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Scar Tissue

This article is about the Red Hot Chili Peppers song. For other uses, see Scar tissue.

"Scar Tissue"
Single by Red Hot Chili Peppers
from the album Californication
B-side
  • "Gong Li"
  • "Instrumental #1"
ReleasedMay 25, 1999 (1999-05-25)
Genre
Length3:35
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Rick Rubin
Red Hot Chili Peppers singles chronology
"Love Rollercoaster"
(1996) 		"Scar Tissue"
(1999) 		"Around the World"
(1999)
Music video
"Scar Tissue" on YouTube

"Scar Tissue" is the first single from American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' seventh studio album, Californication (1999). Released on May 25, 1999, the song spent a then-record 16 consecutive weeks atop the US Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart as well as 10 weeks atop the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also successful in Iceland, New Zealand, and Canada, reaching numbers one, three, and four, respectively. In the United Kingdom, it charted at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Scar Tissue" is considered to be representative of the new, more melodic rock sound the band experimented with on Californication (in contrast with the psychedelic One Hot Minute, and dry funk of Blood Sugar Sex Magik). The song is notable for its mellow intro guitar riff and for its slide guitar solos throughout. Guitar World placed the guitar solo 63rd in its list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos".[1] "Scar Tissue" won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 2000. In 2004, lead vocalist Anthony Kiedis published an autobiography titled after the song.

Music video

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The music video for "Scar Tissue" was directed by Stéphane Sednaoui, who also directed the video for "Give It Away". The opening shot is of John Frusciante driving down a strip of desert highway, a metaphor for Frusciante's return to the band (he does not drive in real life).[2] 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 thirty second Frusciante guitar solo at the moment of sunset, with John tossing the broken, stringless guitar from the car. The car Frusciante pretended to drive for the video was a 1967 Pontiac Catalina convertible. A very similar concept was considered, then scrapped, for the earlier "Soul to Squeeze" video. Prior to the video shoot, Kiedis had his hair cut and bleached his brown hair to platinum blond, a look he kept throughout the promotion and tour for Californication. It was filmed in California's Mojave Desert.

Reception

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"Scar Tissue" is widely regarded as one of the band's best songs. In 2021, Kerrang ranked the song number three on their list of the 20 greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers songs,[3] and in 2022, Rolling Stone ranked the song number two on their list of the 40 greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers songs.[4]

Live performances

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"Scar Tissue" has been a live staple in the band's setlists since its first performance in 1998 making it the band's fifth most performed song overall.[5] American band Mr. Bungle performed a mock version of the song in 1999, as part of a Halloween concert parodying Red Hot Chili Peppers.[6]

Track listings

[edit]

CD single (1999) (Catalogue Number 9 16913–2)

  1. "Scar Tissue" (album) – 3:37
  2. "Gong Li" (previously unreleased) – 3:42
  3. "Instrumental #1" (previously unreleased) – 2:48

CD single (Slipcase) (1999)

  1. "Scar Tissue" (album) – 3:37
  2. "Gong Li" (previously unreleased) – 3:42

Cassette single (1999)

  1. "Scar Tissue" (album)
  2. "Gong Li" (previously unreleased)

Personnel

[edit]

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[46] 6× Platinum 480,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[47] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[48] Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[49] 5× Platinum 150,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[50] 2× Platinum 20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[51] Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[53] 6× Platinum 6,000,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States May 24, 1999 Rock radio Warner Bros. [54][55]
Europe May 25, 1999 CD [17][56]
United Kingdom May 31, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 [57]
Japan June 9, 1999 CD [58]
United States June 21, 1999
[59]
June 22, 1999 Contemporary hit radio [60]
September 14, 1999
  • CD
  • cassette
 [61]
Canada October 12, 1999 CD [62]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Leonard, Hal (2013). Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time. United States: Hal Leonard Corp. ISBN 9781480356979.
  2. ^ JustinBeckner, Justin (January 26, 2024). "5 Obscure Facts About John Frusciante". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Law, Sam (March 17, 2021). "The 20 greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers songs – ranked". Kerrang. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "The 40 Greatest Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs". Rolling Stone. April 11, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Live". The Side. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Five Noteworthy Facts You May Not Know About Faith No More | Exclaim!".
  7. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  8. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7279." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  10. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8358." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 8375." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "Canadian Top 20 in 1999" (PDF). Cross Canada Countdown. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 7, 2005. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Britney Spears se coloca entre las más escuchadas". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). October 17, 1999. p. 88. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 25. June 19, 1999. p. 15. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Scar Tissue" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  16. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  18. ^ "Íslenski Listinn (1.7–8.7. 1999)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). July 2, 1999. p. 11. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Scar Tissue". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  20. ^ "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 31. July 31, 1999. p. 70. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Major Market Airplay: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 30. July 24, 1999. p. 19.
  22. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 37, 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  23. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  24. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  25. ^ "Major Market Airplay – Week 26/1999" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 16, no. 26. June 26, 1999. p. 19. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  26. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  27. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  28. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  29. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  30. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  31. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  32. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  33. ^ "Red Hot Chili Peppers Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  34. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1999". ARIA. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  35. ^ "Brazilian Top 100 Year-End 1999". Crowley Broadcast Analysis. April 3, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  36. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  37. ^ "RPM 1999 Top 50 Rock Tracks". RPM. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  38. ^ "Jaarlijsten 1999" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  39. ^ "End of Year Charts 1999". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  40. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1999". Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  41. ^ "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 47.
  42. ^ a b "1999 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. December 25, 1999. p. YE-90. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  43. ^ "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 1999". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 54.
  44. ^ "The Best of '99: Most Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 7, no. 52. December 24, 1999. p. 38.
  45. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  46. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Re Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". Music Canada. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  47. ^ "Danish single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  48. ^ "Italian single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  49. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". Radioscope. Retrieved January 17, 2025. Type Scar Tissue in the "Search:" field.
  50. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
  51. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  52. ^ "British single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  53. ^ "American single certifications – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Scar Tissue". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  54. ^ "Big Rock Is Back, Baby". Radio & Records. No. 1300. May 21, 1999. p. 86. ...'Scar Tissue' (coming Monday)...
  55. ^ "Adds for May 24 & 25". Gavin Report. No. 2256. May 21, 1999. p. 31.
  56. ^ "The 15 Best Red Hot Chili Peppers Songs". PopMatters. Archived from the original on October 3, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  57. ^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 31 May, 1999: Singles". Music Week. May 29, 1999. p. 25.
  58. ^ "スカー・ティッシュ | レッド・ホット・チリ・ペッパーズ" [Scar Tissue | Red Hot Chili Peppers] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  59. ^ "Gavin AC/Hot AC: Impact Dates". Gavin Report. No. 2260. June 21, 1999. p. 34.
  60. ^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1304. June 18, 1999. p. 42.
  61. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (September 25, 1999). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 39. p. 105. ...Red Hot Chili Peppers' 'Scar Tissue' (Warner Bros.), as cassette and CD configurations hit retail Sept. 14.
  62. ^ "Album Releases: October 1999". Jam!. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved January 6, 2023.