Chad Smith, the current drummer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers, was born on October 25, 1961 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Smith Grew up in Bloomfield, Michigan. During high school he ran away from home and when he returned his father, Curtis, sent him to boarding school. He graduated from Lasher High School in 1980.
After high school he began playing drums for several bands professionally. When in a band called Toby Redd, Chad Smith had the opportunity to open for the band Kansas. Later in his twenties he moved to Los Angeles with his brother Brad.
In Los Angeles, Chad Smith had the Opportunity to audition for The Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1988 following the firing of D.H. Peligro. He did not give a great initial impression on the band when he came to the audition with long curly hair and an outfit that did not match the punk image of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. They still gave him a chance because he was recomended by a close friend saying that "he eats drums for breakfast". Flea decided to test Chad by giving him a fast upbeat bass line in a difficult tempo, but Chad responded by matching his beat. Kiedis was so impressed with his ability that he asked him to come to their band practice later that day under one condition; that he shaved his head.
Chad, excited about this new group, showed up to the practice later that day with a full head of hair. Despite the request, Kiedis was impressed by how he wasn't intimidated by the band and was willing to stick up for himself so he was officially let in the band.
In 1993, after two successful albums, Smith released an educational drum video called Red Hot Rhythm Method.
In 1994 Chad Smith married Maria St. John. They had one son, Manon, in 1997. Shortly after they divorced. Smith married Nancy Mack in 2004. They also had one son, Cole Madison.
Chad Smith has had a successful career working with many artists other than The Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has been a part of world wide drum clinics where he had the opportunity to play with his biggest drumming idol Ian Paice of Deep Purple. In November of 2007, he did a drum clinic tour in the UK with legendary drummer Steve White.
Chad Smith attempted a side project with former Van Halen Members, Sammy Hagar, and Michael Anthony called "Chickenfoot" but Hagar decided that he didn't have enough time to devote to a band. In 2007 Smith formed an insturmental group that is currently unnammed featuring keyboardist Ed Roth. They recorded an album that is expected to be released in early 2008.
-Brian Smith
