RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS have released a new song inspired by legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen. “Eddie” is taken from RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS‘ upcoming second album of 2022, “Return Of The Dream Canteen”, which will arrive on October 14. The LP will be issued just six months after the release of “Unlimited Love”. Watch the video below.
In “Eddie”, RHCP front-man Anthony Kiedis delivers lines that are a clear reference to the late VAN HALEN axeman. He sings: “Sailing the Sunset Strip, I’m a bit of a king / Granny would take a trip, I’ll be bending the strings / Got hammers in both my hands, such a delicate touch / They say I’m from Amsterdam, does that make me Dutch?”
Kiedis comments on the inspiration for the song: “Sometimes we don’t realize how deeply affected and connected we are to artists until the day they die. Eddie Van Halen was a one of a kind. The day after his death [RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist] Flea came into rehearsal with an emotional bass line. John [Frusciante, guitar], Chad [Smith, drums] and I started playing along and pretty soon with all our hearts, a song in his honor effortlessly unfolded. It felt good to be sad and care so much about a person who had given so much to our lives.”
He continued: “Although the song doesn’t speak to Eddie by name, it talks about his early days on the Sunset Strip and the rock ‘n’ roll tapestry that VAN HALEN painted on our minds. In the end, our song asks that you not remember Eddie for dying but for living his wildest dream.”
When Eddie died in October 2020, Flea tweeted: “Oh man, bless his beautiful creative heart. I love you Eddie Van Halen, an LA boy, a true rocker. I hope you jam with Jimi tonight. Break through to the other side my brother.”
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS said in a statement: “We went in search of ourselves as the band that we have somehow always been. Just for the fun of it we jammed and learned some old songs. Before long we started the mysterious process of building new songs. A beautiful bit of chemistry meddling that had befriended us hundreds of times along the way. Once we found that slip stream of sound and vision, we just kept mining.”
The band continued: “With time turned into an elastic waist band of oversized underwear, we had no reason to stop writing and rocking. It felt like a dream. When all was said and done, our moody love for each other and the magic of music had gifted us with more songs than we knew what to do with. Well we figured it out. 2 double albums released back to back. The second of which is easily as meaningful as the first or should that be reversed.”
“Return Of The Dream Canteen” Album Artwork
Pre-orders for “Return Of The Dream Canteen” have begun via the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS web site. It’s available on double vinyl, CD, cassette or digital download.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS added: “‘Return Of The Dream Canteen’ is everything we are and ever dreamed of being. It’s packed. Made with the blood of our hearts, yours truly, the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS.”
“Return Of The Dream Canteen” marks the second RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS album since the return of guitarist John Frusciante, who rejoined the band in late 2019.
