10 Most Important Member Changes In Rock Music History
8. John Frusciante & Chad Smith Replace DeWayne McKnight & D. H. Peligro - Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is the first example on this list of the people being replaced not being who you thought they were.
The original RHCP line-up was singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Michael Balzary (or Flea, as he's better known), guitarist Hilel Slovak, and drummer Jack Irons.
Forming in 1983 (yes, the Chilis really are that old), this was their most famous arrangement until the fateful year of 1988.
Slovak died of a heroin overdose that Summer, tearing a deep hole in the band. Kiedis was so rocked by his friend's death that he skipped town and didn't even attend the funeral. As for Irons, Slovak's passing shook him so much that he left the band altogether.
The Peppers needed to find two new members or face extinction. Their short-term solutions were DeWayne McKnight and D. H. Peligro, but they soon made way for the names you all know and love - guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith.
This is the most popular line-up of the band and the one that reunited in 2019. It's also the line-up that saved them and the one that we have to thank for so much incredible music.