Danielle Thornes, 22 Michigan (Right)
I HAD AN OBSESSION WITH DOWNLOADING AND LISTENING TO MUSIC WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I CAME ACROSS RHCP AND THEY BECAME ONE OF MY FAVORITE BANDS OF ALL TIME. THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ARE BETTER THAN ALL THE REST AND I NOTICED THIS FACT OF LIFE EARLY ON.
I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE STRANGE AND LIKE TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH OTHER WEIRD INDIVIDUALS. I’M ALL ABOUT CONNECTING WITH OTHERS ON A DEEPER LEVEL, SO I DON’T DO WELL WITH SMALL TALK. I HAVE MOVED A LOT AND AM NEVER SATISFIED WITH WHERE I DECIDE TO LAND. I ENJOY CONSTANT CHANGE AND NEW LIFE EXPERIENCES.
MY DREAMS ARE TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FOR GRAD SCHOOL AND TO LATER BECOME A WORLD-TRAVELING DJ WITH MY BEST FRIEND, CRISTEN CREW.
Daniel Zugaj, 18 Spain
I WENT TO THE MADRID CONCERT WITH ONLY €15 THAT HAD TO LAST FOUR DAYS. I TRAVELED 600KM AWAY FROM HOME. ONE DAY I WAS SLEEPING IN THE PARK, THE SECOND BY A CASH MACHINE, AND I ONLY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO EAT CANNED FOOD. BUT OVERALL IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I GOT TO SEE THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.
I’M A COMPOSER AND I LIKE EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH PLAYING MUSIC, ESPECIALLY WITH OTHER PEOPLE. I WANT TO BE A MUSIC PRODUCER. I WANT TO FORM A BAND, RELEASE ALBUMS, AND TOUR. I WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR MY MUSIC BECAUSE I THINK THE SONGS THAT EACH PERSON DOES IS THEIR WAY OF LOOKING AT MUSIC. I WANT TO TELL THE WORLD HOW I SEE MUSIC.
Jess Chong, 16 United Kingdom (Left)
I FIRST CONNECTED TO THE CHILIS WHEN I HEARD “CAN’T STOP” ON THE RADIO WHEN I WAS ABOUT NINE YEARS OLD. NOW I’M A TYPICAL TEENAGER IN MY FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE. I’M ABOUT LIVING LIFE IN THE MOMENT, LIVING EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST, ENJOYING LIFE AS IT COMES—AND ENJOYING MY FAVORITE BAND.
MY FAVORITE LYRIC IS FROM “WET SAND”: “RIGHT ON THE VERGE, JUST ONE MORE DOSE, I’M TRAVELING FROM COAST TO COAST. MY THEORY ISN’T PERFECT BUT IT’S CLOSE.”
MY DREAMS IN LIFE ARE TO LIVE WITHOUT WORRY, TO BE HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND TO KEEP ROCKING OUT TO THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.
Tyler Murphy, 16 Iowa (Left)
MY GREATEST EXPERIENCE WITH THE BAND WAS PROBABLY WHEN I SAW THEM PLAY AT THE SCOTTRADE CENTER IN ST. LOUIS, DURING THE “I’M WITH YOU” TOUR. A GIRL I KNOW IS A BIG FAN AND WAS DYING TO SEE THEM LIVE. SHE ASKED ME IF I WOULD DRIVE. I WAS MORE THAN WILLING, SO IN EXCHANGE FOR THE RIDE SHE BOUGHT ME A TICKET AND WE HEADED TO ST LOUIS. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT CONCERT. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
RIGHT NOW I AM GETTING THE LAST OF MY CREDITS AND GOING TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL. I WORK AT A STEAKHOUSE. I PLAY GUITAR AND SPEND TIME WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. I HAVE BEEN INTO MUSIC EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER HEARING IT, FROM B.B. KING ON MY DAD’S STEREO TO THE FIRST TIME MY MOM MADE ME LISTEN TO JIMI HENDRIX. NIRVANA WAS THE FIRST BAND I FELL IN LOVE WITH AND TO THIS DAY THEY ARE STILL A SOLID FAVORITE OF MINE. THE CHILIS BECAME A FAVORITE SOON AFTER. MUSIC HELPED ME THROUGH A LOT OF TOUGH TIMES.
AS A GUITAR PLAYER AN OBVIOUS DREAM OF MINE IS TO BE ON STAGE PERFORMING. I WOULD LOVE TO SEND OUT THAT ENERGY IN MUSIC TO THE CROWD AND FEEL THE ENERGY IN RETURN. SORT OF LIKE A GAME OF ENERGY CATCH, BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH. TO MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH SONGS AND SOUND; TO HELP THEM IF THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME—JUST LIKE MUSIC DID FOR ME.
THANK YOU, RHCP, FOR ALL THE MUSIC YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO MY EARS!
Kasia Gaweska, 17 Poland
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE CALLING THEMSELVES A FAN RELATES TO THE MUSIC OF THEIR FAVORITE ARTISTS IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. YOU CAN’T BE CONSCIOUS IN ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS. THE MUSIC IS JUST THERE AND IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER, WHETHER YOU REALIZE THAT OR NOT. THE SHOWS I WENT TO IN WARSAW AND PRAGUE ARE WORTH MENTIONING. I GOT TO MEET THE AMAZING PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE BAND, WHICH MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL THE MAGIC TO HAPPEN AND TO MEET THE GUYS THEMSELVES. I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND ON THE STAGE AND SEE THOUSANDS OF STRANGERS IN FRONT OF ME DURING THE SHOW. THEY WERE ALL BECOMING ONE, SINGING THE WORDS OF THE SAME SONGS. IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, LIKE I CAN STAND ON THAT STAGE AGAIN ONE DAY, AND THE PEOPLE WOULD BE THERE FOR ME. I FELT LIKE THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO. TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL WITH MY OWN MUSIC. BEING AN ARTIST IS MY MAIN GOAL IN LIFE. WHENEVER I CAN I READ BOOKS, I WRITE SONGS OR POETRY, I LISTEN TO MUSIC, AND THINK ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL THE WORLD IS. I WANT TO BE WILD. I WANT TO BE FOREVER YOUNG. I WANT TO BE FREE. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WANT TO MAKE MY MOM AND BROTHER AND STEPFATHER PROUD.
I WANT TO THANK THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS FOR MAKING ME FEEL OKAY WHEN I AM SO FAR FROM FEELING OKAY. AND DAVID MUSHEGAIN FOR BEING THE COOLEST PERSON I’VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE AND FOR INSPIRING ME TO AT LEAST TRY TO EXPLORE THE WORLD AND MEET PEOPLE AS COOL AS HIM. CHRIS WARREN, DAVE RAT, THE WHOLE CREW. YOU GUYS SEEM LIKE THE BEST TEAM ON THE PLANET.
P.S.: DEAR CHAD, I AM SO SORRY I GAVE THE POLISH FLAG TO ANTHONY INSTEAD OF YOU AS I HAD PROMISED. YOU ROCK.
Polish Fan Club
Elisa Makovcova, 14 Czech Republic
WHEN I STARTED TO PLAY THE GUITAR I SAID TO MYSELF “WHEN I CAN PLAY ‘SNOW’ I WILL BE A GUITARIST.” IT WAS MY GOAL. NOW I CAN PLAY IT. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE!
I REALLY WANT TO BE SELF-CONFIDENT. I WANT TO BE HONEST. I NEVER WANT TO BE WITHOUT MUSIC BECAUSE. IT’S EVERYTHING TO ME.
Kassia, 22 Poland
I WAS FOURTEEN WHEN I FIRST SAW THE CALIFORNICATION ALBUM COVER. FROM THAT MOMENT ON I JUST KNEW THAT I FOUND SOMETHING THAT MATCHES ME PERFECTLY. IT WAS LIKE A MISSING PIECE OF MY PERSONALITY.
I FEEL A DEEP UNEXPLAINABLE AND PIRITUAL CONNECTION WITH THE ALBUM BLOOD, SUGAR, SEX, MAGIC. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT WE—THE ALBUM AND I—WERE BOTH BORN IN THE YEAR 1991. I KNOW IT’S NOT JUST A COINCIDENCE.
IN MY LIFE I’VE STRUGGLED WITH MANY DIFFICULTIES. ANYTIME I FEEL LOST OR UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHERE I AM I JUST NEED TO PLAY SOME MUSIC AND IT INSTANTLY REMINDS ME OF WHO I AM AND WHAT MY DESTINATION IN LIFE IS. I’M A DREAMER, A WANDERER, AN OUTSIDER.
MY DREAMS IN LIFE ARE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD, TAKE PHOTOS OF BEAUTIFUL PLACES, PLAY BASS AND DRUMS, TO FALL IN LOVE, TO HAVE MY BEST FRIEND BY MY SIDE FOREVER, AND TO ENJOY A SUNSET ON THE CALIFORNIAN SHORE. AND TO HUG FLEA, OF COURSE!
Sehnaz Ugur, 23 Turkey
WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG I FOUND THE CALIFORNICATION ALBUM AT MY AUNT’S HOUSE. AS SOON AS I STARTED TO LISTEN TO IT I FELT WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO FEEL. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOST TUNE THAT I HAD FINALLY FOUND FROM THE PAST. IT WAS WEIRD. I FELT JOYFUL AND BITTER AT THE SAME TIME.
MY FIRST GIG WAS IN PARIS. I WAS SO EXCITED. I COULDN’T SLEEP AFTER THE SHOW. I FELT SO GOOD BUT ALSO SO BAD. I WEPT ALL NIGHT. I HAD NEVER BEEN TO SUCH A GREAT CONCERT AND I HAVE SEEN AND WORKED IN SO MANY CONCERTS. IT SOUNDED SO REAL AND DEEP. I FELT IT SO DEEP INSIDE ME THAT WHEN I GOT BACK HOME FROM THE CONCERT I FELT REALLY SAD. I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER FEEL THAT FEELING AGAIN. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AND THE FIRST TIME IS ALWAYS THE BEST, I THOUGHT. BUT LATER, WHEN THE CHILI PEPPERS CAME TO ISTANBUL, MY EXPERIENCE WAS EVEN BETTER. I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET ANTHONY.
I’M A POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT AND I HAVE WORKED AS A BACKSTAGE MANAGER SINCE 2008. I GET THE BEST FEELING EVER WHEN A GIG THAT I WORK ENDS AND THE AUDIENCE CLAPS. IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY TO BE PART OF SOMETHING THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE DREAM ABOUT.
Marta Lanzillotta, 23 Italy
IT WAS MAY 26 2002. IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARILY HOT DAY IN ITALY. THAT EVENING I WENT TO MY GRANDMA’S HOUSE WITH MY MUM TO HAVE SOME ICECREAM. WE WERE IN THE KITCHEN AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THEY HAD READ IN THE NEWSPAPER. THE TV WAS ON AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS THIS INCREDIBLE ROCK AND ROLL COMING FROM IT. I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHO PUT ON THE CHANNEL, BUT ITALIA1 WAS TRANSMITTING THE CHILI PEPPERS’ PERFORMANCE OF “BY THE WAY.” THERE WERE FOUR HANDSOME NAKED GUYS ON THE STAGE, WHAT THE HELL!! THE BASS PLAYER HAD BLUE HAIR!!! THEY WERE ALL TATTOOED!!! IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD CATHOLIC SCHOOL GIRL, WEARING PINK EYE SHADOW AND PLAYING WITH BARBIES AND LISTENING TO KYLIE MINOGUE. HA! I LOVED THE CHILI PEPPERS FROM THE FIRST NOTE THAT I HEARD FROM THE TELEVISION! I IMMEDIATELY ASKED MY DAD TO BUY ME THE “BY THE WAY” SINGLE, HE CAME BACK WITH THE WHOLE ALBUM. SONG
AFTER SONG I FELL INTO ANOTHER WORLD AND THAT WORLD BECAME MY SECOND FAMILY, MY LIFE. THE RED BLOOD IN MY VEINS TURNED HOT AND CHILI!!!!
Shasha, 18 Russia
I AM A BIG DREAMER! IF I TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THOSE DREAMS IT WILL OCCUPY THE ENTIRE BOOK. SO I’LL JUST SAY, “HELLO!” TO ADMIRERS OF THE RHCP WORLDWIDE.
Russian Fan Club
Emilie Vidal, 17 Cape Town
MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON A ROAD TRIP AND THE MAGICAL LYRICS OF “SNOW” BEGAN TO BLARE OUT OF THE CD PLAYER. THE SOUND WAS TURNED UP AND THE SINGING ALONG BEGAN. SOON ENOUGH I WAS SHOUTING ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY, HALF AN HOUR OF REPEATS LATER. I WAS IN LOVE AND THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS HAD MANAGED TO WIN OVER YET ANOTHER DEVOTED FAN.
Nabeel Allie, 19 Damien Hewitt, 19 Cape Town
NABEEL— “GROWING UP IS TOUGH IN SOUTH AFRICA BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH APARTHEID IS OVER IT’S STILL VERY RACIST. THE BLACKS HANG WITH THE BLACKS AND THE WHITES HANG WITH THE WHITES. HOW YOU IMAGINE IT KIND OF IS, BLACKS DO ONE THING AND WHITES DO ANOTHER. I REMEMBER COMING BACK FROM A MATE’S HOUSE ONE DAY WITH A FLASH DRIVE FULL OF MUSIC AND MOVIES. I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT NIGHT, I WATCHED THE MATRIX. I WAS 10 AT THE TIME AND MY PARENTS DIDN’T ALLOW ME TO WATCH FILMS LIKE THAT, SO I WATCHED IT IN SECRET. AND I LISTENED TO CALIFORNICATION. WHEN “AROUND THE WORLD” CAME ON THE INTRO WAS JUST A BUNCH OF NOISE TO ME AND THEN ANTHONY’S SCREAM. IT WAS BLISS. THE GUITAR AND THE BASS LINE, IT WAS PERFECT. I WENT TO A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SCHOOL AND I’M NOT SURE IF THEY INTENDED IT, BUT THE PEPPERS HELPED ME TRANSCEND RACE BARRIERS.”
Tyler Bramwell, 20 Minnesota
THE PEPPERS HAVE BEEN A STABLE SOURCE OF SANITY FOR ME FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND WILL BE INFINITELY. THEY ARE PRESENT IN MY LIFE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION. IT’S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP, A GIVE AND TAKE, SOMETHING OTHERWORLDLY YET SO COMFORTING. YOU KNOW JUST THAT MOMENT, WHEN THE MUSIC HITS YOUR EARS AND SOUNDS JUST LIKE YOU IMAGINE EVERYTHING IS SUPPOSED TO SOUND? THEIR MUSIC WORKS FOR ME NO MATTER WHAT. I GET IT.
Angy Fernandez, 22 Spain
I AM A SINGER AND ACTRESS IN SPAIN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I SING POP, AS WELL AS ACT ON SPANISH TELEVISION AND MOVIES. I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SINGER. SOUNDS TYPICAL, RIGHT? IT’S WHO I AM. I WAS BORN TO SING AND MAKE MUSIC. I’M FROM A SMALL ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF BARCELONA CALLED MALLORCA. THE CHILI PEPPERS HAD COME TO MADRID AND BARCELONA IN THE PAST, BUT I WAS TOO YOUNG TO SEE THOSE SHOWS. I ATTENDED ROCK-N-RIO IN SPAIN IN 2012. I WAITED IN LINE WITH FRIENDS FOR HOURS BUT I DID NOT CARE. I JUST KNEW I WANTED TO BE IN THE FRONT ROW. WE GOT SUN-BURNED, WE MET GREAT PEOPLE, AND EVERY HOUR WE WAITED WE GOT MORE AND MORE EXCITED. ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAW A GUY WITH A RHCP T-SHIRT, A RHCP HAT, A RHCP PASS, AND A BIG CAMERA, SO SHE GOES UP TO HIM AND SAYS THAT I AM FAMOUS IN SPAIN, HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL DAY TO SEE THE RHCP, AND THAT I AM THEIR NUMBER-ONE FAN. WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT AND HE TOOK SOME PICTURES OF ME WITH MY NEW CALIFORNICATION TATTOO. HE THEN TOLD ME HE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE ME TO THE RHCP BEFORE THE CONCERT. I WAS LIKE “WAIT! NO WAY!” I TEND TO BE NEGATIVE SO I THOUGHT THE MAN IN THE RHCP GEAR AND CAMERA WOULD NEVER COME BUT HE DID! BEFORE THE CONCERT STARTED HE FOUND ME AND TOOK ME BACKSTAGE. WHEN I GOT BACK THERE THEY HAD SUPER HEALTHY FOOD ALL AROUND. FLEA AND CHAD WERE GETTING READY FOR THE SHOW. JOSH HAD ON HIS HUGE HEADPHONES. ANTHONY WAS WAITING TO MEET ME. I HAD RAN TO HIM ONCE BEFORE FOR A PICTURE AND HE WAS SO NICE. HE ASKED ME SOME QUESTIONS BUT I WAS SO NERVOUS THAT I COULDN’T TALK, SO I JUST SHOWED HIM MY CALIFORNICATION TATTOO. HE SAID “SO SWEET!” KISSES AND LOTS OF LOVE FROM SPAIN. YOU GUYS MAKE ME FEEL SO HAPPY!!
Nicole Dodds, 19 New Zealand (Right)
I FIND THE RHCP HAVE A SONG FOR EVERYTHING I DO. I CAN CLEAN TO THEM, DRINK TO THEM, SLEEP, WAKE UP, GO FOR A RUN, DANCE, WORK, ETC. THEY HAVE A PERFECT COMBINATION OF CHILL AND HEAVY ROCK THAT FITS MY LIFE.
I’M A CAREGIVER BY DAY AND A GROUPIE BY NIGHT. I WORK FOR A HEALTHCARE COMPANY, TAKING CARE OF DISABLED PEOPLE AND I AM IN TRAINING TO BE A NURSE. BUT AS SOON AS I GET HOME FROM WORK, THE UNIFORM CHANGES TO BAND T-SHIRTS, BLACK JEANS, AND BANDANAS. THE MUSIC GETS TURNED UP AND THE BOURBON GETS POURED. THAT IS MY SANCTUARY AND ROCK CONCERTS ARE MY HEAVEN. MY FATHER RAISED ME ON THIS MUSIC AND I THANK HIM FOR THAT. HE IS IN A WHEELCHAIR, WHICH HAS MOTIVATED ME TO CONTINUE IN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION. MUSIC IS SUCH A BIG PART OF MY LIFE. I PLAY THE PIANO AND ATTEMPT TO COVER RHCP SONGS. THEY ARE SO FUN TO PLAY!
Leandro de Carvalho Correa, 28, Brazil
I WORK WITH SHIPPING CONTAINERS AT THE PORT OF SANTOS. I WAS BORN IN THE CITY OF SANTOS, WHICH IS IN SÃO PAOLO STATE. I LIVE WITH MY PARENTS AND WORK IN THE LARGEST PORT IN LATIN AMERICA. I SPEND THE WHOLE DAY LISTENING TO THE RHCP. I FOLLOW THE NEWS THROUGH THE INTERNET AND FAN CLUBS AND I HAVE MADE FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH THE MUSIC OF THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. AS I LIKE TO SAY, I BREATHE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. THE MUSIC MAKES US FEEL BEAUTIFUL. WE KNOW DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND PLACES BECAUSE OF THE MUSIC.
Edgar Marino Rosa Rijo, 24 Portugal
DURING THE I’M WITH YOU TOUR I TRAVELED ALONE FROM PORTUGAL TO BARCELONA TO SEE THE GUYS. I SPENT TWENTY HOURS ON THE STREET, PRACTICALLY FROZEN IN THE PARK MONTJUIC. I SAT THERE IN ABOUT 2 DEGREES CELSIUS TEMPERATURES WITH THE GROUP OF FIRST TWENTY PEOPLE IN LINE AT PALAU SANT JORDI.
DURING THE WAIT I MET PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID MUSHEGAIN AND TOLD HIM THAT I HAD A BUS TICKET FROM BARCELONA TO MADRID TO WATCH THE NEXT SHOW BUT I HAD NO TICKET TO ENTER. I ASKED HIM IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO SELL ME A TICKET AND HE SAID HE’D SEE WHAT HE COULD DO, SO I WENT AHEAD TO MADRID. ONCE THERE, I SAW AN ONLINE POST FROM FLEA ABOUT A TICKET HIDDEN IN A SMALL BAR CALLED LA CASTELLANA. I TOOK A TAXI TO THE ADDRESS BUT MY MONEY ENDED 300 METERS BEFORE THE BAR. I RAN, RAN, RAN BUT LOST THE TICKETS TO A GROUP OF SPANISH GUYS WHO’D GOTTEN THERE ONLY A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ME.
AFTER THIS I ARRIVED AT THE STADIUM AND MADE PART OF THE GROUP OF FIRST FIFTEEN IN LINE. AMONG THEM I MET HENRIK LEWANDOWSKI, #1 FAN OF THE RHCP AND TOOK MY “FAMOUS” PHOTO WITH THE PORTUGUESE FLAG. I MET MANY GOOD PEOPLE THERE AND DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO TRY AND GET A TICKET. THEN DAVID APPEARED LOOKING FOR ME, JUST A HALF HOUR BEFORE THE DOORS OPENED. HE HAD A GUEST PASS IN HAND AND HANDED IT TO ME. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT—MADE ME FEEL IT’S WORTH BELIEVING AND BEING PERSISTENT IN LIFE. TO END THE WEEK (THE BEST OF MY LIFE) IN THE BEST WAY, NOTHING WAS BETTER THAN BEING FRONT ROW AT THE CONCERT. TO TOP IT OFF.
Charlotte, 23 Lithuania
MY OLDER AND WISER BROTHER ROBERT FOUND THE BAND. HE WAS LISTENING TO THEM LIKE MAD. AND ME, THE CURIOUS LITTLE SISTER, HAD TO KNOW WHAT WAS SO COOL ABOUT THEM. SO IT BEGAN! I WAS THIRTEEN AT THE TIME. LEARNING FROM MY BROTHER HOW TO PLAY THE MAIN RIFF OF “OTHERSIDE” IS ONE OF MY GREAT MEMORIES.
IN MY EARLY TEENS I HAD LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE BUT THE POWER OF RHCP SONGS TRANSCENDED THIS BARRIER. BY GROWING UP, EXPERIENCING LIFE, AND LEARNING FROM MY MISTAKES, I WAS ABLE TO UNDERSTAND NOT ONLY THE MUSIC THAT I SO ENJOYED BUT TO RECOGNIZE ITS DEEPER MEANING, TAPPING INTO THE EMOTIONAL SIDE OF SONGS, MAKING CONNECTIONS TO MY LIFE, AND GROWING AS A HUMAN BEING.
I WAS BORN IN LITHUANIA TO A MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY JUST BEFORE THE INDEPENDENCE OF MY LITTLE COUNTRY FROM THE SOVIET UNION. YOU COULD SAY I WAS PRIVILEGED BY BEING BORN AT THAT PRECISE TIME, BECAUSE DURING MY CHILDHOOD, THE GREY, BROWN, AND BEIGE WOOL CLOTHING WAS SUBSTITUTED BY COLORFUL AND VERY FANCY WESTERN SPORTS SUITS. AND THROUGHOUT MY TEENS A TIDAL WAVE OF WESTERN TV SERIES BROUGHT ASHORE SUCH HITS AS BAYWATCH, SPONGE BOB, AND MANY OTHERS. THIS PROGRAMMED ME FOR THE WESTERN WORLD AND NOW I FEEL I AM A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD.
Olivia Kensley, 17 South Africa
I REMEMBER IT VIVIDLY: THREE YEARS BACK; I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL IN MY DAD’S CAR WITH MY BEST FRIEND, CASS. “DANI CALIFORNIA” WAS PLAYING ON THE RADIO. WE BOTH LISTENED SILENTLY WITH HUGE-ASS SMILES ON OUR FACES AND NEAR THE END OF THE SONG CASS SAID TO ME, “LET’S GO HOME AND DOWNLOAD EVERY FUCKING RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS SONG EVER MADE.” AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.
I HAD A SEVERE BOUT OF LOW SELF-ESTEEM WHEN I HAD SCARS ALL OVER MY FACE FROM PREVIOUS SKIN ISSUES.
I WAS CONSTANTLY MORBID AND DIDN’T LOOK IN THE MIRROR FOR OVER A YEAR. I FOUND SOLACE IN ONE THING: THE MUSIC OF THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. I’D SIT BY MY BED AND LOATHE MYSELF. BUT I’D ALWAYS PUT ON THE MUSIC OF THE RHCP AND MY PERPETUAL LOATHING OF LIFE WOULD TURN TO BLISS BECAUSE THEIR MUSIC WOULD SEEP DOWN INTO THE DEPTHS OF ME AND NUMB ANY FEELINGS OF NEGATIVITY. ANTHONY’S VOICE NEVER LEFT MY HEAD. I LIVED ON THEIR MUSIC. ON A DAILY BASIS I FED IT TO MY EARS LIKE A STARVED ANIMAL. THEY DEFINED EVERY PIECE OF ME BECAUSE THEY CONSUMED MY LIFE WHOLLY. THEIR MUSIC ACTED AS AN ANTI-DEPRESSIVE SUBSTANCE AND GAVE ME LIFE WHERE THERE WAS NONE, AND I FUCKING LOVE THEM FOR THAT. SO IF YOU GUYS READ THIS: THANK YOU FOR EXISTING.
Raphaelle Macaron, 23 Lebanon
THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO A PEPPERS SHOW WAS IN OCTOBER 2011. I LIVE IN LEBANON AND THEY HAVEN’T BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR MY PART OF THE WORLD IN A VERY LONG TIME, SO WHEN THE I’M WITH YOU EUROPEAN TOUR DATES WERE ANNOUNCED I DECIDED TO GO TO PARIS TO SEE THEM LIVE. MY FRIENDS AND I WAITED TEN HOURS IN LINE TO GET A GOOD SPOT ON THE FLOOR. IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT. OUTSIDE THE VENUE I MET DAVID, WHO TOLD ANTHONY THAT A FEW FANS FROM LEBANON WERE THERE. LATER THAT NIGHT, ANTHONY DEDICATED “OTHERSIDE” TO US. AT THAT POINT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE COOLEST THING A BAND COULD DO. I WAS WRONG, BECAUSE A YEAR LATER I GOT TO MEET AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM IN LEBANON. WHAT A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE IT WAS TO MEET THE HUMAN BEINGS BEHIND THE MUSIC. THEY ARE EXACTLY WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE. I’VE SEEN THE BAND THREE TIMES AND EVERY TIME SOMETHING AMAZING HAS HAPPENED. I LIKE TO BELIEVE THEY ARE A FLOW OF GOOD ENERGY.
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