
Hamish Duncan
Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers 1983
Published by Chicago Review Press
Hamish Duncan’s Out in L.A. examines the genesis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers through the chronicling the band’s first 30 shows, from December 16, 1982 to November 23, 1983. This conceit, however, merely provides the organizing principle which Duncan uses to dive deep into the band’s beginnings. The chapters largely correspond to the date of each of these first shows, but this book is no simple live database. Duncan’s scholarship in finding out what really happened in the first couple of years of RHCP’s existence is most impressive. He has clearly scoured all available source material and dug through the obscurest recesses of the early ’80s Los Angeles music scene. Myths are debunked. Misconceptions are corrected. And even band members’ own recollections, be they through published interviews or their own memoirs are disproven where Duncan finds them at odds with the facts. Duncan is the founder of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Sessions Archive website (rhcpsessions.com) and an editor of the band’s live archive (rhcplivearchive.com), and it’s a pleasure to read an investigation by someone so dedicated. Context is abundant as well, and the early ’80s L.A. scene comes alive in his text. Even if you are not a super fan of RHCP, Duncan’s expose will fascinate in its detail, description, and fact-finding. (www.chicagoreviewpress.com)
Author rating: 7.5/10
Current Issue

Issue #70
Nov 18, 2022 Issue #70 - My Favorite Movie (Sharon Van Etten and Ezra Furman)
Most Recent
- Bodywash Announce New Album, Share Video for New Song “Massif Central” (News) — Bodywash
- Pearla Shares New Song “Unglow The” (News) — Pearla
- Premiere: Chipped Nail Polish Share New EP ‘Bottom Feeder’ - Stream It Below (News) — Chipped Nail Polish
- Clark Announces New Thom Yorke-Produced Album, Shares New Song “Town Crank” (News) — Clark, Thom Yorke
- Premiere: Wild Rivers Share New Single “Don’t” (News) — Wild Rivers
Comments
Submit your comment
There are no comments for this entry yet.