HOLY GRAILS
Below is a list of “holy grails” – moments and items and recordings from the band’s history which are yet to surface. We've put them in one place in the hopes to jog dusty memories, or to incite more public interest in their uncovering.
One thing to remember: sometimes items that we didn't even know existed can surface. In 2006, just before the release of Stadium Arcadium, the bands catalogue was released on iTunes and other online stores. With this came the release of tracks like “Bob,” “Quixotic Elixir” and “Bicycle Song”; tracks we weren't expecting, or that were only barely alluded to prior their surprise release one day.
Who knows what else is out there.
1980: July 13 New Wave Theater performance by Anthym
Anthym, the pre-Chili Peppers band featuring Flea, Hillel, Jack and singer/guitarist Alain Johannes, performed on this public access show in July 1980. A recording is known to exist, supposedly in the Retro Video archives. While this would already be a nice curio to see, featuring pre-fame members of the band, what really sets this performance apart is the fact that Anthony seems to have introduced the band as he did in those days, doing his usual MC schtick, and was perhaps interviewed as well.
1986: “Set it Straight”
This track was written and recorded in February 1986 by the Chili Peppers for the movie Tough Guys. It features in the movie, but the song itself was never released, nor has it ever leaked. A demo version surfaced in 2024. More information here.
1989: The unknown “Pretty Woman” song
In a 1989 interview with Thrust magazine, John stated that the band only recorded “Show Me Your Soul” because the original song they wrote for Pretty Woman was rejected for being too slow. No further details about this original song have surfaced, though the fact that it was rejected when compared against footage from the film implies that a recorded version exists.
1990: Blood Sugar Sex Magik demos
The band did a demo session in mid-to-late 1990, containing many songs that would have ended up on Blood Sugar Sex Magik, and some that didn’t. It has not been heard since.
1991: The potential missing song from the Blood Sugar Sex Magik sessions
vh1 aired a documentary about Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 2002, and with it came some previously unseen footage of the band recording the album. Overlaid on that footage is what appears to the band, with Rick, listening to a previously unheard track. You can hear that here. It’s name is unknown; there’s a chance it’s not even the RHCP playing - it could be stock music overlaid by vh1.
1991: additional “Funky Monks” footage
Additional footage was shot during the recording sessions, and some may be floating around collectors circles, though that is unconfirmed. Though rumours have circulated that a three hour cut exists, that is not the case. Gavin Bowden, the fim’s director, told a fan that a 70-minute cut was prepared during the editing process, but that Warner Bros. requested a 60-minute version instead, to save on tape stock. Bowden mentioned that the cut footage featured a seance and some extra music, and that anything shot is not in the possession of Warner Bros. Any additional footage may also feature the possible missing BSSM song that was featured in a VH1 documentary about the album (see above), which also featured some extra footage not seen in Funky Monks or the “Suck My Kiss” video. Extra footage may have been shown during a 1992 episode of Norwegian TV show U (see below).
A version of the film with 19 semi-new minutes of footage, probably some of the stuff that was cut at the request of Warner Bros., was uploaded to Youtube in 2013.
Here is some recent info from director Gavin Bowden.
1991: Higher fidelity version of the Blood Sugar Sex Magik sessions tape
This currently only exists as a 128kbps mp3 rip from a poor sounding tape. More information about the release of the initial release of the tape can be read here.
1992: February 27, 1992 edition of “U”
U was a Norwegian variety show that aired a Red Hot Chili Peppers-themed show in February of 1992. According to this entry, Funky Monks out-takes were shown on the February 27, 1992 edition, though any further information is yet to surface. NRK, the Norwegian public broadcaster, is not able to air the episode due to copyright.
1994-5: “Deep Kick” – the One Hot Minute documentary
Perhaps the most elusive piece of Chili Peppers history. Recorded in 1994 and 1995, the documentary was to show the band during the recording of One Hot Minute, similar to the way Funky Monks showed them recording Blood Sugar Sex Magik. However, there’s a slight twist in that it featured smaller short films inter-cut – one for each band member. If anything, it appears to be a lot closer to Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains The Same, with its random insane fantasy sequences cut in to the band's live performance. The videos for Chad and Dave have appeared elsewhere, featured in the compilation uploaded here. In early 2021, several minutes of the documentary was uploaded as part of a film editor’s showreel. Anthony also mentions the documentary in Scar Tissue. Though this is unconfirmed, it would seem that the in-studio video for My Friends was edited down from parts of the documentary, though its hard to tell which bits are real footage and which bits have been re-recorded for the video. There also appears to be shots from the footage intercut into this TV special. Other reliable sources have said that it features footage from backstage at the 1994 Woodstock show, the bands rehearsal sessions in Hawaii, and the recording of the album itself, most notably a scene involving Anthony's vocals for Transcending and percussion overdubs for “The Junkie Song” (which may or may not have ended up becoming “Bob”) featuring Stephen Perkins.
A rough cut is known to exist, but in what state is unknown.
Here is some recent info from director Gavin Bowden.
1999: Simon Mayo BBC1 session
On June 10, 1999, the band performed an intimate session on Simon Mayo’s BBC1 radio show. Somehow, it has never surfaced, but is highly sought after if only for its elusiveness. Photographs taken on the day were later used for the “Around the World” cover single.
2000-2003: Rehearsal tapes
DAT and cassette tapes of the bands rehearsals, whether they be jams for new songs, rehearsals for tours, etc., are known to circulate among collectors.
2003: The rest of the Greatest Hits sessions
See here.
2005: John’s June 8 “Hullaballoo” performance
John performed a solo show at the first ever Silverlake Conservatory benefit (back when they were called Hullaballoo Festivals) in June 2005. This was the last time he performed live solo (and may be the final time he ever does so), and could have featured songs not heard since. Unfortunately a setlist or recording has never surfaced. More information here.
2006: The potential missing song from the Stadium Arcadium sessions
In several pre-release interviews, the band said they recorded 38 songs during recording sessions for Stadium Arcadium. To date, only 37 songs have surfaced. It is unclear if the song exists in a finished state, or if perhaps the band were incorrect in how many songs were actually finished.
2011: The unheard “I’m with You” tracks
In a video for Inside The Mix, Andrew Scheps states that the band tracked fifty songs during the I’m With You sessions: “Not just basic tracks of fifty songs, actually almost finished recording fifty songs, including final lead vocals,” he said. That means there are over twenty “almost finished” songs yet to be heard.
?: “Real Man”
This track used to appear on the BMI repertoire page for the band, stating it was written by John, Flea, Anthony and Chad. But no further information is available. The fact it appeared in the band’s repertory means it was prepared for release at one point, and copyrighted, much like “Human Satellite.” It was also sold to Hipgnosis along with the rest of the Moebetoblame catalog, which means it dated from prior to Unlimited Love. Apart from that - it’s anyones guess as to what it is. Judging from the fact that it no longer appears in searches, it might have simply been a mistake.