The Red Hot Chili Peppers have always been pioneers in the Music Video field. They use the medium as another avenue to freak you out. Even as MTV phased out playing actual music videos to make way for a steady stream of diarrhea the Chili's kept cranking out interesting, groundbreaking, and most of all, entertaining videos. You can check out their vast body of video work here.
Their latest two videos continue the trend of visually striking madness.
"Monarchy Of Roses" is based on the work of legendary Punk artist Raymond Pettibon. Back in the 80's he created some of the most indentifiable and disturbing work for flyers and albums for mostly SST Label bands like Black Flag, Minutemen, and Sonic Youth. His brother Greg Ginn was in Black Flag and the label's founder. If you ever wanted to horrify your parent's you could just leave out an album with Pettibon's handiwork for them to see. They were sure to want to have "a talk" with you. The Chilis have always given a nod to their early 80's Punk roots. Like dedicating "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" to former Minutemen/Firehose bassist Mike Watt. Check out Ray Pettibon's site here.
Their newest video is for "Look Around", also from "I'm With You". Each member in their own "room" which I'm assuming is a reflection on their personalities. Anthony Keidis is at home with his son(who makes a brief appearance looking confused) and his dog. But he's also wearing prison stripes. Maybe feeling a little trapped? There's also a freaky little androgynous person(kid?) emerging from his refrigerator. Maybe this is the little bit of wildness still left in his sober soul. Chad Smith is in a bathroom sitting on his "Throne" playing the drums with a punching bag nearby. I'm guessing he still loves bathroom humor and beating the shit out of stuff. Josh Klinghoffer seems a little less willing to share with his sparse surroundings and general indifference. Or maybe by only having his guitar and amp he's letting us know it's all about the music. Flea seems to be the only member left that has retained the original goofiness of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Which to me shows where the heart and soul of the band really are.
