Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Blood Sugar Sex Magik
The four band members' faces with elongated tongues that wrap around a rose.
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 24, 1991 (1991-09-24)
RecordedApril – June 1991
StudioThe Mansion (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length73:56
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerRick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers chronology
Mother's Milk
(1989)
Blood Sugar Sex Magik
(1991)
What Hits!?
(1992)
Singles from Blood Sugar Sex Magik
  1. "Give It Away"
    Released: September 4, 1991
  2. "Under the Bridge"
    Released: March 2, 1992[6]
  3. "Suck My Kiss"
    Released: May 1992
  4. "Breaking the Girl"
    Released: August 3, 1992[7]
  5. "If You Have to Ask"
    Released: February 1993

Blood Sugar Sex Magik is the fifth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released September 24, 1991, by Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Rick Rubin, its musical style differed notably from the band's previous album Mother's Milk (1989), reducing the use of heavy metal guitar riffs and accentuating the melodic songwriting contributions of guitarist John Frusciante. The album's subject matter incorporates sexual innuendos and references to drugs and death, as well as themes of lust and exuberance.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik peaked at number three on the US Billboard 200, and produced hit singles "Under the Bridge", "Give It Away", "Suck My Kiss", "Breaking the Girl" and "If You Have to Ask". The album propelled the band into worldwide popularity and critical acclaim. Uncomfortable with fame, Frusciante quit the band during its 1992 tour; he rejoined in 1998.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik is widely recognized as an influential and seminal release of the alternative rock explosion of the 1990s, with Steve Huey of AllMusic calling it "probably the best album the Chili Peppers will ever make."[8] Flea shared the same sentiment in 2023, calling it his favorite Red Hot Chili Peppers album.[9] It is the band's second best-selling album behind Californication.

  1. ^ Stanley, Bob (2013). Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  2. ^ Gittins, Ian (2015). The Periodic Table of Heavy Rock. Random House. ISBN 978-1-78503-165-6. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik". Double J. September 8, 2016. Archived from the original on May 21, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Jenkins, Mark (October 27, 1991). "California's Funk-Metalists, Putting on Airs". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Jackson, Josh (May 31, 2021). "The Best Albums of 1991". Paste. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 29, 1992. p. 21.
  7. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 1, 1992. p. 19.
  8. ^ Huey, Steve. "Blood Sugar Sex Magik – Red Hot Chili Peppers". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 14, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
  9. ^ Childers, Chad. "Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea Names Band's Worst Album + Shares Reservation About Their Best". Loudwire. Retrieved July 3, 2023.