The Red Hot Chili Peppers were an unexpected addition to a halftime show that will prominently feature Bruno Mars. Some critics were upset with the move, wondering whether the older group would appeal to viewers. Yet the band still sold out most of their shows on their recent world tour.
In 2004, the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake added the phrase “wardrobe malfunction” to the national lexicon. In 2013, Beyoncé’s performance was so intense that many joked it was the source of the power outage that halted the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers for about half an hour.
Even if you’re not rooting for either team, the Super Bowl has a few ways to entertain all audiences, including the notoriously funny, big-budget commercials and the often memorable halftime shows.
Though pop crooner Bruno Mars has been slated as the halftime entertainment for Super Bowl XLVIII since Sept. 8, it surfaced during the NFC divisional playoff game between the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks that Mars had invited funk-rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers to join him in the halftime show lineup.
Backlash followed the announcement; some were disappointed the group would be performing at such an important event, an honor usually reserved for the most popular or most timeless acts. Critics questioned whether the rockers would be able to hold the audience’s attention in the same way the younger Mars would.
Though they’re not burning up the charts, the Red Hot Chili Peppers aren’t exactly amateurs. Spearheaded by lead singer Anthony Kiedis and bassist Michael “Flea” Balzary, the Chili Peppers have become one of the best-selling bands of all time. Their most recent album was released in 2011 before the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. The Red Hot Chili Peppers haven’t stopped in the meantime, though — the group is working on its 11th album now.
Though the band members are getting on in years — the first incarnation of Kiedis and Flea’s group came together in 1983 — they still are proving their mettle after all this time, filling up most of the stops on their I’m With You world tour, which started in 2011 and wrapped up in April.
More importantly, it’s time another rock group performed the halftime show. The Red Hot Chili Peppers will be the first rock act to take the stage at halftime since the 2010 Super Bowl, when British rock icon The Who shared the stage. The 2011 Super Bowl followed with a strange combination of the Black Eyed Peas, Usher and Slash from Guns N’ Roses in a generally panned show. Despite some flashy lighting and pyrotechnics, The Who suffered from sound problems throughout their set. While hardcore Who fans were pleased with the performance from the two remaining original members, the band was a whisper of its former self for many. This performance might have soured audiences on another rock group performing the halftime show.
Yet the Red Hot Chili Peppers are unlikely to disappoint. Though they might not have the star power that pop icons such as Madonna or Beyoncé had, they appeal to several generations of rock fans. While Bruno Mars is a current staple of the Billboard Hot 100 — spending the past three weeks on the list — and appeals to younger audiences, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have accrued 10 No. 1 singles on the alternative charts in the band’s history, including “Dani California” and “Can’t Stop.” Although Kiedis and Flea are in their 50s, they are still known for their energetic, fun performances.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers aren’t Beyoncé, so don’t expect the same powerful outage-inducing spectacle as last year. Given the history of the band, though, you can still count on a high-energy, rockin’ good time.
