Sometimes, you turn around and look back, and it is stunning just how long ago some things in your life were. When something like that happens, you can hardly believe it. Where did the time go? The calendar may tell you that those memories were a very long time ago, even though it sometimes feels like it was not all that long ago. Sometimes, it feels like they just happened.
The article below was a little like that, harkening back to a day when the Red Hot Chili Peppers were already big (although not as big as they were to become). They had a tour, and two emerging bands - Pearl Jam and Nirvana - were the bands that supported them, opened for them. That tour started a quarter of a century ago yesterday - on December 27th, 1991.
When I think back to 25 years ago, it is like that. Obviously, I was younger - much younger. Also, I was still in high school. The Cold War had just ended. Two years before, several political revolutions in eastern Europe - mostly peaceful - had broken out of the long Soviet control that had been in effect in the post-war years. On the day that this tour started, the Soviet Union had just officially dissolved, and the last vestiges of the Cold War days ended.
Yes, the world was a different place. Apartheid was still being dismantled in South Africa, although the pain of this change would last a while yet. Saddam Hussein had just been brought down on his knees during the first Gulf War, kicked out of Kuwait unceremoniously. And a presidential election was about to kick off, although at that time, incumbent George H.W. Bush was widely popular and considered a huge favorite to win re-election. By the time that the Democratic challenger was nominated, Bush would be a lot more vulnerable. As it turns out, that Democratic challenger would be Bill Clinton, and he would win two terms in the White House.
That was the backdrop for this mini tour, with these three bands playing some incredible shows, right on the even of when they were all about to explode in terms of popularity! This was made possible only because another great band that was about to explode in a similar manner, the Smashing Pumpkins, had to pull out. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were, at least at that point, the most established of the bands,and coming off their strongest album ever with Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Now, the early 1990's was a time when some great albums came out, including those be the other bands on this bill, with Pearl Jam's Ten and Nirvana's Nevermind. But Blood Sugar Sex Magik was one of the very best albums of that period, and still sounds fresh and unique today - a full quarter of a century later!
I have been to a lot of concerts, and have seen almost all of the bands involved with the tour. I have seen Pearl Jam numerous times, saw the Smashing Pumpkins a couple of times (as well as Zwan, which was comprised of a couple of members of the Smashing Pumpkins), seen the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and saw the surviving members of Nirvana perform with Paul McCartney (this makeshift band was called Sirvana).
Still, I regret to say that I did not go to any of these shows. But to have seen all of these bands back then, when they were at or nearing their peak, would have been something incredible! Frankly, it gives me a sense of awe just thinking about it, reflecting on how it must have been even all of these years later! What a bill!
Below is the link to the article about this mini tour with some of the standout, iconic bands of a truly great era!
That was the backdrop for this mini tour, with these three bands playing some incredible shows, right on the even of when they were all about to explode in terms of popularity! This was made possible only because another great band that was about to explode in a similar manner, the Smashing Pumpkins, had to pull out. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were, at least at that point, the most established of the bands,and coming off their strongest album ever with Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Now, the early 1990's was a time when some great albums came out, including those be the other bands on this bill, with Pearl Jam's Ten and Nirvana's Nevermind. But Blood Sugar Sex Magik was one of the very best albums of that period, and still sounds fresh and unique today - a full quarter of a century later!
I have been to a lot of concerts, and have seen almost all of the bands involved with the tour. I have seen Pearl Jam numerous times, saw the Smashing Pumpkins a couple of times (as well as Zwan, which was comprised of a couple of members of the Smashing Pumpkins), seen the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and saw the surviving members of Nirvana perform with Paul McCartney (this makeshift band was called Sirvana).
Still, I regret to say that I did not go to any of these shows. But to have seen all of these bands back then, when they were at or nearing their peak, would have been something incredible! Frankly, it gives me a sense of awe just thinking about it, reflecting on how it must have been even all of these years later! What a bill!
Below is the link to the article about this mini tour with some of the standout, iconic bands of a truly great era!
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, & Pearl Jam Started A Tour Together On This Day 25 Years Ago posted by Dave Melamed on Tuesday December 27th, 2016:
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