Did you watch ‘the big game’ on the weekend? Catch the half time show? Bet you woke up the next day to all sorts of things on Facebook, Twitter and the like about the Red Hot Chili Peppers open letter to fans from bassist Flea about why their guitars/bass were unplugged.
In his letter, Flea states, “When we were asked by the NFL and Bruno to play our song Give It Away at the Super Bowl, it was made clear to us that the vocals would be live, but the bass, drums, and guitar would be pre-recorded.” The band debated the choice… and By God its the SuperBowl! A once in a lifetime opportunity – so of course the band said yes – but on their own terms.
The guitars, bass and drum were recorded prior to the event, and the band put their own unique spin on it, shortening it down for the time allotment and changing things in a way that was unique to this particular performance (said Flea) and to most people that makes perfect sense. On the one hand.. make a conscious choice to air guitar (with live vocals) and risk pissing off your fan base or making a mockery out of the music…. or on the other hand miss an amazing opportunity over what some might consider ego. Hell, Beyonce sang for Obama and it was pre-taped.. Her voice, her unique vocal style and so really.. her.. and she caught a little flack about it but not much.. so why the uproar?
Perhaps due to RHCP being a band that plays their hearts out and sweats blood at every performance. A band that people thought would ‘never’ do this.. but the kicker was actually quite hilarious to me! They left their guitars and bass unplugged!
As Flea says, “Could we have plugged them in and avoided bumming people out who have expressed disappointment that the instrumental track was pre recorded? Of course easily we could have and this would be a non-issue. We thought it better to not pretend. It seemed like the realest thing to do in the circumstance.”
Hats off to the Chili Peppers for taking an awkward situation and making the best of it for themselves and fans.
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photo courtesy of CBC