Story

The Chili Peppers are no doubt unique, certainly one of a kind. I finished this painting just days before the bands April 06’ Sydney arrival. I arrived early to try and meet up with the band at the airport, not knowing exactly where or what time they were due to arrive. I had been standing about for 5 hours and began to get a horrible feeling that the Peppers may have arrived the night before, just as I thought this, I had a phone call giving me a tip off that true to my thoughts, they had already arrived.

So I decided to head for the hotel I had hoped they would be at. When I arrived there I saw no signs of any of the guys. I was a little bit confused. Then, again I got a phone call telling me that the band had just arrived at the airport and were on route in cars heading for their hotel, mind you I was also being told I was at the wrong hotel ! I began running to the now supposed hotel, as I got there exhausted and feeling very hot I saw the band coming towards me in their cars, and what happens…..

They begin driving past me and the hotel I was told to be at ! First goes Chad, then Anthony followed by Flea. But wait ! The fourth car turned into the hotel I was at ! So I assumed it to be John. I held my painting up high and caught the attention of the person in the car, but as I looked, I couldn’t help but notice John was not in the car. So I backed off. As the person in the car got out, he came towards me laughing and all happy, I thought, ‘who’s this ? Some guy with short hair in a beanie, and big glasses ’ He came right up to me and asked if I would like him to sign the painting, I looked very baffled and said to him, that “I was hoping to get the Chili Peppers to sign my work”. To which he told me, “I don’t know where they’re staying” still laughing at me, and again said, “so do you want me to sign “ Now I was really confused as to who he was and I said straight to him thinking maybe he was an extra band session musician, “ well are you in the band ?”………………….Oh my goodness ! Did I mess up !. he laughed still, and pointed to a face on the painting and said, “ THAT’S ME MAN ! “ and he began walking backwards into the hotel shaking his head and sniggering. That’s when it hit me, this guy was John Frusciante !

I begged at John to come back as he stood inside the hotel behind the glass laughing the whole time,

“PLEASE John come back, you look so different, ive never seen you with short hair, and your wearing a hat and glasses im so sorry !” I felt awful, a band I love and I didn’t know his face, but hey, he looked so much not like the John Frusciante I’m familiar with. Finally after letting me sweat he came back out and signed very quickly as I apologised continually. Talk about most embarrassing moments !

After that madness, I ran back to the first hotel I was waiting at to see if that’s where the others had gone. Sure enough they were there. Later that night, some 3 hours later, Chad emerged from the hotel and kindly stopped giving the few fans there all the time he could offer, signing records and having photos, and of course signing my painting. Chad is a legend a true rock star and he’s huge !

I called it a night and went back the following day to try and catch Anthony & Flea. After waiting for 4 hours Anthony came out of the hotel, to a small gathering. He seemed very cautious and slowly came over to my pleas signing only my painting before heading off to that nights concert performance.

Some 3 hours later, Flea, in great rock star format came out the hotel carrying a silver bass guitar ! It was so cool ! He was very rushed and signed a few autographs, saying to me as he signed my painting, “you’ve made me look weird “