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Guitar Center’s Gabe Dalporto chats with the ever-versatile, heavy-hitting drummer to learn what makes him tick.
In the third episode of Inside the Noise, Gabe Dalporto hosts the podcast’s first artist, Grammy Award-winning, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They discuss everything from his early musical influences and gear to his fabled career with the Chili Peppers to how he’s giving back to the music community.
Smith tells Dalporto it all began with a DIY ethos. “At seven, it was the typical pots and pans,” before graduating to another makeshift kit. “My father went to the garbage of the Baskin-Robbins, and he took the tubs that you scoop the ice cream out of, brought those home and put duct tape on them. And Lincoln Logs—those were my sticks.” Over time, he continued to upgrade his rig. “When I first joined the Chili Peppers in ’88, they were like, ‘You need to get a good drum set.’” Smith reminisces that’s when he stepped into Guitar Center’s Hollywood store to get his first pro-quality kit.
Then, there’s the intrinsic musical connection he has with his core bandmates, Flea, John Frusciante and Anthony Kiedis. “There's something to be said about band chemistry," says Smith. "I do think one of our strengths is that we sound very unique as a band. There is a special thing we have, and we don't take it for granted."
Smith also talks about his Chad Smith Foundation. "So far, we've created two scholarships in my mother and father's name to support music education. One is at the University of Minnesota—where they both graduated from—and the other at the University of Michigan. We're just getting started, but we're excited about it."
Catch the full conversation and other episodes of Inside the Noise With Gabe Dalporto on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any of your favorite major platforms. When you subscribe, you’ll get new episodes every Tuesday at 3 p.m. PT.