It all began on November the 1st 1962 in St. Mary's hospital in Grand Rapids,
Michigan.Blackie Dammett and his wife Peggy,(they were married on July 2nd
1960),became the proud parents of a happy and handsome baby boy.After some
'discussion' he was named Anthony Kiedis.(Blackie changed his name to Dammett
when he first started acting-he got the name from the mystery writer Daschiell
Hammett).
The family moved to L.A so Blackie could attend Los Angeles University
(U.C.L.A).In 1960 Anyhony's parents divorced and in 1968 Peggy and Anthony (now
six) returned to Michigan leaving Blackie in L.A.
Little Anthony and his little sister Julie
Anthony kept in touch with Blackie and seemingly missed his dad so at the age
of eleven he moved to L.A to be with his pop.This was to be very much a
'growing' period for Anthony.He lost his virginity at the age of 12 to an 18
year old lady friend of his dad's and was doing every narcotic drug including
heroin by the time he was 15.Sonny Bono,(Cher's ex) was a friend of Blackies
and would often take Anthony away on trips for the weekend.Sonny remembers that
Chastity,(Sonny and Cher's daughter) would love Anthony coming to stay as he
would always invent great games for the two of them to play together.With so
many actors around him it wasn't long before Anthony too graced the silver
screen.Under the psuedo-Cole Dammett he played Sly Stallone's son-Kevin Kovak
in the movie F.I.S.T. The experience proved to Anthony that he had no desire to
be an actor.
Little Anthony (on the right) with Sonny Bono
It was while attending Fairfax High School that Anthony would meet the true
blue dudes who found themselves bound together by musical wants and
desires.Hillel Slovak, (original guitarist of the RHCP) and Jack Irons,(drummer
now with Pearl Jam),were already bonded buddies and attended music lessons
together.Anthony remembers Hillel invited him over to his house and, "One
afternoon was all it took for us to know we'd be friends forever".Flea and
Anthony became pals after a school playground scuffle.Flea too already was
having musical aspirations, playing the trumpet in the school marching band.
Anthony and his father, Mr. Blackie Dammett
Another inspirational person in young Anthony's life was his high school
english teacher Mrs Vernon.She inspired Anthony to 'write words',so that is
what he did.He wrote funny little love letters and poems to his girlfriend and
some 'spastically amusing' compositions for school.
Three mates bought together by the common good of teenagehood and the need to
make music.Hillel,Flea,Jack and Anthony became a band,'a band with a plan-the
Organic Anti Beat Box Band, Uplift Mofo Party Band'.They were to name the 1st
band,'Tony Flow and the Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem'.
Anthony and his siters Julie&Jen at graduation
Flea and Anthony stayed up all night to write their first song which was Out In
L.A.They wanted to finish it before Hillel woke up the next day.They managed to
scrounge the dollars to put a demo down and then played it for 'anyone who
would listen'.
Blackie and his little son James
Anthony's lyrics show a guy who has ridden the roads thru heaven and hell and
lived to tell the tale.No wonder he feels akin with the Nez Perce and Sioux
Indians of America's west.Among Anthony's many tattoos,-his shoulders bare the
heads of Chief Joseph and Sitting Bull.
Anthony and his tatoos
Anthony is the soulful vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.His, and the bands
life experiences are chronologically entwined through each Pepper album.To hear
those certain lyrics which hit a pothole in your soul-you know they've been
there too! Let's hope Anthony and the Red Hot Chili Peppers keep on keeping
on......
Anthony&Flea so long ago
Anthony has 2 sisters, Julie and Jen, and little brother-James.
He also has a pet dog named 'Howlin' Wolf.' .The Hollywood Hills is where Anthony spends most of his time but he also owns a home in New Zealand. Music Anthony loves to boogie to includes Iggy Pop's latest and some older tunes on the radio.
Anthony and Howlin Woolf
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