Kurt Cobain, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the 1991 tour that shaped his opinion of the funk rockers

Kurt Cobain said the Red Hot Chili Peppers were entertaining live, but he did not own their records and preferred noisier, grungier punk rock. His comments came as the bands shared a tour in 1991 and show that performing alongside a group does not necessarily mean admiring its recorded music.

Cobain said he liked old funk such as Funkadelic, while the article notes that the Chili Peppers’ music also drew on funk and punk. Anthony Kiedis later remembered Cobain as warm and relaxed during the tour, and praised the music and energy he left behind. The story uses their differing perspectives to illustrate how artistic respect can exist without personal musical affinity.