My Friends (Red Hot Chili Peppers song)



"My Friends" is a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the fourth track on their 1995 album One Hot Minute. It is a melodic ballad and was released as the second single from the album. It is the only song from One Hot Minute to be included on their Greatest Hits compilation, though the music video for "Aeroplane", appears on the DVD. It became the band's third #1 single on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart where it remained for 4 consecutive weeks, and their first #1 single on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.

The single features two unreleased b-sides. "Stretch" (originally titled Stretch You Out) was intended for the album following the fade out of "One Big Mob". The two were planned to be one song titled "One Big Mob/Stretch You Out" however "Stretch" was not included.

Music videos
The surreal original music video depicts the band in many incarnations on a small boat, stranded in a large stretch of treacherous water. This video was directed by Anton Corbijn. Anthony Kiedis admits that he thought this video was not very good, as it was not realistic. A second video was made for the song, directed by Gavin Bowden, where they were in a studio performing the song. The video was shot in late 1994 at the start of the recording sessions for One Hot Minute, hence Flea had a beard in the video. It appears on their Greatest Hits DVD.

Live performances
"My Friends" was performed regularly during the One Hot Minute tour. However, it hasn't been performed in full since 1996, only teased.

Track list

 * CD single (1995)
 * 1) "My Friends" (album)
 * 2) "Coffee Shop" (album)
 * 3) "Let's Make Evil" (previously unreleased)
 * 4) "Stretch" (previously unreleased)


 * CD version 2 (1995)
 * 1) "My Friends" (album)
 * 2) "Coffee Shop" (album)
 * 3) "Let's Make Evil" (previously unreleased)


 * 12" single (1995)
 * 1) "My Friends" (album)
 * 2) "Coffee Shop" (album)
 * 3) "Let's Make Evil" (previously unreleased)
 * 4) "Stretch" (previously unreleased)

Personnel
Red Hot Chili Peppers
 * Anthony Kiedis - lead vocals
 * Flea - bass, backing vocals
 * Dave Navarro - guitar
 * Chad Smith - drums

Additional musicians
 * Lenny Castro - percussion