36 years ago today, the Chili Peppers dropped “Taste The Pain” — the third single from Mother’s Milk! Fun fact: though it was recorded after Chad Smith joined the band, the drums on this track were actually played by Fishbone’s Philip “Fish” Fisher — and it also marked the first recording featuring John Frusciante on guitar!

36 years ago today, the Chili Peppers dropped “Taste The Pain” — the third single from Mother’s Milk! Fun fact: though it was recorded after Chad Smith joined the band, the drums on this track were actually played by Fishbone’s Philip “Fish” Fisher — and it also marked the first recording featuring John Frusciante on guitar!

“Taste the Pain” Turns 36: The Wild, Funky Legacy of a Chili Peppers Milestone

Thirty-six years ago today, on October 16, 1989, the Red Hot Chili Peppers dropped “Taste the Pain,” the third single from their breakthrough fourth album Mother’s Milk. A high-octane cocktail of funk, punk, and psychedelic rock, the track captured the raw, kinetic energy of a band in transition — and unknowingly laid the groundwork for the Chili Peppers’ future as one of the most innovative and enduring acts in modern rock.

But beyond its infectious riff and Anthony Kiedis’ trademark vocal chaos, “Taste the Pain” holds a special place in Chili Peppers lore for a few fascinating reasons: it marked the first recording to feature guitarist John Frusciante, the drums weren’t played by new member Chad Smith but by a special guest, and the track itself served as a pivotal moment in the band’s redefinition.

Let’s dive into the chaos, collaboration, and chemistry that made “Taste the Pain” such a defining moment.

A Band at a Crossroads

To understand the importance of “Taste the Pain,” you have to rewind to the late ’80s. The Chili Peppers were reeling. Guitarist Hillel Slovak, one of the band’s founding members and the architect of their early sound, had tragically died of a heroin overdose in 1988. His loss shook the band to its core, eventually leading to the departure of drummer Jack Irons, who couldn’t continue with the group after Slovak’s death.

The Chili Peppers faced a choice: break up or rebuild.

They chose the latter — and in doing so, took a gamble on two relatively unknown musicians who would go on to define the RHCP sound: 18-year-old guitarist John Frusciante and powerhouse drummer Chad Smith.

But timing is everything, and while Mother’s Milk would be their first full album with the new lineup, “Taste the Pain” came together in that unique in-between moment when things were still clicking into place.

Enter Frusciante: A New Era Begins

“Taste the Pain” marks the first studio recording to feature John Frusciante — a guitarist whose style would come to define the most iconic eras of the band. His fingerprints are all over the track: a jagged yet melodic riff that’s equal parts punk urgency and funk finesse, melodic layering that flirts with psychedelia, and an intuitive sense of when to attack and when to pull back.

At just 18, Frusciante brought a fresh voice and musical sophistication that immediately elevated the Chili Peppers’ sound. He didn’t just play guitar — he textured songs, sculpted them. And even on this early track, that transformation is unmistakable.

The band would go on to create landmark albums like Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Californication with Frusciante at the core, but Taste the Pain was the first recorded glimpse of what would become a legendary creative partnership.

A Funky Detour: Philip “Fish” Fisher on Drums

Now here’s the twist — while Chad Smith had technically joined the band during the recording of Mother’s Milk, he’s not the one playing drums on “Taste the Pain.” Instead, that honor went to Philip “Fish” Fisher from the genre-blending group Fishbone.

Fisher was brought in during an early phase of the Mother’s Milk sessions, before Smith had fully locked in his place behind the kit. The result? A distinctively tight, funk-heavy drum performance that meshes beautifully with Flea’s elastic bass line.

The chemistry between Flea and Fish is palpable, likely due in part to the strong connection between the Chili Peppers and Fishbone — two LA-based bands that had come up together in the underground scene. Both were known for high-energy shows, genre-bending experiments, and a refusal to be pinned down by industry expectations.

Fisher’s drumming on the track gives it a slick, funky bounce that might not have existed with any other drummer — even Smith, who would soon become an RHCP mainstay.

Lyrical Chaos and Catharsis

Lyrically, “Taste the Pain” is classic Kiedis — ambiguous, visceral, and delivered with the urgency of someone spilling their guts mid-dance floor breakdown. Lines like:“Taught to be the perfect one / What a crime / What a crime”

and“Taste the pain / I’m sure you’ll see / Love is the pain / You’re supposed to feel”

are part angst, part catharsis — wrapped up in Kiedis’ signature melodic talk-singing style. There’s a vulnerability buried in the manic energy of the track that hints at the emotional undercurrents running beneath the Chili Peppers’ wild exterior.

It wasn’t just a party track — it was release.

Charting the Pain

“Taste the Pain” wasn’t a massive chart-topper in the U.S., but it did gain serious traction in the UK and Europe, helping expand the Chili Peppers’ international fan base. It reached No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart — their first taste of international chart success.

It also got a boost from appearing on the soundtrack for the 1989 black comedy film Say Anything…, directed by Cameron Crowe. The exposure helped spread the Chili Peppers’ unique sound to new audiences and set the stage for the explosion that would come with Blood Sugar Sex Magik just two years later.

A Time Capsule of What Was to Come

Looking back 36 years later, “Taste the Pain” stands as a fascinating bridge between the Chili Peppers’ wild, raw early days and the refined chaos of their 1990s superstardom. It’s a time capsule: the moment when the pain of loss collided with the promise of something new.

John Frusciante was just getting started. Chad Smith hadn’t even hit record yet. But Flea was thumping, Kiedis was snarling, and the band had found their next gear.

For longtime fans, “Taste the Pain” is more than just a song — it’s a flashpoint. A reminder of the resilience, evolution, and funk-fueled defiance that defines the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So here’s to 36 years of “Taste the Pain” — a chaotic, cathartic jam that still hits like a slap bass to the soul.

Ready to spin it one more time?

Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for a social post or a timeline breakdown of the song’s history!