Chad Smith

Smith was born to parents Curtis and Joan Smith in Richfield, Minnesota. He has two older siblings, Bradley and Pamela. He grew up in Homewood-Flossmoor Illinois where he attented Homewood-Flossmoor Highschool for two years where he then moved to Oakland County in Southeast Michigan and graduated from Lahser High School.

Prior to joining Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smith was in a local Detroit band called Toby Redd, which was musically very different than Red Hot Chili Peppers. He signed on with RHCP in time for them to put out the album Mother’s Milk in 1989. His first band was called “Pharaoh”, back in 1976-77.

In 1991, Smith had a small role in the short film Session Man, which won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject.

Smith has released a second instructional DVD with Hal Leonard entitled Eastern Rim, which includes footage from his clinics in Melbourne and Tokyo, footage from various live performances, interviews, and gives an insight into life on the road and his influences.

Smith is currently involved in a supergroup/side project called “Chickenfoot” with former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, as well as guitarist Joe Satriani. Their album was released by Best Buy in the U.S. on June 5, 2009. Smith is also in a band called Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats.

In the May 2006 issue of Doell & Ford Magazine, Smith was named the number one rock drummer alive. Smith narrowly beat out Rush drummer Neil Peart.

Smith was also a judge for the 7th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists’ careers.

Smith has participated in numerous drum clinics where he shares his skill and experience with young aspiring musicians, he has also been part of the Fermatta Master Class Series showing his support for music education in Latin America.

Chad is one of a number of big name artists who have performed in clinic for Newcastle Drum Centre. On 13^th November 2007 Chad Smith rocked Newcastle College alongside Steve White in one of our most popular clinics to date.

Selected Discography

Jam Sessions – Jamming with Linc (1977)
Pharaoh – Point Of Entry (1982)
Toby Redd – In the Light (1986)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Mother’s Milk (1989)
Second Self – Mood Ring (1990)
Twenty Mondays – Twist Inside (1992)
Queen Remix (1991)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)
Wild Colonials – Fruit of Life (1994)
General Clusterfunk – Starin’ Straight at the Sun (1994)
Various Artists – A Means to an End: The Music of Joy Division (1995)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – One Hot Minute (1995)
Original Soundtrack – Grace of my Heart (1996)
Wayne Kramer – Dangerous Madness (1996)
Thermadore – Monkey on Rico (1996)
Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
Howard Stern’s Private Parts (1997)
Lili Haydn – Lili (1997)
John Fogerty – Blue Moon Swamp (1997)
Leah Andreone – Alchemy (1998)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication (1999)
Fishbone – The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerk (2000)
Various Artists – Loud Rocks (2000)
Dave Navarro – Trust No One (2001)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – By the Way (2002)
Johnny Cash – Unearthed (2003)
Glenn Hughes – Songs In The Key Of Rock (2003)
Hughes Turner Project – HTP 2 (2003)
John Frusciante – Shadows Collide With People (2004)
Glenn Hughes – Soulfully Live In The City Of Angels (2004)
Glenn Hughes – Soul Mover (2005)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium (2006)
Dixie Chicks – Taking The Long Way (2006)
Glenn Hughes – Music For The Divine (2006)
Glenn Hughes – First Underground Nuclear Kitchen (2008)
Chickenfoot – Chickenfoot (2009)
Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats – Meet The Meatbats (2009)
B’z – Ichibu to Zenbu/Dive (2009)