This post was originally published in 2016 when the album celebrated its 25th anniversary.

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ all-time classic ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’ has turned 27. Get an album crash course below.

B.S.S.M Quick Facts:

– Iconic album of the ’90’s and widely regarded as RHCP’s best album.

– Common themes are sex, drugs, death and justice.

– Guitarist John Frusciante had to quit mid-tour due to the excessive fame and tour requirements.

– Blood Sugar Sex Magik came out the same day as Nirvana’s Nevermind.

– Album was recorded in Harry Houdini’s old haunted mansion.

– Produced by Rick Rubin.

Track By Track:

1. “The Power of Equality” – An anti-racism/inequality song inspired by Public Enemy.

2. “If You Have to Ask” – This is a funky track that is about nothing in particular. “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”

3. “Breaking the Girl” – The story Kiedis’ emotionally destructive break up with model Carmen Hawk.

4. “Funky Monks” – This one is about travelling as a band and having lots of sex.

5. “Suck My Kiss” – This song is pure sex.

6. “I Could Have Lied” – Inspired by Jimi Hendrix musically, Anthony says this song is about a break up with Sinead O’Connor (she denies the two ever dated).

7. “Mellowship Slinky in B Major” – This song is a list of some of Anthony Kiedis’ favourite things like Bukowski, Robert De Niro and sex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPJNeuSB6b8

8. “The Righteous & the Wicked” – More ‘Power Of Equality-esque’ social  commentary this time focusing on things like war and abortion.

9. “Give it Away” – RHCP explore the idea “The more you give, the more you receive, so why not give it all away?”.

10. “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” – Another about sex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwKen34wdYE

11. “Under the Bridge” – The albums biggest hit is about Keidis’ desperate drug addiction.

12. “Naked in the Rain” – Keidis sings about being vulnerable in a sketchy world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCSSQHFndWA

13. “Apache Rose Peacock” – Kiedis sees beautiful girl on the street, woos her and has sex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjcUJcPEGmY

14. “The Greeting Song” – Kiedis hates this song and reluctantly recorded it. It was the idea of album producer Rick Rubin.

15. “My Lovely Man” – Song is about former guitarist Hillel Slovak who died of heroin overdose at 25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxsJNEJ8SCs

16. “Sir Psycho Sexy” – Another song about Kiedis being a ladies man and having lots of glorious sex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfV40o5IXAo

17. “They’re Red Hot” – RHCP cover a Robert Johnson song outside on a hill at 2am (you can hear cars passing by) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mywlUxpuO7w

 

Filed under: blood sugar sex magik, Give It Away, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Under The Bridge