Red Hot Chili Peppers | Around the World
Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Around the World" - how John Frusciante's borrowed Fender Jaguar and Flea's daughter's request shaped the funk-rock opener to their comeback album Californication in 1999.
Story Behind “Around the World”
The Deceptive Downbeat That Launched a Comeback
“Around the World” began as a guitar riff that John Frusciante conceived at his house during the summer of 1998. The newly reunited guitarist knew he had something special, but there was a problem: the riff had such a deceptive downbeat that he couldn’t demonstrate it alone. As Frusciante explained to Guitar Player magazine, he told his bandmates they would have to hear it, but he had to play it with somebody because of its tricky rhythmic structure. Drummer Chad Smith kept time on the hi-hat while Frusciante played, and the chemistry was immediate. Band members loved the outcome, and bassist Flea quickly developed his complementary bass part. This collaborative energy captured exactly what the Red Hot Chili Peppers needed after years apart - proof that Frusciante’s return had restored the telepathic musical connection that made them one of alternative rock’s most potent forces.
Flea’s Daughter and the Scat That Stayed
The track became the opening statement for Californication, but it almost sounded very different. Originally, Frusciante and producer Rick Rubin considered mixing the music from “Around the World” with the vocals from “Road Trippin’,” the album’s acoustic closer. While writing the album in Flea’s garage studio, Flea’s daughter would listen to their works-in-progress. At that stage, Anthony Kiedis was struggling to complete lyrics for many songs, so he temporarily filled verses with scat singing. When the band finished the final album version and Flea’s daughter heard it, she expressed disappointment that the scat vocals had been removed. In response, the band kept the original scatting in the final chorus of “Around the World” instead of using finished lyrics, creating the song’s distinctive closing section where Kiedis improvises melodic sounds over the riff.
“Around the World” Recording and Production Details
Borrowed Guitar, Dual Marshalls, Mono Magic
John Frusciante recorded “Around the World” using a 1966 Fender Jaguar that he borrowed from the album’s recording engineer, Jim Scott. As Frusciante told Guitar Player, he liked Jaguars because they had a “real cool cheap sound.” He played the Jaguar through two Marshall amplifiers: a JTM 45 and a 100-watt SuperBass, which he praised for its thick sound. During the song, Frusciante changed tones by switching the Jaguar’s 2-position toggle switch near the roller knobs, creating the different guitar textures heard throughout the track. Flea played his signature Modulus Flea Bass in Silver Flake finish, the same bass visible in the music video. The recording took place at Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles during December 1998 through March 1999, with Rick Rubin producing and Jim Scott engineering.
The Mono Philosophy and Three-Week Recording
“Around the World” exemplifies the bold sonic approach that defined Californication. Engineer Jim Scott and producer Rick Rubin made the daring decision to record most of the album in mono, with minimal panning and almost no reverb. The goal was to keep the sound loud, immediate, and focused on the songs themselves. As Scott explained, they tried panning guitars left and right during mixing, but it always sounded better in the middle. This mono approach, combined with the dry production style, gave the album a raw, live energy that perfectly captured the band playing at their peak. The entire album was recorded in just over three weeks at Ocean Way Recording, then mixed at The Village studio and mastered at Sony Music Studio in New York.
Notes About “Around the World” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Release Date: June 8, 1999 (album), August 23, 1999 (single)
Duration: 3:58
Genre: Funk Rock / Alternative Rock / Rap Rock
Album: Californication (7th studio album, track 1)
Producer: Rick Rubin
Engineer: Jim Scott
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Chart Performance: #7 Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, #16 Mainstream Rock Tracks
Certification: Contributed to album’s 15 million worldwide sales
Red Hot Chili Peppers “Around the World” Era Band Details
Album Details
Album: Californication
Release Date: June 8, 1999
Recording Period: December 1998 - March 1999
Recording Location: Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles, California
Mixing: The Village, Los Angeles
Mastering: Sony Music Studio, New York City
Producer: Rick Rubin
Engineer: Jim Scott
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Commercial Success: 15+ million copies sold worldwide, 7x Platinum in US
Album Context: John Frusciante’s return after 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Critical Reception: Peak #3 on Billboard 200, ranked #286 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums
Band Members/Personnel
Anthony Kiedis - Lead Vocals
John Frusciante - Guitar, Backing Vocals, Songwriter
Flea (Michael Balzary) - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Songwriter
Chad Smith - Drums, Percussion, Songwriter
Rick Rubin - Producer
Jim Scott - Recording Engineer, Guitar Lender
Greg Kurstin - Additional Keyboards (select tracks)
Production Notes
Recorded in just over three weeks
Band rehearsed and wrote for four months before recording
Most of album recorded in mono with minimal reverb
30-40 songs written, distilled to 15 for album
Frusciante’s first recording with band since leaving in 1992
Album marked band’s commercial comeback after One Hot Minute
Followed laid-back, fun approach to writing after years apart
Interesting Facts About “Around the World”
The Music Video and Its Chaotic Legacy
The music video for “Around the World” was directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, who had previously created the band’s iconic videos for “Give It Away,” “Breaking the Girl,” and “Scar Tissue.” Released on September 14, 1999, the video employed Sednaoui’s signature chaotic visual style, featuring rapid-fire imagery, distorted colors, and frenetic energy that mirrored the song’s explosive funk-rock attack. The video production was featured on an episode of MTV’s Making the Video, giving fans behind-the-scenes access to the creative process. Sednaoui’s distinctive approach, which he also used on R.E.M.’s “Lotus” video, created a visual aesthetic that became synonymous with the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ late-90s renaissance. The song has remained a concert staple since 1999, becoming one of the band’s top ten most-performed songs throughout their career.
From Disney Rides to Japanese Relief
“Around the World” found unexpected second lives beyond radio airplay. In 2007, the song was heavily edited and repurposed as the soundtrack for the Rockin’ California Screamin’ roller coaster ride at Disney California Adventure, as part of Disney’s “Rockin’ Both Parks” campaign that brought contemporary rock music to theme park attractions. The song’s energetic drive and celebratory tone made it perfect for the high-speed coaster experience. In 2010, “Around the World” became the opening theme for the live-action film adaptation of the manga series Beck, introducing the song to Japanese audiences in a new context. Following the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, a live version of the track was selected as one of thirty songs by different artists for the Songs for Japan charity album, with all proceeds benefiting disaster relief efforts. These varied usages demonstrated the song’s versatility and enduring appeal across different media and cultural contexts.
Common Questions
Q: What guitar did John Frusciante use on “Around the World”? A: John Frusciante played a 1966 Fender Jaguar borrowed from recording engineer Jim Scott. He ran it through two Marshall amplifiers - a JTM 45 and a 100-watt SuperBass. Frusciante chose the Jaguar for its “real cool cheap sound” and used the guitar’s toggle switch to create different tones throughout the song.
Q: What is “Around the World” by Red Hot Chili Peppers about? A: Anthony Kiedis stated that the verses describe his journeys and experiences as a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, reflecting on living an extreme touring lifestyle. The lyrics reference various locations and encounters from the band’s travels, expressing Kiedis’s appreciation for global experiences and cultural diversity encountered on the road.
Q: When was “Around the World” released? A: “Around the World” first appeared on the album Californication on June 8, 1999, as the opening track. It was subsequently released as the album’s second single on August 23, 1999, following the success of “Scar Tissue.”
Q: How did “Around the World” perform on the charts? A: The single peaked at number seven on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. While it didn’t match the success of “Scar Tissue,” it became one of the band’s most-performed live songs and contributed to Californication selling over 15 million copies worldwide.
Q: Who produced Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Around the World”? A: Rick Rubin produced “Around the World” and the entire Californication album. Rubin had previously worked with the band on Blood Sugar Sex Magik and One Hot Minute, and returned for Frusciante’s comeback album. Jim Scott served as the recording engineer at Ocean Way Recording in Los Angeles.