What’s going on my fellow rock n’ rollers. Don’t forget to hit the bell notification
icon to be notified everytime i put out a new video on my channel. In 1990 The Red Hot
Chili Peppers appeared on an MTV Spring Break special where they were playing a dubbed performance
of their song ‘Knock Me Down’. A day after their performance two members of the chili
pepper would be arrested by police and MTV threw the entire band off the set. What happened
stay tuned to find out!
Back in 1987 MTV launched a new TV program called Club MTV which was a dance show that
featured a video of a song and showed some young adults and teens dancing to that particular
track. Some episodes of the program also featured live performances by artists as well. And
the show was part of the channel’s second generation of programming as they introduced
new VJ’s. Hosting the show was Downtown Julie Brown who you can now hear on Sirius
XM 90’s on 9. If you’ve ever read the book I want my MTV which is a fantastic read
she seems like an absolute nightmare to work with.
Getting back to the story. In 1990 the program was in Florida at Daytona Beach for Spring
Break and appearing on the show was the band The Red Hot Chili Peppers who were performing
a mimed version of their single Knock Me Down from their album ‘Mother’s Album’.
Towards the end of the band’s performance as you can see here the band members started
swinging instruments around and walk off the stage, more specifically drummer Chad Smith
and bassist Flea. What happened next wasn’t shown on TV but it made the news everywhere.
According to the local police Smith went into the audience picked up a female, 20 years
of age who happened to be a student from Virginia placed her over his shoulders
Smith was joined by Flea, who allegedly pulled the woman's bathing suit bottom partially
off and started slapping her behind, according to a local beach ranger.
Despite the woman’s repeated protests and attempts to free herself, she was thrown onto
the sand.. And following that Flea kneel atop her, start grabbing at her, and demand that
she perform a lude act on him, The woman was not seriously injured but was bruised and
shaken by the incident, MTV security threw flea and Smith off property
of the Texan Motel, which was MTV's base during spring break. Later that day a warrant would
be issued by the police and they would arrest both memebers.
Flea, who was 26, was charged with battery, disorderly conduct and solicitation to commit
an unnaturaland released on $2,000 bail. Smith, 28, was charged with battery and released
on $1,000 bail. All the charges were misdemeanors.,and an MTV spokeswoman, said the performance would
be aired the following weekend on the cable channel, but the off-stage incident would
be edited out. om/551699
In 1992 rolling stone magazine did a piece on the band and they brought up the incident
with Flea remembering “I just grabbed the first thing in front of me; and it happened
to be a girl,”. “I picked her up over my shoulder, and as far as I was concerned,
she was thrilled as hell. I didn’t know that Chad had spanked her, which was faux
pas No. 1. And in spinning her around, I committed a huge faux pas” he’d say
Smith told the magazine “They totally tried to make an example of us,” I’m not trying
to blame anybody else. But the way it came out was that it was a real malicious thing,
that we tried to beat this girl up.” he’d say
But Flea would express remorse over his actions revealing:
“I did verbally abuse her, and it was wrong,” “I will admit to that every time. I wish
I’d never done it, and it was a really stupid thing to do. I was out of control. But I did
not assault anybody he’d say
And The Florida incident according to the magazine put a crimp in the Chili Peppers’
stage act for a short while as The band’s manager would claim the band soon became a
target with the magazine stating ‘But the firestorm of publicity, now combined with
the increased glare of mainstream success and the rising tide of conservative moral
hysteria, has forced the band to be more vigilant over the long haul about crossing the line
between hormonal slapstick and what some people might consider sexual menace.’ That does
it for today’s video guys thanks for watching. Be sure to hit the like button and subscribe.
If you have suggestions for future topics let me know in the comments section below.
Take care.