Chad Smith's unabashed hard rock style could have easily clashed with the funk-punk roots of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but instead he proved to be the catalyst that launched the band to international superstardom. His muscular, yet articulate drumming evokes a cross between P-Funk and Deep Purple and acts as the perfect anchor for the bestial rowdiness of his band mates.
Chad grew up in suburban Detroit, feeling like a square peg in a round hole. This unease led to misadventures in car theft, burglary, and even a stint in jail. Musically, he cut his teeth playing in countless Detroit clubs before moving to Los Angeles in 1988, during the Sunset Strip's heyday. He describes the immediate, explosive musical chemistry that has allowed the multi-decade success of the Chili Peppers. Chad also candidly discusses his evolution from living a “spiritually bankrupt” lifestyle to becoming a grounded, healthy family man.
241: Buzz Osborne (Melvins)
240: Meshell Ndegeocello
239: Laura Veirs
238: Mike Post (Rockford Files, A-Team, Van Halen, Dolly Parton, etc.)
237: Jeff Friedl (Beta Machine, Devo, A Perfect Circle, etc.)
236: Jason Sutter (Cher, Marilyn Manson, Foreigner, etc.)
235: Money Mark (Beastie Boys, Beck, Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group, Solo)
234: Hunt Sales (Hunt Sales Memorial, Tin Machine, Iggy Pop)
233: Ben Lee (Noise Addict, Solo Artist)
232: Josiah Wolf (Why?)
231: Steve Gorman (The Black Crowes, Trigger Hippy)
230: Janet Weiss (Quasi, Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag, Elliott Smith, etc.)
229: Anna Waronker (That Dog)
228: Mary Lattimore (Solo Artist, Thurston Moore, Meg Baird, Kurt Vile etc.)
227: Paddy Boom (Scissor Sisters, Solo Artist)
226: Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional)
225: Hugh Grundy (The Zombies)
224: Ali Koehler (Vivian Girls)
223: Jimmy LaValle (The Album Leaf, Tristeza, The Locust, Film Composer, etc.)
222: Hrishikesh Hirway (The One AM Radio, Song Exploder, etc.)
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