Chad Smith

Chad Smith - © www.vater.com

born on 25/10/1961 in Saint Paul, MN, United States

Chad Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Chad Smith

Chadwick Gaylord "Chad" Smith (born October 25, 1961[1][2][3]) is an American musician, and current drummer of Red Hot Chili Peppers, whom he joined in 1988 and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with. Smith was also the drummer of the hard rock band Chickenfoot and currently the all-instrumental outfit Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats. As one of the most highly sought-after drummers, Smith has recorded with Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes, Kid Rock, Jake Bugg, The Dixie Chicks, Jennifer Nettles, Johnny Cash, John Fogerty and The Avett Brothers, to name a few.

Widely regarded as one of rock music's best drummers, Spin Magazine placed Smith at #10 on their list of the 100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music in May 2013.[4] Readers of UK-based Rhythm magazine ranked Smith and Red Hot Chili Pepper bassist Flea the fourth-greatest rhythm section of all time in their June 2013 issue.[5]

Music career

Smith was born on October 25, 1961, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, but spent most of his childhood in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He spent his early years in various rock bands including Michigan based band, Toby Redd before deciding to head out to California.

In 1988, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were looking for a replacement for their drummer, D.H. Peligro who was recently fired. Already into the process of working on their fourth studio album and hiring new guitarist, John Frusciante, the band held open auditions for a new drummer. Smith was one of the last drummers to audition for the band and right away the band felt just by looks alone, Smith would be the wrong fit however the band was blown away by his audition and singer Anthony Kiedis admired Smith and found his persistence pretty impressive.[6] Smith joined the Chili Peppers in December 1988 and within a few months was recording his first album with the band, Mother's Milk. Smith reflected on joining the band in a 2012 interview by saying I remember thinking, Oh, cool, they have a record deal. Great! Id love to be in a band that has a record deal. We started playing, and right away we just hit it off musically. I was like, Man, this is a blast! These guys are great! We were just doing what we do. We just jammed, which is what we still do today. Its very similar.[7]

After a successful world-wide tour in support of Mother's Milk the band released their major label debut, 1991's Blood Sugar Sex Magik which was hugely successful upon its release peaking at number three on the Billboard charts, and went on to sell thirteen million copies worldwide. It went on to be nominated and win several awards and is highly regarded as one of the best albums of all-time. Shortly into the tour for the album, Frusciante quit the band in 1992 and was replaced by Arik Marshall for the remainder of the tour. Marshall was fired following the tour and briefly replaced by Jesse Tobias who was let go in favor of Dave Navarro in 1994. With Navarro intact, the band would release 1995's One Hot Minute. Navarro too would end up being fired in 1998 following the tour to support the album and replaced with a returning John Frusciante. With Frusciante back, the band released 1999's Californication, their biggest selling album to date. That album was followed by 2002's By the Way and 2006's Stadium Arcadium, the band's first number one album in the United States.

In 2007, Smith, along with fellow Glenn Hughes alumni, guitarist Jeff Kollman and keyboardist Ed Roth, formed an all-instrumental band inspired by their shared love of 1970s funk and fusion. Still unnamed at the time, the group, rounded out by bassist Kevin Chown, debuted at the 2008 NAMM show in Anaheim, California. The band has released two studio albums and a double live disc as Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats since its inception.[8]

Following a lengthy world tour in support of Stadium Arcadium, the Chili Peppers decided to take a break in 2008. During this break, Smith joined the hard rock supergroup Chickenfoot, whose other members are Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony. The group has released two studio albums and a live album to date. Smith was also a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers that same year. The Chili Peppers re-grouped in 2009 after a year-long hiatus to record new music however Frusciante again had quit and was now replaced with Josh Klinghoffer.

Smith released 2010's Rhythm Train, a critically acclaimed children's album which he recorded with Dick Van Dyke and Leslie Bixler.[9] In April 2010, MTV named Rhythm Train one of the best children's records of all time.

The Chili Peppers released I'm with You, their tenth studio album, Smith's seventh with the band in 2011. Due to touring commitments with the Chili Peppers, Smith was unable to tour with Chickenfoot and was replaced by Kenny Aronoff. Smith released The Chad Smith Drum App in March 2012, which is free mobile application for iPhone, iPad and Android devices and features his "Drummer GPS". The GPS section of the app spotlights drummers Smith has been influenced by and those he regards as some of the best drummers around today. The Chad Smith Drum App has received great praise from both fans and from fellow drummers..

In April 2012, the Chili Peppers were inducted by Chris Rock into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A month later, Smith rejoined Chickenfoot for a four-song encore at the Orpheum in Boston, Massachusetts. Smith and the Chili Peppers wrapped up I'm With You World Tour in April 2013. That same month, Smith was asked by NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, to represent the music community by going to Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist in support of music education in US public schools. While in DC, Smith had the opportunity to meet with congressional leaders and share his experience as a student who learned his craft entirely within the public school system. Smith has since been invited back to lobby in April 2014 in support of public school music education.

In May 2013, Smith launched In Conversation with Chad Smith, his own podcast through MusicRadar where he interviews other musical artists.[10]

Smith joined Sammy Hagar in the studio to work on music for his twelfth studio album. They were joined by guitarist Neal Schon and bassist Michael Anthony and according to Hagar it was the rebirth of his 1980s band HSAS, which featured Schon and two other members.[11]

The Chili Peppers launched another lengthy tour in May 2013 and it is expected to keep them on the road until June 2014. During this time, the band appeared alongside Bruno Mars at the halftime for the Super Bowl in February 2014. Smith confirmed that the Chili Peppers would begin work on their eleventh studio album that same month.

Personal life

Smith is married to architect Nancy Mack, with whom he has three children. In addition, Smith has a daughter from a previous marriage and two other children.

He is an active supporter of a number of non-profit organizations including Surfer's Healing, SeriousFun Network, MusiCares, Silverlake Conservatory of Music, Guitar Mash NY and Camp Korey.

Smith lives in Malibu, California.

Will Ferrell resemblance/drum battle

He is also known for his strong resemblance to actor and comedian Will Ferrell, which he has capitalized on by wearing shirts reading "I Am Not Will Ferrell" in live performances. Smith said that the two first met during the premiere of the film, The Ladies Man. "I'm looking at Will and thinking, People really think I look like him? I don't fucking look like that. He looks me up and down and says, 'You're very handsome,' and walks away. Totally deadpan. I was like, 'You're funny. You're funny.'"

In February 2014, through Funny or Die, Smith called out Ferrell during his reddit fan interview blasting his drumming skills by saying "I've seen your skills. You don't got 'em. Mr. Ferrell is a delusional imposter. It seems to me that he has gone off his meds and he needs to seek professional help because I am obviously more talented and handsome than he is. You know, his cowbell work is well-documented, but his drumset skills are nominal based on Step Brothers the film. Other than wiping his testicles on the drums, which of course I give high marks to. Ferrell actually responded during Smith's interview saying "Hi, Chad. Will Ferrell here. I saw your video and I graciously accept your invitation to a drum battle. If we can raise $300,000 for Cancer for College I will face off with you in the greatest drum vs. cowbell showdown the world has ever seen. We can do it on stage at a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert or in front of a mutually convenient public library. Your call. Also, would you rather fight a hundred duck sized ducks or one horse sized horse?" Smith replied to Ferrell saying "Tell Will Ferrell anytime, anyplace, I'll take him down. I don't want to embarrass him, but I'd say don't bring your family. Especially children. I don't want them to see this." Smith followed it up by tweeting a picture of himself giving blood with the caption, "Gettin juiced for the drum battle."[12][13] Ferrell set up a website where you can donate to Cancer for College to make the drum battle a reality.[14]

Equipment

Chad's Pearl Acrylic kit:

  • 12x8 tom
  • 14x14 floor tom
  • 16x16 floor tom
  • 24x16 kick drum
  • 14×5 Pearl Ultracast Snare or a 14x6 Pearl Sensitone Elite
  • 14x6 acrylic Free Floating snare (auxiliary snare)
  • 6x12 acrylic rocket tom
  • 6x13 acrylic rocket tom
  • 6x14 acrylic rocket tom
  • 6x16 acrylic rocket tom
  • Adams Professional tunable tympani

Note: Smith rarely uses his signature snare.

Sabian cymbals:

  • 14" AAX-Celerator Hats,
  • 21" AA Rock Ride,
  • 20" AA Rock Crash,
  • 19" AA Rock Crash,
  • 21" AA Holy China,
  • 10-inch AAX Splash

Vater Percussion sticks:

  • Chad Smith Funk Blaster

Pearl hardware:

  • C1000 straight stand × 5
  • P2000C bass drum pedal
  • H2000 hi-hat stand
  • S2000 snare stand
  • D1000S throne
  • T2000 double tom stand
  • B1000 boom stand
  • AX20 adapter

Remo drumheads:

  • Clear Powerstroke 4 (bass drum batter): 24-inch
  • Clear Emperor (Bass Drum Resonant): 24"
  • Clear Controlled Sound(Tom Batters): 12", 14", 16"
  • Clear Ambassador (Tom Resonants): 12", 14", 16"
  • Coated Controlled Sound X (Snare Batter): 14"
  • Ambassador Hazy (Snare Side): 14"
  • Coated Ambassador (Auxiliary Snare Batter): 14"
  • Controlled sound (rocket toms)
  • Renaissance (tympani)

Gon Bops Percussion:

  • Red Rock Cowbell

Latin Percussion:

  • Red Jam Block

Discography

Red Hot Chili Peppers

  • Mother's Milk (1989)
  • Sock-Cess (1989)
  • Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
  • What Hits!? (1992)
  • The Plasma Shaft (1994)
  • Live Rare Remix Box (1994)
  • Out in L.A. (1994)
  • The Best of Red Hot Chili Peppers (1994)
  • One Hot Minute (1995)
  • Under the Covers: Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers (1998)
  • Californication (1999)
  • By the Way (2002)
  • Greatest Hits (2003)
  • Live in Hyde Park
  • Stadium Arcadium (2006)
  • iTunes Originals Red Hot Chili Peppers (2006)
  • George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love (2008) (features Chili Peppers on the song, "Let the Good Times Roll")
  • 10 Great Songs (2009)
  • Road Trippin' Through Time (2011)
  • I'm with You (2011)
  • Official Bootlegs (2011-2013)
  • 2011 Live EP (2012)
  • Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Covers EP (2012)
  • I'm with You Sessions (2012-2013)
  • I'm Beside You (2013)

·

Glenn Hughes

  • Songs In The Key Of Rock (2003)
  • Soulfully Live In The City Of Angels (2004)
  • Soul Mover (2005)
  • Music For The Divine (2006)
  • First Underground Nuclear Kitchen (2008)

Chickenfoot

  • Chickenfoot (2009)
  • Chickenfoot III (2011)

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats

  • Meet The Meatbats (2009)
  • More Meat (2010)
  • Live Meat And Potatoes (2012)

Other appearances

  • Pharroh (1982)
  • Toby Redd In the Light (1986)
  • Second Self Mood Ring (1990)
  • Session Man (TV short) (1991)
  • Twenty Mondays Twist Inside (1992)
  • Queen Remix (1991)
  • Wild Colonials Fruit of Life (1994)
  • General Clusterfunk Starin' Straight at the Sun (1994)
  • Various Artists A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division (1995)
  • Original Soundtrack Grace of my Heart (1996)
  • Wayne Kramer Dangerous Madness (1996)
  • Thermadore Monkey on Rico (1996)
  • Howard Stern's Private Parts The Album (1997)
  • Lili Haydn Lili (1997)
  • John Fogerty Blue Moon Swamp (1997)
  • Leah Andreone Alchemy (1998)
  • Fishbone The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerk (2000)
  • Various Artists Loud Rocks (2000)
  • Dave Navarro Trust No One (2001)
  • Johnny Cash Unearthed (2003)
  • Hughes Turner Project HTP 2 (2003)
  • Players Clear The Decks (2003)
  • John Frusciante Shadows Collide With People (2004)
  • Dixie Chicks Taking The Long Way (2006)
  • B'z Ichibu to Zenbu/Dive (2009)
  • Rhythm Train with Leslie Bixler, Chad Smith and Featuring Dick Van Dyke (2010)[15]
  • Paul Oakenfold Pop Killer (2010)
  • Kid Rock Born Free (2010)[16]
  • Flea Helen Burns (2012)
  • The Avett Brothers The Carpenter (2012)
  • Sammy Hagar Sammy Hagar & Friends (2013)
  • Steve Lukather Transition

References

  1. Chad Smith (I). IMDb.com
  2. Chad Smith 'N' Red Hot Chili Peppers Yahoo! Voices. voices.yahoo.com (1961-10-25). Retrieved on 2012-04-03.
  3. Chad Smith Bio & Drum Videos. Freedrumlessons.com (1961-10-25). Retrieved on 2012-04-03.
  4. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) The 100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music | SPIN | Best of SPIN | All Time. SPIN (2013-05-21). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  5. The 25 Greatest Rhythm Sections of All Time part 2 | Chad Smith & Flea | Drum News. MusicRadar (2013-02-27). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  6. ["Scar Tissue", Anthony Kiedis with Larry Sloman, 2004, Time Warner Books]
  7. Chad Smith talks about the Red Hot Chili Peppers induction into the Hall of Fame in 2012. Stadium-arcadium.com (2012-03-30). Retrieved on 2012-04-03.
  8. Chad Smith: 'We Just Jam And It's Fun'. ultimate-guitar.com (2012-10-23).
  9. Talking Kids (and Music) With Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
  10. Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith to Kick off Podcast Interview Series. Audio Ink Radio (2013-05-12). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  11. Sammy Hagar Re-Forms HSAS With Red Hot Chili Peppers Drummer Chad Smith. Loudwire.com (2013-05-16). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  12. Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith to Will Ferrell: 'Stop Impersonating Me' | Music News. Rolling Stone (2014-02-07). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  13. Will Ferrell Accepts Red Hot Chili Peppers Drummer Chad Smith's Drum Challenge | Music News. Rolling Stone (2013-06-28). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  14. Win A Nice Little Getaway with Will Ferrell. Prizeo (2014-01-14). Retrieved on 2014-02-12.
  15. Chad Smith Dick Van Dyke Leslie Bixler. The Rhythm Train. Retrieved on 2011-03-13.
  16. Kid Rock Will Be Born Free in November With New Album Release.

External links

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anthony Kiedis | John Frusciante | Flea | Chad Smith
Hillel Slovak | Jack Irons | Dave Navarro | Cliff Martinez | Jack Sherman | Arik Marshall | Jesse Tobias | Dix Denney | D.H. Peligro
Albums and EPs
Red Hot Chili Peppers | Freaky Styley | The Uplift Mofo Party Plan | The Abbey Road E.P. | Mother's Milk | Blood Sugar Sex Magik | What Hits!? | Out in L.A. | One Hot Minute | Californication | By the Way | Greatest Hits | Live in Hyde Park | Stadium Arcadium
Singles
True Men Don't Kill Coyotes | Get Up and Jump | Jungle Man | American Ghost Dance | Catholic School Girls Rule | Hollywood (Africa) | Fight Like a Brave | Me & My Friends | Behind The Sun | Knock Me Down | Higher Ground | Taste the Pain | Show Me Your Soul | Give It Away | Breaking the Girl | Under the Bridge | Suck My Kiss | If You Have To Ask | Soul To Squeeze | Warped | My Friends | Aeroplane | Coffee Shop | Walkabout | Shallow Be Thy Game | Love Rollercoaster | Scar Tissue | Around the World | Otherside | Californication | Road Trippin' | Parallel Universe | By the Way | The Zephyr Song | Can't Stop | Dosed | Universally Speaking | Fortune Faded | Dani California
Other related articles
Chain Reaction | What Is This? | Jane's Addiction | Pearl Jam | Beavis and Butt-head | Coneheads
This page was last modified 01.04.2014 14:04:57

This article uses material from the article Chad Smith from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.