SCAR TISSUE

"'Scar Tissue'" is the Red Hot Chili Peppers first single from their seventh album ''Californication'', released in 1999. It is among one of their most successful songs, spending a record 16 weeks on top of Billboard's Modern Rock Charts. It was released in late 1999, peaking at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #15 on the UK charts. It won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2000. The song notable for its mellow intro guitar riff and for its slide guitar solos throughout.

Contents

Meaning

Music video

Track list

CD single (1999)

Cassette single (1999)

Sample clip

The book

External links

Meaning

"Scar Tissue" is considered to be representative of the new, more melodic rock sound the band experimented with on ''Californication'' (in contrast to the psychedelic ''One Hot Minute'', and dry funk of ''Blood Sugar Sex Magik''). The song's most agreed-upon interpretation is that it is a celebration of life and rebirth, especially due to the situation before ''Californication'' (guitarist John Frusciante left the band in 1992 and spent six years as a drug addict, almost dying at one point, before cleaning up and rejoining).

Music video

The video for "Scar Tissue", which was directed by Stephane Sednaoui, can be viewed as an unofficial sequel to Sednaoui's classic "Give It Away" video. The latter captures the Red Hot Chili Peppers as an iconic young band
prancing half-naked in the desert, projecting the playful, sexual physicality of their funk-rock music.
Eight long years later we again see them in the desert once again, but the sheen is gone. The opening shot is of John Frusciante driving, a metaphor for Frusciante's return and ascension to musical leadership of the band (he does not drive in real life). But the four of them are battered, beaten, and bandaged. They are traveling in a rusty wreck and playing broken instruments on the comeback trail. The video ends after an emotional 30 second Frusciante guitar solo at the moment of sunset, with John tossing the broken guitar from the car.

Track list

CD single (1999)

# "Scar Tissue" (Album) – 3:37
# "Gong Li" (Unreleased) – 3:43
# "Instrumental #1" (Unreleased) – 2:48

Cassette single (1999)

# "Scar Tissue" (Album)
# "Gong Li" (Unreleased)

Sample clip

The book

''Scar Tissue'' is also the title of band member Anthony Kiedis' autobiography.

External links

★ stephanesednaoui.com - official Stéphane Sednaoui website.