"Behind the Sun" is a song by the

Red Hot Chili Peppers Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1983, comprising vocalist Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea (musician), Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante. Their music incorporates element ...

from their 1987 album, ''

The Uplift Mofo Party Plan ''The Uplift Mofo Party Plan'' is the third studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 29, 1987 by EMI Manhattan. Due to prior obligations resulting in temporary personnel changes following the band's formati ...

'' although was not released as a single until 1992 when it was used to promote the band's ''

What Hits!? ''What Hits!?'' is a greatest hits album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers released on September 29, 1992 by EMI. The album contains tracks from the band's first four albums as well as "Under the Bridge" from their fifth album, 1991's ...

'' compilation album. The song charted at number 7 on the US ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

Modern Rock Tracks Alternative Airplay (formerly known as Modern Rock Tracks (1988–2009) and Alternative Songs (2009–2020)) is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in ''Billboard'' magazine since September 10, 1988. It ranks the 40 most-played ...

chart and in New Zealand as well as number 37 on the Australian

ARIA Singles Chart The ARIA Charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA became the offici ...

Background

The band had originally wanted to release the song as a single back in 1987 however the label refused to release it because they felt it was too melodic and didn't represent the band's sound. It would not be released as a single until 1992 to promote the ''

'' compilation album, a hits package EMI released to cash in on the band's newfound major label mainstream success thanks to their album ''

Blood Sugar Sex Magik ''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 ''M ...

'' and the hit ballad, "

Under the Bridge "Under the Bridge" is a song by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers and the eleventh track on their fifth studio album, ''Blood Sugar Sex Magik'' (1991). Vocalist Anthony Kiedis wrote the lyrics while reflecting on loneliness and the s ...

Music video

The music video was released on November 9, 1992, and received heavy rotation on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

. The video features a mixture of animation and footage of the band from their 1989 " Higher Ground" music video.

John Frusciante John Anthony Frusciante (; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers across three stints since 1988. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic guitar to e ...

and

Chad Smith Chad Gaylord Smith (born October 25, 1961) is an American musician who has been the drummer of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. Smith is also the drummer of the ...

appear in the video even though they didn't play on the song and were not with the band at the time it was recorded.

Notes

*In 1987, the band gave a lip-synched performance of "Behind the Sun" and "

Fight Like a Brave "Fight Like a Brave" is the first and only single from American funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers' third album ''The Uplift Mofo Party Plan''. The single also included a cover of the Jimi Hendrix song "Fire" as a B-side, which would later a ...

" at the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon. *Despite the band's intentions for the song to become a single and years later eventually becoming one, the song has only been performed one time in 1987, with Flea explaining in an interview that the band wasn't pleased with how the song sounded live. However, it has been teased by the band quite a few times over the years in their live performances, with its intro being teased on the band's

One Hot Minute tour ''One Hot Minute'' is the sixth studio album by American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on September 12, 1995 by Warner Bros. Records. The worldwide success of the band's previous album ''Blood Sugar Sex Magik'' (1991) caused guitar ...

during " Give It Away". On September 10, 2012, the song was once again teased while the band was performing in Tel Aviv for the first time. It was teased right before "Under the Bridge" was played. *It is also notable in being the only song from the Slovak era to have made it to the charts (although it was released after his death). *Hillel Slovak's brother (James Slovak) named Hillel's biography ''Behind the Sun''. *During March 2012,

The Weather Channel The Weather Channel (TWC) is an American pay television channel owned by Weather Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Allen Media Group. The channel's headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia. Launched on May 2, 1982, the channel broadcasts weather forecas ...

began using an instrumental demo version of the song as background music for its ''

Local on the 8s ''Local on the 8s'' (or the Local Forecast) is a program segment that airs on the American network The Weather Channel. It provides viewers with information on current and forecasted weather conditions for their respective area; a version of thi ...

'' segments.

Track listing

Promo 12" inch single (1987) # "Behind the Sun" (Album) # "Special Secret Song Inside" (Album) Cassette single (1992) # "Behind the Sun" (Album) # " Higher Ground" (Pearly 12") Promo CD single (1992) # "Behind the Sun" (Edit) # "Behind the Sun" (Album) CD single (1992) (Also known as 'The Chili Digi' in Digipack) # "Behind the Sun" (album) # "Higher Ground" (Pearly 12") # "If You Want Me to Stay" (Pink Mustang Mix) # "

Knock Me Down "Knock Me Down" is a song by funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers from their fourth studio album, ''Mother's Milk'' (1989). The track, released August 22, 1989, was the album's second single and depicts negativity towards the stereotypical egotist ...

" (Album) Promo Jukebox 7" single (1992) # "Behind the Sun" (album) # "

Fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition ...

" (album)

Charts

References

{{authority control Red Hot Chili Peppers songs 1987 songs 1992 singles EMI Records singles Capitol Records singles Songs written by Hillel Slovak Songs written by Flea (musician) Songs written by Anthony Kiedis Songs written by Jack Irons Song recordings produced by Michael Beinhorn American psychedelic rock songs