Nick Cave Reflects on Viral Chili Peppers Diss, Admits ‘No Malice’
For over two decades now, the remark Nick Cave made regarding the Red Hot Chili Peppers has been a widely recognized and enduring internet meme among many music enthusiasts like myself.
Now, the Australian musician, aged 67, has at last spoken up on the matter and disclosed that there’s no lingering animosity between him and the rock band.
As a devoted fan, I can’t pinpoint the specific time or place, but I’ve often found myself expressing my frustration with music by saying something along the lines of: “I’m constantly beside a stereo exclaiming, ‘What on earth is this rubbish?’ And the answer is usually The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The sudden swipe gained widespread attention online, a fact that continues to trouble him, and noteworthily, Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea also acknowledged it personally.
At that point, he expressed: “It doesn’t matter to me if Nick Cave dislikes my band since his music holds immense significance for me.
He is among my most cherished songwriters, vocalists, and musicians across history. I admire every version of the Bad Seeds.

However, his comment briefly touched my emotions, as my admiration for his music overshadows such trivial matters. If he perceives my band as unimpressive, that’s perfectly fine.
Currently, Nick has responded to the matter by addressing a fan’s question posted on his Red Hand Files platform.
Approximately a quarter of a century back, I made a casual and perhaps less than kind comment regarding The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
In simpler terms, what I meant was that my words were not meant with malice; they were just obnoxious remarks, typically used to annoy others. Back then, I was more inclined towards causing trouble and stirring up strife, thriving on being a source of discomfort in society.
He noted: “It could be a characteristic of Australians from my generation, I’m not sure, but that remark seems to have been with me for the past twenty-five years.
Upon seeing Flea’s reply, he acknowledged: ‘His words truly touched me, and I thought Flea was a remarkable man, on a level I couldn’t quite understand at the time. In fact, I felt like he belonged to a different league, even a superior class, in terms of being human.’
And now, any bad blood has turly been put to bed as the duo are working on music together.
Over the weekend, the incredible Flea slid me a tune, inquiring if I’d be keen on lending my voice to it. Turns out, it’s destined for his “horn album” he’s been working on!
He commented: ‘The track developed into a captivating dialogue between Flea’s trumpet and my vocal, resonating with longing and affection. The melody surpassed its separate components, transforming into a gradually unfolding cosmic dance – symbolizing reconciliation and an apology.’


Immediately following Nick expressing his liking for Kanye West’s tunes, even amidst the controversial outbursts against the Jewish community.
Recently, the musician expressed a preference for the problematic rapper’s 2013 song “I Am God” to be played at his funeral. He made this selection after naming it among his favorite tracks during an appearance on BBC’s Desert Island Discs.
To be completely transparent, I, a diehard fan, found myself utterly dismayed by a turn of events involving my idol, Kanye. His recent actions on Twitter, where he was temporarily banned, have left many of us bewildered. It all started when he made some controversial remarks about anti-Semitism, labeling himself as a ‘Nazi’ and expressing admiration for Hitler. Needless to say, these statements did not sit well with fans like myself who value his artistry but strongly denounce such views.
Nick made it clear that, although Kanye’s actions have been unacceptable, he is hesitant to dismiss the good qualities in him when aiming to penalize his poor behavior.
A reader posed a question on his Red Hand Files blog: “In what way is it possible for you to appreciate the song, given that Kanye West now appears to be such an unworthy individual?
Later on, Nick mentioned that he had received numerous letters expressing clear disappointment over his liking for Kanye West’s music.
‘Much effort has gone into clarifying the wickedness of Nazism, the damaging consequences of antisemitism, the inappropriateness of selling T-shirts with swastikas, and the unacceptable nature of compelling one’s partner to walk bare on the red carpet at the Grammys.’
‘On that matter, it seems, we can all find some common ground. I agree.’
He emphasized that it’s illogical to imagine an artist detached from their work, stating: ‘It’s preposterous to consider an artist as disconnected from their creations.’

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “My creativity, my thoughts, and emotions – all these aspects that make me unique – find expression in my art. My artwork isn’t just a product; it’s a window into my soul, a tangible representation of who I am.
The artist’s pieces clearly express, “Here I am, this is who I am.” But the true beauty of art lies in its ability to help artists unearth their inner turmoil and turn it into something magnificent.
‘Kanye creates this way, and so do I – it’s what true artists pursue. Art has an incredible power; it dares to transform our flawed reality into something breathtakingly beautiful.’
I firmly believe that even with our imperfections and flaws, we have the potential to accomplish extraordinary feats. These can be breathtakingly beautiful, intellectually brilliant, awe-inspiring, wildly daring, and audaciously bold achievements.
Each one of us carries our share of imperfections, flaws, and pain as human beings. We all have the potential for self-destructive actions and harbor mistaken beliefs, with the possible exception being an overestimation of our own moral superiority compared to others.
You may find yourself thinking, “I’m certainly not like Kanye, I wouldn’t act that way!” However, under different circumstances, human beings can surprise us with their capabilities.
Being human means having flaws, but it also gives us the capacity to accomplish extraordinary feats – things that are breathtakingly beautiful, intellectually brilliant, emotionally inspiring, wildly adventurous, and audaciously bold. These achievements, though tainted by our intricate and imperfect natures, remain valuable and worth preserving.
Nick added that he always looks ‘to seek the beauty wherever it presents itself’.

He stated: ‘Anti-Semitism, though revolting in every shape and form it takes, is unfortunately persistent and constantly changing. Yet, I strive to find beauty whenever it emerges.’
By taking this action, I find myself hesitant to discredit the finest among us in the name of retribution against the worst. I believe we cannot afford to indulge in such a costly practice.
Expressing his affection for Kanye’s tune on Desert Island Discs, he mentioned: ‘In an unusual turn of events, this track has evolved into something of a cherished family song. My children adore it, Susie [his wife] adores it, and I certainly do too.’
The tune is both whimsical and ominous, intricately constructed. Initially, Kanye appears to embody divinity, but later in the piece, his voice erupts in fear.
He went on to say: “I find this song incredibly profound, personally speaking. For me, it’s not just music – it’s a masterpiece of art in its entirety.
Nick previously hailed the Stronger hitmaker ‘the greatest artist on Earth’.
In his blog post from 2020, he shared with his followers: “Creating art feels like a kind of madness – we plunge headfirst into our unique perspective and can get so engrossed that we lose ourselves in it.
At the current moment, there’s no other musician on Earth who is as dedicated to their personal distortion as Kanye. In terms of this unique aspect, he stands out as our most exceptional artist.
However, it’s not the first time he has called out Kanye’s behaviour.
At the Southbank in London during 2022, he openly expressed his profound dismay and embarrassment over the antisemitic remarks made by the Good Morning rapper.
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2025-03-15 02:49