Chad Smith biography

Chad Smith was born to Curtis and Joan Smith in Richfield, Minnesota. He has two older siblings, Bradley and Pamela. He grew up inHomewood, Illinois or Flossmoor, Illinois where he attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School for two years. He then moved to Oakland County in Southeast Michigan and graduated from Lahser High School.^[1] Prior to joining Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smith was in a local Detroit band called Toby Redd, playing on their second album In The Light.

In 1989, he joined RHCP in time for them to put out the album Mother's Milk. Three weeks prior to the beginning of recording, the band was still without a drummer. Philip "Fish" Fisher from fellow LA based Punk-Funk band Fishbone briefly joined the band and is featured on the track "Taste the Pain". Eventually, a friend of the band told them about a drummer she knew, Chad Smith, who was so proficient on the drums he "ate [them] for breakfast".[39] Kiedis had qualms about allowing Smith to try out; however, he agreed to give him a chance. At his audition, Smith overwhelmed the band by not only matching Flea's intricate and complex rhythm, but even beginning to lead him. After this successful jam session, Kiedis, Frusciante and Flea admitted Smith into the band. Smith was told to shave his head to show commitment to the band, but was nonetheless still allowed into the band when he showed up the next day with the same bandana.

In an interview he stated that he had been influenced by many of the musicians who came from those British bands in the 60s and early 70s, including John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Ginger Baker, Ian Paice, Roger Meddows-Taylor, Keith Moon, and Bill Ward.

In 1991, Smith had a small role in the short film Session Man, which won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject.^[2]

In 1995, Smith and Dave Navarro formed a side project, called Honeymoon Stitch. They recorded one song for a Joy Division tribute album and produced a successful remix of the Traci Lords single, Fallen Angel.^[3]

Smith has released an instructional DVD with Hal Leonard entitled Eastern Rim, which includes footage from his clinics in Melbourne and Tokyo, footage from various live performances, and interviews.

From 2004 to 2008, Chad played drums on one live album and three studio albums by Black Sabbath and Deep Purple bassist/vocalist, Glenn Hughes.

In 2008, Chad formed Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats, a jazz instrumental funk-rock band. The band released their second album, More Meat on October 19, 2010.^[4]

Smith is involved in a supergroup/side project called Chickenfoot. He is joined by guitarist Joe Satriani, as well as former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony. Their album was released by Best Buy in the U.S. on June 5, 2009.^[5][6] Smith plans on recording a second album with Chickenfoot sometime in late 2010 after the next Chili Peppers album and tour are finished.^[7]

In the May 2006 issue of Doell & Ford Magazine, Smith was named the number one rock drummer alive.^[8]

In 2006, Chad played drums on the Dixie Chicks album, Taking the Long Way. The album won five Grammy Awards including album of the year.

Smith was a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards.^[9]

Many consider Smith and actor Will Ferrell to bear a striking resemblance. Smith was seen to be wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan, "I am not Will Ferrell" when Chickenfoot appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in 2009.^[10]

In April 2010, Chad teamed up with singer, Leslie Bixler and legendary actor, Dick Van Dyke to record a children's album, titled Rhythm Train. Van Dyke raps on the album and plays various characters including a pirate. Smith too plays numerous characters, the drums, several instruments and sings.^[11] In April 2010, Rhythm Train was named by MTV as one it's all time favorite children's records and in June 2010 RED/Sony began distributing Rhythm Train. Smith's son Cole was the inspiration for the project. In June 2010 Rhythm Train performed at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's, A Time For Heroes celebrity family picnic which benefits the Foundation. Rhythm Train is scheduled to headline a PS ARTS fundraiser in November 2010. A portion of all proceeds from Rhythm Train go to Children's Hospitals in The United States benfiting uncompensated care. A follow up project is much anticipated both by the media and the public. No word as to a release date.

On September 13, 2010, after eleven months of writing, Smith along with his Chili Peppers bandmates entered the studio to begin work on their tenth studio album, which is due out in 2011.^[12]

On October 15, 2010, Chad talked about his future with Chickenfoot during a interview and stated that he planned on recording the second album with the band around January 2011 after his work is complete on the next Chili Peppers record (which he said is due out by the summer of 2011). Chad mentioned that because he will be touring with the Chili Peppers in support of their new album, he would be unable to tour with Chickenfoot, so the latter band is planning on finding a replacement touring drummer.^[13]