The Red Hot Chili Peppers was awarded the Global Icon Award last Sunday at the Video Music Awards. The band with its core and longtime members intact--Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith—were on hand to accept the award.
The Chili Peppers appearance at the show also marks their first performance at the event in over two decades.
The band played a live version of their recent single “Black Summer” and the 2002 RHCP classic “Can’t Stop.”
Iconic comedy duo Cheech & Chong presented the Red Hot Chili Peppers with their award.
Chad the opportunity to remember his late friend and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in his speech.
“There’s another musical icon, a global icon, and his name is my brother Taylor Hawkins. I want to dedicate this to Taylor and his family. I love them, and I miss him everyday. Fly on, Hawk. Fly on, brother,” Smith said.
After their performance, Flea and Anthony had extra words of thanks for their listeners over the past decades.
“I also want to thank planet Earth and the people of planet Earth for listening and caring and paying attention to what we do,” said Anthony, adding, “it’s a blessing. But really, really, really, I want to thank Flea and John and Chad f**king Smith for giving me purpose in my life for the last 40 years. I would have been a free-floating disaster in space if not for these boys. So thank you, boys, for giving me something to do with my life and love.”
Flea meanwhile acknowledged everything under God’s earth. “I love cockroaches and dirt and trees and every human being on the (planet). And fishing, and deers, and deer antlers, and birds, and the sky and love. And everything that isn’t love is cowardice. I love you.”
The Global Icon Award “celebrates an artist whose unparalleled career, continued impact and influence have maintained a unique level of global success in music and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the music landscape.”