Editing Red Hot Chili Peppers (section)

=== 1988–1989: Frusciante and Smith join ===
[[File:Red Hot Chili Peppers at Ohana2019-313 (49679348892).jpg|thumb|[[Chad Smith]] (shown performing with the band for [[Ohana Festival]] in [[Dana Point, California]], September 2019) has been the Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer since 1988.]]

[[DeWayne McKnight|DeWayne "Blackbyrd" McKnight]], a former member of [[Parliament-Funkadelic]], joined as guitarist, and [[D. H. Peligro]] of [[Dead Kennedys]] joined as drummer.{{When|date=January 2021}} Kiedis re-entered rehab for 30 days, and visited Slovak's grave as part of his rehabilitation, finally confronting his grief. Three dates into the tour, McKnight was fired for lack of chemistry with the band.<ref name="Apter224">{{harvnb|Apter|2004|p=224}}</ref> McKnight was so unhappy he threatened to burn down Kiedis' house.<ref name="Apter173">{{harvnb|Apter|2004|p=173}}</ref>

Peligro introduced Kiedis and Flea to the 18-year-old guitarist [[John Frusciante]], a fan of the band,<ref name="Apter179">{{harvnb|Apter|2004|p=179}}</ref> who brought a darker and more melodic style.<ref name="May 7-2015">{{Cite web|last1=May 7|first1=Tim|last2=Karan|date=2015|title=23 Years Ago: John Frusciante Quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers|url=https://diffuser.fm/john-frusciante-quits-red-hot-chili-peppers-anniversary/|access-date=September 12, 2020|website=Diffuser.fm|language=en|archive-date=October 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003040815/https://diffuser.fm/john-frusciante-quits-red-hot-chili-peppers-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref> Frusciante performed his first show with the Chili Peppers in September 1988. The new lineup began writing for the next album and went on a short tour, the Turd Town Tour. In November, Kiedis and Flea fired Peligro due to his drug and alcohol problems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duran |first=Anagricel |date=May 4, 2023 |title=Dead Kennedys issue statement on D.H. Peligro's cause of death |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/dead-kennedys-issue-statement-on-d-h-peligros-cause-of-death-3439431 |access-date=June 3, 2024 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> After open auditions, they hired the drummer [[Chad Smith]] in December 1988, who has remained since.<ref name="Apter181">{{harvnb|Apter|2004|p=181}}</ref> According to Smith, "We started playing, and right away we just hit it off musically."<ref>{{cite web|date=March 30, 2012|title=Chad Smith talks about the Red Hot Chili Peppers induction into the Hall of Fame in 2012|url=http://stadium-arcadium.com/30-03-2012/chad-smith-red-hot-chili-peppers-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-gary-graff-article/red-hot-chili-peppers-news/article17340|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220102211/http://stadium-arcadium.com/30-03-2012/chad-smith-red-hot-chili-peppers-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-induction-gary-graff-article/red-hot-chili-peppers-news/article17340|archive-date=February 20, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2012|website=Stadium-arcadium.com}}</ref>

The Chili Peppers began work on their fourth album in late 1988.<ref name="Apter185">{{harvnb|Apter|2004|p=185}}</ref> Unlike the stop-start sessions for ''The Uplift Mofo Party Plan,'' preproduction went smoothly. However, the sessions were made tense by Beinhorn's desire to create a hit, frustrating Frusciante and Kiedis.<ref name="Apter188">{{harvnb|Apter|2004|p=188}}</ref> Released on August 16, 1989, ''[[Mother's Milk (album)|Mother's Milk]]'' peaked at number 52 on the [[Billboard 200|U.S. ''Billboard'' 200]].<ref name="billalbums" /> The record failed to chart in the United Kingdom and Europe, but climbed to number 33 in Australia.<ref name="auscharts">{{cite web |url = http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers&cat=a |title = australian-charts.com&nbsp;— Australian charts portal |access-date = May 31, 2008 |publisher = ARIA Charts |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707191050/http://www.australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers&cat=a |archive-date = July 7, 2011 |url-status = live}}</ref> "[[Knock Me Down]]" reached number six on the [[Modern Rock Tracks|U.S. Modern Rock Tracks]] chart, whereas "[[Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder song)|Higher Ground]]" charted at number eleven<ref name="singleschart">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5241|pure_url=yes}}|title=Red Hot Chili Peppers > Charts and Awards > ''Billboard'' Singles|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=June 7, 2007}}</ref> and reached number 54 in the UK and 45 in Australia and France.<ref name="uksingles">{{Cite book |year = 2006 |editor-last = Roberts |editor-first = David |title = [[Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums|British Hit Singles & Albums]] |edition = 19th |publisher = [[HIT Entertainment]] |isbn = 1-904994-10-5}}</ref><ref name="Australiasingles">{{cite web |url = http://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers&cat=s |title = Australia Singles Charts&nbsp;— Red Hot Chili Peppers |website = Australian-charts.com |access-date = October 3, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011113403/http://australian-charts.com/search.asp?search=Red+Hot+Chili+Peppers&cat=s |archive-date = October 11, 2007 |url-status = live}}</ref> ''Mother's Milk'' was [[certified gold]] in March 1990 and was the first Chili Peppers album to ship over 500,000 units.<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web |url = http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=mother&artist=red%20hot%20chili%20peppers&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title = Search Results |publisher = [[Recording Industry Association of America]] |access-date = December 31, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://www.webcitation.org/6FcCrF9xe?url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&title=mother&artist=red%20hot%20chili%20peppers&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date = April 4, 2013 |df = mdy-all}}</ref>