Absolute Radio has released the video below, stating: "Back in 1988 a young Chad Smith met with Red Hot Chili Peppers members John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis and Flea to audition to be in the band. He tells us what that strange experience was like."

Red Hot Chili Peppers will launch their own exclusive SiriusXM music channel, Whole Lotta Red Hot, on Friday, April 1 on channel 315. The launch coincides with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ new album Unlimited Love, which is scheduled to be released on Friday, April 1. The new channel will launch with exclusive track-by-track commentary from the band.

The Whole Lotta Red Hot channel will showcase music from the band’s lengthy career, including their vast catalog of energetic live performances, genre-blending studio tracks, and a vast selection of music personally curated by the band. Listeners will also hear the Chili Peppers’ unique array of musical influences, with music selections ranging from rockers such as Fugazi, Iggy Pop and Dead Kennedys to funk and R&B from Prince, Stevie Wonder and Parliament Funkadelic.

The new channel will feature the band sharing insight and stories from four decades of albums and songs. Additionally, Whole Lotta Red Hot listeners will hear a classic live concert from the band’s archives each month, beginning with a never-before aired 2006 concert from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. – exclusively shared with SiriusXM. The concert will broadcast on Friday, April 1 at 6 PM, ET and PT.  

Whole Lotta Red Hot will launch on Friday, April 1 at 12 AM, ET on SiriusXM channel 315 and on the SXM App.  

In celebration of the channel and the band’s new album, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform at the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York later this year as part of SiriusXM’s Small Stage Series. The special invitation-only concert for SiriusXM subscribers and Pandora listeners will mark the first time that the band has performed at the iconic venue. The concert will air nationwide on the Whole Lotta Red Hot channel.

“Our only goal is to get lost in the music. We (John, Anthony, Chad and Flea) spent thousands of hours, collectively and individually, honing our craft and showing up for one another, to make the best album we could. Our antennae attuned to the divine cosmos, we were just so damn grateful for the opportunity to be in a room together, and, once again, try to get better. Days, weeks and months spent listening to each other, composing, jamming freely, and arranging the fruit of those jams with great care and purpose. The sounds, rhythms, vibrations, words and melodies had us enrapt.”

"We yearn to shine a light in the world, to uplift, connect, and bring people together. Each of the songs on our new album Unlimited Love, is a facet of us, reflecting our view of the universe. This is our life’s mission. We work, focus, and prepare, so that when the biggest wave comes, we are ready to ride it. The ocean has gifted us a mighty wave and this record is the ride that is the sum of our lives. Thank you for listening, we hope you enjoy it and tune in to our new SiriusXM channel Whole Lotta Red Hot.” – Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“Through the decades, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been the rarest of rock bands, blending multiple musical genres and artistically pushing well beyond their early days of alternative rock, to reach a worldwide audience,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. "We are excited to bring our subscribers this special channel, created with the band and delivering a unique audio experience for all Red Hot Chili Peppers fans.”  

Unlimited Love notably marks the band's first recording with guitarist John Frusciante since 2006 and first with producer and longtime collaborator Rick Rubin since 2011.

A message from the band states: "Our only goal is to get lost in the music. We spent thousands of hours, collectively and individually, honing our craft and showing up for one another, to make the best album we could. Our antennae attuned to the divine cosmos, we were just so damn grateful for the opportunity to be in a room together, and, once again, try to get better. Days, weeks and months spent listening to each other, composing, jamming freely, and arranging the fruit of those jams with great care and purpose. The sounds, rhythms, vibrations, words and melodies had us enrapt.

"We yearn to shine a light in the world, to uplift, connect, and bring people together. Each of the songs on our new album, Unlimited Love, is a facet of us, reflecting our view of the universe. This is our life’s mission. We work, focus, and prepare, so that when the biggest wave comes, we are ready to ride it. The ocean has gifted us a mighty wave and this record is the ride that is the sum of our lives. Thank you for listening, we hope you enjoy it. ROCK OUT MOTHERFUCKERS!"

Guitarist John Frusciante adds: "When we got together to start writing material, we began by playing old songs by people like Johnny "Guitar" Watson, The Kinks, The New York Dolls, Richard Barrett and others. Ever so gradually, we started bringing in new ideas, and turning jams into songs, and after a couple of months the new stuff was all we were playing. The feeling of effortless fun we had when we were playing songs by other people, stayed with us the whole time we were writing. For me, this record represents our love for, and faith in each other."

Unlimited Love resumes a three-decade partnership with Rick Rubin. Their creative collaboration spans legendary albums, including the diamond-selling Blood Sugar Sex Magik [1991], Californication [1999], By The Way [2002], and Stadium Arcadium [2006].

The interplay between the band borders on intergalactic once again - yet elevated to another stratosphere altogether. Unlimited Love represents the united spirit of four individual souls still fearlessly exploring the future of their eternal friendship and musical congregation.

You can pre-order the album here, and pre-order the exclusive coloured vinyl here.

Tracklisting:

"Black Summer"
"Here Ever After"
"Aquatic Mouth Dance"
"Not The One"
"Poster Child"
"The Great Apes"
"It’s Only Natural"
"She’s A Lover"
"These Are The Ways"
"Whatchu Thinkin’"
"Bastards Of Light"
"White Braids & Pillow Chair"
"One Way Traffic"
"Veronica"
"Let ‘Em Cry"
"The Heavy Wing"
"Tangelo"

"Not The One":

"Poster Child" video:

"Black Summer" video:

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce recently announce that Red Hot Chili Peppers will be honored with the 2,717th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Thursday, March 31, at 11:30 AM, PDT. The star will be dedicated in the category of Recording in front of Amoeba Music at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard.

“Our hometown Hollywood boys are finally coming to collect their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. We have been waiting for them to break away from their busy schedules to dedicate their star and we are thrilled to welcome them to our Walk of Fame family,” stated Ana Martinez, Hollywood Walk of Fame Producer.

Joining Emcee Nicole Mihalka, Chair of the Board for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, to unveil the star will be musicians George Clinton, Bob Forrest and actor Woody Harrelson.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the popular star ceremonies, encourages people who are unable to attend and fans around the world to watch the event exclusively on here.

(Photo - Sandy Kim)