The Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in 1983 in Los Angeles, California. The original lineup consisted of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Michael "Flea" Balzary (bass), Hillel Slovak (guitar), and Jack Irons (drums). Their early sound was a fusion of punk, funk, and rock, which would become a hallmark of their music.

The masterpiece. Recorded in a haunted mansion. Producer Rick Rubin strips away the speed-metal edges for dynamics: whisper-to-scream, quiet verse-to-explosive chorus. It contains “Under the Bridge” (a lonely prayer written in a studio bathroom) and “Give It Away” (a nonsense mantra about altruism). Key track: I Could Have Lied (the most honest heartbreak song in their catalog).