Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ new single ‘Black Summer’ is out now. It’s the first taste of the Californian band’s upcoming album, Unlimited Love, which is expected on Friday, 1st April.
The single is RHCP’s first since guitarist John Frusciante rejoined the band in late 2019. The album reunites the band with producer Rick Rubin, too. Rubin worked on every Chili Peppers album from 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik until 2011’s I’m with You. Producer Danger Mouse stepped in for 2016’s The Getaway.
‘Black Summer’ is a fairly low-key rock song. Anthony Kiedis’ vocals aim for the stars in the chorus, which occurs just twice. The lyrics, “It’s been a long time since I made a new friend / Waitin’ on another black summer to end,” appear to be a reference to California’s recent history of wildfires.
The band announced their return earlier this week with a clip from ‘Black Summer’. “We been nurturing the feral animal for quite a while, it’s about time to set her free,” said bass player Flea on Instagram. They also shared video of Frusciante’s guitar solo. Find that here.
Unlimited Love will be Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 12th album. Kiedis and Flea have played on every one of them. It’ll be drummer Chad Smith’s ninth album, Frusciante’s sixth, and Rubin’s seventh time producing. Listen to ‘Black Summer’ below.
