On Monday, December 20th, Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis and Dave Navarro reunited on stage for the first time since 1997. The old friends connected during Navarro and guitarist Billy Morrison‘s annual Above Ground charity event at Los Angeles, CA’s Fonda Theatre, benefitting MusiCares.
Navarro took to Instagram on Monday afternoon, explaining in a since-deleted post that Billy Idol and Taylor Hawkins would not be able to make their scheduled appearances at the event. Instead, he posted a picture of the rehearsal, blocked out Kiedis’ body, and said: “Ho, ho, ho. We’ve had a few surprises (pictured here) up our stocking that we haven’t yet told you about. And you just need to believe that tonight will absolutely be worth every penny.”
Later that evening, Kiedis joined the musicians on stage, sitting in on vocals for a cover of Lou Reed‘s “Walk On the Wild Side”. This marked the first time Kiedis and Navarro shared a stage since the two worked together in the Chili Peppers during the mid-’90s.
Following the release of Blood Sugar Sex Magik in 1991, problems arose between Kiedis and guitarist John Frusciante. The latter left the group in 1992 and, after the band cycled through a series of guitarists, Navarro signed on as the replacement. Navarro stayed with the Chili Peppers for a few years, recording 1995’s One Hot Minute with Kiedis, bassist Flea (Michael Peter Balzary), and drummer Chad Smith, before Frusciante returned to the band for his second of three stints in 1998.
While Navarro and Kiedis hadn’t reunited since the split in 1998, both the Chili Peppers (with John Frusciante) and Jane’s Addiction (with Navarro) performed at a memorial show for Andrew Burkle, son of billionaire investor Ronald Burkle, on Saturday, February 9th, 2020. Though there was no official collaboration between Kiedis and Navarro, Frusciante did sit in with Jane’s Addiction on the 1988 Nothing’s Shocking hit, “Mountain Song”.
Watch Anthony Kiedis and Dave Navarro perform together on stage for the first time since 1997 at L.A.’s Fonda Theatre via the player below and scroll down for a gallery of photos from the event, courtesy of photographer Jeff Kravitz.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers recently announced a 2022 world tour, set to kick-off in Europe on June 4th, followed by the start of a North American tour on July 23rd at Denver, CO’s Empower Field at Mile High. Head here for tickets and a full list of tour dates.
Above Ground – “Walk On the Wild Side” (Lou Reed) – 12/20/21
[Video: Joel at Music Seen LA]
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