Red Hot Chili Peppers Are Metallica? Customs Officials Think So
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are Metallica? According to customs officials in Belarus, they are indeed one and the same.
The Daily Mail reports that the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been touring Europe, and while on a layover between Kiev and Moscow, were asked to autograph various CDs and collectable items by airport officials. The problem? The officials thought the four travelers were members of the band Metallica.
Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea posted some comments about the humorous situation on his Instagram account.
“We were called into customs officials office at an airport in Belarus and they asked us to sign a bunch of Metallica CD’s and photos,” described Flea. “We tried to explain to them that we weren’t Metallica, but they insisted that we sign anyway. They had the power. Well, I did play “Fight Fire” with Metallica once. I love Metallica anyways, but I’m no (Metallica bass player) Robert Trujillo.”
Can you mistake @ChiliPeppers for @Metallica?That's what happened to Flea & co. in Belarus: https://t.co/GkiPT1hxxX pic.twitter.com/HLkmnZn3sh
— KFOG (@KFOGRadio) July 11, 2016
The Chili Peppers are on the road promoting their latest album The Getaway, but likely weren’t prepared for what they encountered in Belarus. Rolling Stone has posed an interesting question regarding this case of mistaken identity. The highly-respected music industry publication wonders “why the customs officials had so much Metallica memorabilia on hand to being with.” They do have a point, it’s almost as if Metallica was expected to arrive at the airport in Belarus that very day.
This isn’t the first time in recent weeks the band has made news. As detailed by the Huffington Post this past June, the Red Hot Chili Peppers participated in “Carpool Karaoke,” a regular comedy bit on The Late Late Show with James Corden. What resulted was a memorable 15 minutes of fun that included singalongs to several of the band’s well-known tunes, random nudity and an impromptu wrestling match on someone’s front lawn. The resulting viral video was the focus of a recent piece published by the Inquisitr.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers, also known to their fans as RHCP, were formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1983. They have a unique style that blends elements of funk, alternative rock, heavy metal, and rap. The two founding members, Anthony Kiedis and Flea, are still with the band today. The band’s big break came in 1991 with the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, which spawned their first smash single, “Under the Bridge.”
Once the Chili Peppers took off, there was no stopping them. The band has scored eight U.S. Top 40 singles and seven U.S. Top 40 albums. They have also been a hit with critics, as they boast 16 career Grammy Award nominations (winning six times).
Grammy® Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Red Hot Chili Peppers return with a new single – "Dark… https://t.co/p8hyRyZe3P
— The Hype Magazine™ (@TheHypeMagazine) May 5, 2016
The band they were mistaken for, Metallica, has also had a very successful career in the music industry. Metallica has a much harder-edged sound than the Chili Peppers, falling more into the category of metal. Like many heavy metal artists, Metallica is known more for their live shows and albums, rather than their ability to produce hit singles. The band has recorded seven U.S. Top 40 albums, the last five going all the way to No. 1.
Metallica’s first U.S. Top 40 single was “One,” released in 1989. The band went on to produce several more hit songs (and accompanying music videos), including “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Until It Sleeps.” Metallica has been nominated for 17 Grammy Awards, winning eight times.
Red Hot Chili Peppers or Metallica? Who would you rather run into at an airport?
[Photo by Helle Arensbak/AP Images]
