Out in L.A.: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1983

This book is a really amazing look at the year before RHCP put out their first album. It's remarkable in how much original research the author did, you'll find stories and anecdotes there that aren't any place else. This is as much a historical snapshot of the punk-fusion scene in L.A. in the 1983 as it is about RHCP. I loved hearing about the clubs they played and the bands that were their contemporaries, as much as I enjoyed getting a rare look at early RHCP. At the same time, if you're a legit RHCP fan, and want to know more about those early performances, conversations with managers and A&R people, and struggles with their lineup, this is the best book there is. It's amazing how focusing it on just one year provided a really deep and rich portrait of that one time. This important year gets maybe a page in other histories about the band, here we get a fully fleshed out, detailed experience of almost every show they played that year, and the key moments in between shows. For the legit RHCP fan, or someone interested in the early 80s L.A. punk fusion scene, highly recommended.

A must have for any RHCP fan, regardless of what your favorite album/era/member is. RHCP wouldn’t be what they are without those beginning years. This is a very neat and well organized and an accurate insight into that part of their history that has often been full of misinformation and incorrect dates, etc. i love it. It’s a great addition to my endlessly growing RHCP collection.

Wait for this book to drop down to around $12, as that's what I felt it was worth. Very short and lacking in photos. I thought it would be a much more comprehensive overview of the band's beginnings, but it is poorly edited and lazily compiled.

This book is meticulously researched and well written. It is by far the best and most comprehensive work on the early history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It's also a fascinating trip to the early 80s L.A. music scene. If you're a fan of the band, buy this book!

Kudos to Hamish for creating such a masterpiece. As a long time RHCP fan, the early years have always been some of my favourite but info can be hard to come by. This book really digs into the detail and the research that must have been done to find it is top notch. Excellent job!

What a brilliantly told Red Hot Chili Peppers story, but not only that, the author describes the whole club and rock music scene in LA in 1983 with credibility and style. He also accurately nails the date of the first Chilies gig ever, and shines a light on scene happenings that would otherwise be lost in the mists of time. I thoroughly recommend this book without hesitation, and look forward to more excellent writing from Hamish Duncan in future.

Love this! Very informative and fun to read.

excellent