s first audition for the band, when he told him he could join if he would shave his head as he didn’t like his Rock & Roll hair style. It had, what Anthony described as Guns N’ Roses look – long hair and bandana and Kiedis thought it really didn’t mesh with the band’s punk/funk image, and above all, he wanted to test Smith’s devotion to the band. Seeing him the next day with his hair still in bandana, fascinated Anthony and he allowed him to stay, finding his obstinacy impressive and both him and Flea agreed that they really liked Chad’s funk-groove drumming style. It was hard to believe he wouldn’t obey, as Red Hot Chili Peppers were already famous by the time, and it was every musician’s dream to be playing with them. As far as Chad Smith is concerned…I found it quite humorous at the time. But truthfully, I couldn’t bring myself to do it not because I liked it or because it represented the music I liked – merely, it facilitated me fucking that ass. And that’s how it began. He then recorded 6 studio albums with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and did a lot of side projects – his drumming is featured on over a hundred albums. And although he was never officially a part of the band, he just happened to stay there with them for 20 years now… and counting.

Chad Smith is as easy going as it gets. He has never really thought of himself as a rock star, and he has always been surprised by the amount of attention and popularity, wondering why are people making so much fuss about him. After the show, he is always the one talking with the fans, giving autographs, being completely down to earth. And when not touring, he is just an ordinary guy, devoted to his family and enjoys scuba diving, baseball, basketball and hanging out. Contrary to the other band members he is not into yoga, or heatlthy life style, he actually smokes and drinks as well as enjoys fast food. I don’t feel the need to do yoga with them to feel connected. And, well… they’re nice guys and all that, but… they are very short. Very short and small men. Although they do have big penises, of course.

When not in studio or on tour, Chad is just a guy from the block, but when he takes his sticks and starts playing he turns into one of the best drummers of the present times. His sense of the rhythm is fascinating and his energy one of the kind. He has never liked overexposuring himself, so it may often look like he doesn’t care, but when given some time only for himself and the drums, he fills the audience with enthusiasm and takes everyone’s breath away. One of his trademarks are a baseball hat (usually worn backwards) and a broad smile, showing just how much he enjoys music and playing with his favorite ‘toy’ – the drums.

Here are some quick facts I don’t find very interesting or important, but I’m sure there are people wanting to know about:

Name: Chad Gaylord Smith

Born: October 25th 1961

Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Martial Status: married – Nancy Mack Smith (2004 – present), son Cole; divorced – Maria St John (1996 – 1997), daughter Manon

Height: 6′ 3″ or 1.91m

Hair/Eye Color: Brown/Blue

Riding: Harleys

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