Red Hot Chili Peppers Cover Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ at Charity Event

Red Hot Chili Peppers performed at a charity event over the weekend and surprised those in attendance with a Nirvana cover.

The charity event was a benefit concert for the Silverlake Conservatory of Music, a music education facility co-founded by Flea in 2001. In fan-shot footage below, the Chili Peppers played the first verse and chorus of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” The cover closed out their set at the event. Anthony Kiedis handled the vocals on the verse, while guitarist John Frusciante belted out the song’s chorus.

It’s not quite known why RHCP decided to cover Nirvana in their set, but it sure makes for a fun moment.

The Chili Peppers have a few connections to Nirvana. The two bands went on tour together in 1991. That same year, each band released landmark albums on the same date: Blood Sugar Sex Magik and Nevermind came out on September 24, 1991.

20 Times Multiple Classic Albums Came Out On The Same Day

• March 8, 1994

  Soundgarden – Superunknown

  
  Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral

• March 24, 1986

  Van Halen – 5150

  
  Rolling Stones – Dirty Work

• March 27, 1984

  Scorpions – Love at First Sting

  
  Ratt – Out of the Cellar

   

• April 13, 1973

  David Bowie – Aladdin Sane

  
  Bob Marley & The Wailers – Catch a Fire 

   

• April 14, 1980

  Judas Priest – British Steel

  
  Iron Maiden – Iron Maiden

   

• April 23, 1976

  Ramones – Ramones

  
  Rolling Stones – Black and Blue

• June 1, 1967

  The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

  
  David Bowie – David Bowie

   

• August 21, 1990

  Alice in Chains – Facelift

  
  Jane’s Addiction – Ritual de lo Habitual

• September 17, 1991

  Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I & II

   

  Ozzy Osbourne – No More Tears

• September 24, 1991

  Soundgarden – Badmotorfinger

  
  Nirvana – Nevermind

  
  Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik

• September 24, 1990

  AC/DC – The Razor’s Edge

  
  Megadeth – Rust in Peace

   

• September 29, 1992

  Alice in Chains – Dirt

  
  Stone Temple Pilots – Core

• October 17, 1980

  Bruce Springsteen – The River

  
  Dire Straits – Making Movies

• November 1, 1994

  The Black Crowes – Amorica

  
  Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York

  
  Megadeth – Youthanasia

  
  Tom Petty – Wildflowers

• November 10, 1978

  The Clash – Give ‘Em Enough Rope

  
  Queen – Jazz

• November 22, 1968

  The Kinks – The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

  
  The Beatles – The Beatles

• January 11, 1971

  Chicago – Chicago III

  
  Janis Joplin – Pearl

   

• February 1, 1970

  The Doors – Morrison Hotel

  
  James Taylor – Sweet Baby James

• February 28, 1983

  U2 – War

  
  Styx – Kilroy Was Here

• March 1, 1974

  Rush – Rush

  
  Aerosmith – Get Your Wings