Watch Red Hot Chili Peppers Cover Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

It's 1991 all over again

Photo: Matt Forsythe

BY Alex HudsonPublished Oct 31, 2022

In 1991, just as alt-rock was blowing up in the mainstream, Nirvana toured as the Red Hot Chili Peppers' opening act — and now RHCP have thrown back to that time by covering Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

The Chili Peppers performed a short set as part of a benefit for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, the music school run by bassist Flea, on Saturday night (October 29). To close the set, they did a cover of "Teen Spirit," which featured Anthony Kiedis singing lead on the verse (and not quite nailing the lyrics) and guitarist John Frusciante taking over vocals on the chorus and doing a fairly convincing scream.

Watch the performance below.

This weekend, former RHCP drummer (and longtime Dead Kennedys member) D.H. Peligro died after a fall at home.

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