Red Hot Chili Peppers' Anthony Kiedis denies drug claims

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Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has dismissed claims that his recent health scare was down to using drugs

Anthony Kiedis

Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis has dismissed the suggestion that his recent health alert was a result of using drugs.

He was rushed to hospital just before his band were about to perform last month, and later diagnosed with intestinal flu.

The drama has given rise to rumours that he’d started taking drugs again.

But Kiedis tells Australia’s Channel 7: “What people assume or think about using, I could care less.

“I felt more care than anything else. I got a lot of messages in the mail. People I hadn’t spoken to for years called.”

He continues: “I happen to love being sober. I also loved being wasted at times. Being sober is a pleasure – I get a lot of joy out of it. I get to surf, hang out with my son, play music. I get to be okay.”

Kiedis previously said he’d learn lessons from the experience of falling ill. Now he adds: “Maybe there was a reason for me to get sick, so I can get stronger than I was before.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers launch 11th album The Getaway on June 17. They previously released streams of the title track and Dark Necessities.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: The Getaway tracklist

  1. The Getaway
  2. Dark Necessities
  3. We Turn Red
  4. The Longest Wave
  5. Goodbye Angels
  6. Sick Love
  7. Go Robot
  8. Feasting On The Flowers
  9. Detroit
  10. This Ticonderoga
  11. Encore
  12. The Hunter
  13. Dreams Of A Samurai

Red Hot Chili Peppers reveal The Getaway title track

Red Hot Chili Peppers tour dates 2016

Jun 03-05: Nuremberg Rock im Park, Germany
Jun 03-05: Mendig Rock am Ring, Germany
Jun 10-12: Nickelsdorf Nova Rock, Austria
Jun 10-12: Landgraaf Pinkpop Festival, Netherlands
Jun 30-Jul 03: Roskilde Festival, Netherlands
Jun 30-Jul 03: Gdynia Open’er Festival, Poland
Jul 02: Werchter Rock Werchter, Belgium
Jul 09: Moscow Park Live Festival, Russia
Jul 10: Kinross T In The Park, UK
Jul 15: Ottawa Ontario At Bluesfest, ON
Jul 16: Quebec Festival d’ete de Quebec, QC
Jul 22: Jisan valley Rock Festival, South Korea
Jul 29: Osheaga Quebec At Osheaga, QC
Aug 25: Belfast Tennent’s Vital, UK
Aug 26: Reading Festival, UK
Aug 27: Leeds Festival, UK

Martin Kielty
Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.